To speak or not to speak?

[CleanShavenJesus]

1.
Just the other day, I was getting off the ferry and overheard the two young men walking behind me badmouthing secular morality and that atheism was stupid. It took all of my energy not to spin around and take a stance in front of those men, but I was meeting someone and my son was with me. Not a good time to debate, but boy did I want to.

I would've said something if you weren't with your son or going to see someone. Not even as an atheist, just as someone who knows that nobody's belief system should be ridiculed so publicly.

2.
I have a "friend" on Facebook who is an Eastern Orthodox Christian. He and I don't get along well, but he is an old high school friend so I don't delete him. However, he sure likes to praise the perfection of his faith and the stupidity of atheism. I debated him once on FB, and he went frantic. It was obvious that I was winning, and breaking him, but my sense of morals kicked in and I stopped the debate right then and there. I gave a hefty apology and promised never to debate him on Facebook again. I don't believe I have the right to de-convert anyone that doesn't want to.

Right move.

3.
Just today, my FB friend put a link to some Orthodox blog that explains how stupid atheism is. I was so tempted to slap a link to a pro-atheist, anti-Christian essay I know of, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself down to his level. I sure wanted to, but I had promised myself no more Facebook debates.

I'd delete that guy. No reason to start things over the internet. That's dumb.