Chat

Chatting with a big group in a chat room can be fun, but many times it's simply disorienting. So it may be more fruitful to pick someone who seems to have questions or objections to Christianity and chat with that person individually. In some web chat rooms you can do this by highlighting the person's nickname and simply typing to them. In the java IRC chat program on the web, double-click the person's name, and another window will appear for your private chat session. Or in IRC you can also create another channel by typing /join #channelname (see below), where "channelname" is the name of the channel you want to create. Then you can invite the person to the channel by typing /invite nickname #channelname ("nickname" is the person's name).

Chatting produces the most immediate results of all the forms of interaction on the Internet. For that reason it can also be the most high-pressure situation for debates. It also isn't conducive to conveying large amounts of information all at once. Typing takes longer than talking, and extra long messages sometimes make the screen scroll too fast for people to keep up with the conversation.

Web chat rooms found on large web directories and "online communities" like Excite and Talk City are the most likely to attract seekers with honest questions. Such people sometimes wander into Christian IRC channels, but more often the unbelievers you will run into on IRC are fairly convinced of their opinions and think they know what Christianity is about. Some of these people just like to cause trouble, but others are quite willing and able to discuss issues intelligently.

Some channels have web pages that contain things like session logs, pictures of channel operators and other regular visitors, and channel policies. It is therefore a good idea to visit a channel's web page before attempting apologetic conversations. Some channels tolerate more heat than others, and some don't appreciate conversion attempts at all.

Commands in IRC start with a forward slash (/). Probably the only command you'll need is /join #channelname (where "channelname" is the channel's name). This will remove you from the channel you're in and place you in another channel (if you are using an IRC client, you will still be able to chat in the previous channel).

Message Boards

These are the places you will find people asking questions about religion, especially in message boards found in large web directories and communities. The discussions vary widely, and they are usually quite disorganized. The messages are grouped into threads, which consist of an initial posting and its replies, which are listed by subject lines, but a subject line sometimes tells little about the message itself. You may have to do a little hunting to find a discussion to involve yourself in, but you could always start your own thread. Most message boards have a specific subject, but they generally have few stated guidelines and are open to all kinds of messages.

Newsgroups

Newsgroups are very similar to message boards except that they aren't housed on the web and they have a definite structure. Anyone can read, and anyone can post. Here you'll find the widest variety of discussions -- nagging questions, heated rants, and thoughtful dialogue. No introductions are necessary. Just write an essay, ask a question, or respond to someone else's. Some newsgroups are moderated; many aren't. The ones that are moderated are calmer, cleaner, and tidier than those that aren't.

Most newsgroups also have a FAQ, a list of Frequently Asked Questions that have been answered so many times on the newsgroups that someone has answered them all in one document to save further effort. FAQs are posted to the newsgroup regularly, and they may also be somewhere on the web. It is a very good idea to read the FAQ before posting a question or argument that got tiresome long ago. When someone does write something ignorant or irritating, he or she is invariably the recipient of angry, nasty messages called flames, via the newsgroup and even over e- mail. There is on the Internet a universal and open contempt for mindlessness, whether real or perceived.

Mailing Lists

Mailing lists are perhaps the most stable forum for discussions. Everyone in the list has subscribed to it and probably checks his or her e-mail regularly. However, most mailing lists have very specific purposes, so there won't be too many people asking questions about Christianity unless the list is specifically made for such discussions. Many religious e-mail lists also don't welcome "proselytizing," so you'll have to read the list's policies to find out what is and isn't allowed. In addition, some groups are one-way lists, in which the list owner sends out a newsletter, but no discussion takes place.

Discussions on the Internet are fast at times and slow at others. Some sites get a lot of traffic, and some are virtually ignored. It might be a good idea to keep an eye on several discussions in various places in order to stay active. Otherwise you may be waiting days or weeks for a reply to your last message.