That's really hard to do on a crowded subway at 8am. People are less receptive to these guys then. (And that's mainly when I see them!)

Well, this type usually has a persecution complex and will use biblical verses about being persecuted for doing God's work to explain why everybody hates them, so if all us evil, worldly sinners started liking them and agreeing with them and they were no longer being 'persecuted,' then I think there's a pretty good chance they'd be forced to conclude that they were also an evil, worldly sinner and... probably explode or something.

that's sort of what i'm hoping for.

mdog, I can't believe you wrote this post. You are such a sinner and are going to hell.

I used to wonder what would happen if someone calmly approached them to actually carry on a normal conversation.

Something like, "Hey man, I'm a Christian too, and I have to admit that I have some concerns about your approach. Is this really working?"

Ooh, I can answer this one! One of my Campus Crusade friends during my junior year calmly attempted a similar conversation on college green. The street preacher, having seen my friend playing guitar on the green earlier, called him a "christian whore" and suggested he stop playing that devil music. My friend had been playing worship songs with a group of CCC kids, but this preacher had apparently concluded that all music made with a guitar was inherently evil.

I think they also do it so they can justify calling people names like "whore". ;o)

But I love your idea, mdog. If anyone decides to do this, let me know...

I really do think they give Christianity a bad name. They are the cliche, the extreme, the bad joke.

Gotta admire the Gusto