So I feel like having some fun this Sunday

[Demonaura]

and beleive it or not it won't involve fire!

I have some friends that are ready to go, and a video camera and we think we want to visit a local church this Sunday. The overall idea is to get answers to a few questions, starting with the more polite 'what are your beleifs in your words' and 'what was it thet made you start beleiving in the first place' questions before moving onto the more provacative ones. this is mostly because I'll make the point that if they tellme to go away I will do so. Given I am in their church, I feel that is fair.

So my question to everyone here is, do you have any good ideas for questions to ask em? I do want to have some fun out there so hard questions are just fine, anything really. I just hope I don't get kicked out too early for being an ass.

fyi all the local churches are christian churches I'm pretty sure and if they sit through the whole thing I am quite open to allowing them to ask their own questions of me. Like I said above, it sounds fair that if they can sit through me I can listen to/answer them for awhile.

[Darwinian]

I take it that you will post this on your site so we can all enjoy it?

Have fun and I'm really looking forward to it!

[Demonaura]

you bet! I'll even edit this one properly, I'm picturing something similar to Bill Mahers movie lol.

[leo-rcc]

I will urge you not to disrupt their services, and not film unless you are given permission. If you want to do it correctly I would even go so far as to inform if they are interested in participating in your discussion beforehand. I am not a huge fan of bursting in and fire questions when the person interviewed hasn't had the chance to prepare.

[Demonaura]

Oh I won't be trying to do anything during their usual stuff and all that. That's all assumed for me. But, I also feel I would lose much of the effect if I sent em a letter and told em I was coming. I want to hear honest answers, not a prepared sermon to convert me.

[leo-rcc]

A sermon is right out, since it is an interview and you ask the questions, and its up to you to keep the interview on track. I am not saying you should send a list of questions beforehand, but I would outline the direction of the conversation. It will make a much more interesting interview imho than "So why on earth do you believe in talking snakes?" because that interview will be over quite soon.

[Demonaura]

I plan to start off with getting info, I predice when I ask what the beleif is to them that I'll get lots of different answers. I don't plan on asking any questions like your example above but, I do plan to see what they think of common critisisims. Though before I ask those question I'll let them know that's the direction I'm heading. And if nobody wants to talk to me there that's fine. I'll be asking individuals if they are ok with me taking a few minutes of their time to do this and letting them know what to expect. Though if you're saying to talk to the pastor before I approach anyone then I agree, the pastor should be the first one we talk to, make sure we're at all welcome.

But you don't need to worry, I won't be barging in there trying to make an ass of myself. When I say I expect to get kicked out it's because I doubt that anyone there will be willing to talk about critisisims to their faith, they won't want to answer any questions in the second half or they will spend more time trying to convert me than answer honestly.

[Eilonnwy]

I would suggest not actually going into the church to ask questions. A lot of people congregate out at the steps and talk, I would interview them.

[Demonaura]

I didn't know people did that, I figured they just went home. Sounds like a plan!

[Eilonnwy]

Some will, but some tend to stick around. That was always my experience when I went to church, and that was at a Catholic church. Remember, church just isn't a religious thing it's a community. It does take time for people to come out, so you can catch them as the exit. I think people won't mind if you're out on the public sidewalk asking questions instead of intruding on their holy space.