Ah...Tom, I very much doubt that those discussions can be dug up. They definitely predated the forums, and I think they were on the old old Discussion List. Whose archives, unless you have a copy lurking around, are long since lost.
As to preaching in evil regions:
You know you don't have to actually preach directly there to make some headway, right? If you can maintain 100% following in Region X, all the regions adjacent to Region X (that don't already have 100% following) will be making a good number of converts each day. Get enough converts in Region Y, with a majority of the evil religion, to build a shrine there, and you'll be able to make further headway without any further risk to you.
Naturally, if there are priests of the evil religion preaching in Region Y, you won't make progress. But...they won't be able to make progress against you in Region X, either, as long as you keep its following high.