"...convincing religionists that religion should stay out of government is much more likely than convincing them that religion itself is false."
An excellent point, but still an extremely difficult task.
BTW, I recently came across this surprising description of Ingersoll.
www.theamericanenterprise...end98g.htmHere's one of his political speeches. I haven't read much of it yet, but it looks like a real rip-snorter! Can you imagine an avowed atheist having power in the modern Republican party?
www.infidels.org/library/...peech.html