“Why do we concentrate on the impersonalists?” Kirtanananda asked. “Why do we attack them so much? Why don’t we concentrate our attack on the atheists?”

“You say that because you are an impersonalist,” Prabhupada answered angrily.

On another occasion, Prabhupada explained that nondevotees who mislead the innocent public are demons and should be exposed. Kirtanananda objected. “If we call them demons, they’ll never come around.”

“But they are demons,” Prabhupada replied.

“But we can’t call them demons, Swamiji.”

“Yes, they are demons! Unless you understand this point, you will not make any advancement in Krsna consciousness.”

“Can demons become devotees?” Kirtanananda asked.

“Oh, yes,” Prabhupada answered. “If they chant Hare Krsna and render service, even demons become devotees.”

From Srila Prabhupada lilamrta