This is what makes the experience worth it

When I started this project, or adventure, or quest, or whatever people want to call it, I wanted to show people that there's no reason to be scared of each other. That people have more in common than not.

The other weekend I was at a religious service - I won't say which one so as not to embarrass anyone. Usually between the service and the interview people people will ask me what I'm doing, what religions I've visited, so on and so forth.

This occasion was no different. A gentleman about my age was asking about some of the churches I've visited, and then about what each one believed. Usually in these cases I preface things with "I'm obviously not a member, so I can't speak for them or as well as they would," then go on to explain what I saw.

When I got to "And I talked to a lady from the Church of Satan," he started.

"Wow! That must have been really interesting and weird!"

I shrugged. "Kind of anticlimatic. I mean, they don't even believe in Satan. They're like Humanists in that they reject the supernatural - even the existence of Satan, who they use as a symbol for resistance to authority, like Prometheus. Mix in some Objectivist philosophy, some black robes, and you've basically got a bunch of Atheists who want to think they should have the most interesting rituals. I don't see myself joining the group - but they're not nearly as freaky as Hollywood would make them out to be."

My conversation partner paused. "Oh. Yeah. Because you totally expect them to be - different."

"Me too - but, that's why I do this project, so I can find out what people are really like instead of what we're afraid they're like."

We went on to talk about other things and other groups. About an hour later, as I was leaving, I happened to overhear this gentleman talking with his minister.

"Yeah! They don't even believe in Satan, they just use him as a literary figure. I know - they're not scary at all!"

Made me walk away with a grin on my face.