Religion at your door

LaCi - posted on 04/09/2010

lol I just realized someone else said the naked thing already.

LaCi - posted on 04/09/2010

I had a friend who used to answer the door naked when the door to door religious people came around, and then invite them in to chat.

I avoid them like the plague, I run into the back room and close the door when I see them approaching. If I happen to have had the windows open I tell them I'm an atheist, they leave their little newsletter with me and go away peacefully.

Nikki - posted on 04/09/2010

I love this post so funny, I have a couple of funny stories, after a few weeks of constant unwanted visitors my best friends brother put a sign on their front door saying "JEHOVAH'S WITNESS' WILL BE SHOT" They never returned.

I read in the news that two JW had visited the home of a stoner, he offered them a tea and some biscuits, they liked them so much they ate the entire pot filled batch, after they left they ended up in hospital with hallucinations, they claim they didn't know what they were.

Emma - posted on 04/09/2010

I think im on the Avoid like the plague list....... As ever since i had two come to my flat one Saturday morning and i would not let them leave as i decided to try and convert them to Satanism for 6 hours lol (im not a Satanist but had a copy of the satanic bible as was wondering what all the fuss was about)
well that was 6 years ago and ive never had anyone knock on my door again.

Chatty - posted on 02/22/2010

EXACTLY Gillian! I got such a kick outta this post!

Lady - posted on 02/22/2010

Loads of interesting suggestions on how to deal with our unwanted callers - thanks guys!
So next time they come to the door I should either answer it with my tits out, completley starkers or with a gun in my hand then they might not come back lol!!!

Chatty - posted on 02/22/2010

In highschool my best friends older brother went to answer one of those ' knocks at the door ' completely buck naked with a shotgun under his arm.........we stood behind him laughing hysterically!



That's all I have to say on the subject!

Heather - posted on 02/22/2010

I try not to be mean, they honestly think they need to do this to have eternal life, its kind of sad to me. I usually try to avoid them whenever possible.



Funny story... when I was younger, a couple of JW's came to my grandma's house. I was there taking care of my great grandma...who had several strokes that had effected her mind. They tricked me and asked for her by name saying "Is Georgia here? We are here to visit". I asked my grandma if she knew them and she said "Oh yes, they are my old neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Lipps" I told them to come in and they began talking to my great grandma, asking her all sorts of questions, and I soon realized...this was NOT Mr. and Mrs. Lipps! lol After about a half hour of these people talking to my great grandma, and her just starring at them with this glazed over look in her eyes....she looked at me, and said " hey Heather, I really need to take a shit!" hahaha they excused themselves as I began walking her to the bathroom...as they were leaving, she said "I dont know who the hell those people were...but they sure as hell werent Mr. and Mrs. Lipps!" lol They never came back. needless to say :)

Sarah - posted on 02/21/2010

Tell them you wish to be placed on the Do Not Call (Visit?) list. I was raised a Jehovah's Witness (don't ask). It's an odd religion. They believe they are trying to save people by bringing the word of God door to door - and emulating Jesus in the process. Of course a LOT of the hierarchy in the religion is based upon how many hours you achieve per month in "field service".... but anyway, they DO have a do not call list. They just don't advertise that they do. They don't like coming around my house. I'm not overly rude, but they get rather offended when I tell them been there, done that, not EVER doing it again. :)

Carolyn - posted on 02/21/2010

When we lived in a subdivision they came over often. I found out by doing door to door sales for my daughters Karate School. If someone put a sign that read, NO SOLICITING no one selling could legally knock on your door. I found the older retired people did this just mostly because they were alone and did not want to open their door to anyone. It works. Just my observation and I used the knowledge so, I also did not get any unknown people asking anything. Best of Luck.

Jodi - posted on 02/21/2010

The keeping quiet thing is what my mum used to do!!! When I was young, we lived on a country property. My best friend lived about 3km up the road (which was about 6 or 7 houses). The JW's used to come calling even way out of town (we were 20km out). Anyway, my mum and my friend's mum had a deal where the person who had the JW's visit first would ring the other one, so the other one would have the chanct to play the quiet game with the kids. As I got older, and I better understood what was going on, I found this just so funny!!

Rosie - posted on 02/21/2010

i'm laughing so hard i can barely type!!! that's fucking hilarious (yay, we can sear now!!!)!

Louise - posted on 02/21/2010

Maybe this can help http://www.motivateusnot.com/demotivatio...

LOL :)

Charlene - posted on 02/21/2010

Lmao @ the quiet game. We used to do that too.. except my mom would say 'The preachers are coming, hide and play quiet' and eventually whenever one of us kids saw them coming we always said 'HIDE HIDE, THE CREATURES ARE COMING.' Haha.



I absolutely can not be rude to them, I hate being rude to anyone. It's even hard for me to say 'Sorry but I'm not interested' and I think they sense that. Haha.

We had a couple ladies here the other day and they were really polite. They said their piece, 'oohed' and 'aahed' over my daughter, handed me some magazines and went on their way. I took the magazines because when I was a teenager I always took them and read them. They sometimes are interesting.



I don't mind if they are polite and not pushy.



I find the people that come around collecting donations for various societies to be just as pushy. I never have cash on me and I don't do cheques and when I say that, they look at me as though I'm lying. If I had cash and I could afford it, I would donate!! Ugh. As soon as I find out they are collecting donations, I usually ask them for a number or an address where I can send a donation. If they give me one, at the end of the month if I have any spare money, I usually donate something.



I LOVE what the schools and sports teams do when they are having a bottle drive. In my area there is a rule from the admin. and coaches that kids are not allowed to knock on doors to ask for bottles. They come around one evening and leave notices in the mailboxes. The notices have the date and time of the bottle drive and it asks that anyone wishing to donate leave their bottles in a bag on the doorstep with the notice attatched. If there is no notice on your doorstep, they don't come to your house. Simple as that.

Also for chocolate bar/popcorn/lightbulb/seed sales they always leave a notice in the mailbox to let you know when they will be around and a number to reach them at if you want to make a purchase but aren't home at the time.

. - posted on 02/21/2010

I remember once, about 3 years ago, two men came to our door step trying to convert us. I tried to be polite and say we are athiests etc....then my sister (who know's what a athiests are) pipes up and say's "well I don't actually know what athiests are" could have killed her then. Ended up getting into a debate with them.
Then last year I had three guys in their teens come to our door at 9pm, I happened to be in the kitchen and answered the door, before they guy got to say anything, I saw "Jesus Christ" on his name badge and said "not interested".
Then late last year a young girl said to my partner "don't you want to know how your son's future will be?".
The last one we had, my partner gave the group (they were rather sneeky, group of 3, youngish lady with two middle aged guy's, lady knocks and when my partner opens the door the two men appear) their say and then he said "I've attended churches in the past but none of them have convinced me that what they preach is real". that shut them up!

Corena - posted on 02/20/2010

Not all people who believe in something other than themselves think it is a waste to better our earth.

JSYK

Good Day! - posted on 02/19/2010

Thanks, y'all made some good points. Even though Christians, JW or whatever believe that the after life is what we should be focusing on, that is no excuse not to strive to make this present world a better place.

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

We're coming up in greater numbers every year Gillian. Check my profile for my group if you'd like.



I have no fear of dying either, it is inevitable so I'll do my best while I'm here and pass myself on through my kids. If I had it my way I'd be left in the bush for the animals to feed on. Returning to the earth from where I came.

Lady - posted on 02/19/2010

It's so great to hear from other atheists we don't know all that many. I personally believe that after death is like before you are born and you know nothing, it's like a light bulb going out and there's nothing after. That's why I have no fear of dieing because I don't think there is anything to fear. Is that what most atheist believe too - like I said I don't get the chance to talk to many?

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

Thank you. My knowledge of basic biology would never allow to follow that particular religion (aside from my lack of spiritual beleif of course).

Adri - posted on 02/19/2010

Actually on the new system of things, the body will never get old and they will live forever. Also they don't believe in souls as other religions do. To them a soul is the whole being, flesh and blood NOT a spiritual, invisible soul. So JW don't say a person HAS a soul, but a person IS a soul. So you asked "where do the souls of the rest go?". The rest of the souls.....human beings.....don't go anywhere. They stay in earth and live forever.

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

Do they understand the human body has a life cycle and they may only get a few years on this paradise on earth before their body dies? So after that they go to heaven paradise but only 144,000? Where do the souls of the rest go?

No Gillian, I didn't take it the wrong way. Just bored at work and trying to bring up some discussion points lol.

Adri - posted on 02/19/2010

Yes on paradise earth humans are flesh and blood. It's not in spiritual form and it is on this physical earth that we live on now. This might get confusing but although most people who survive the end will live on a new paradise here on Earth, there will be 144 thousand who will get a spiritual body and live in heaven to rule with Jehovah and Jesus. Don't ask me why, lol, because that part I never got and still don't understand. I haven't associated with JWs in years, maybe, ten years, so I don't know if their beliefs have changed but I am pretty sure they are the same.

Lady - posted on 02/19/2010

I'm agreeing with you Jenny I think we should make the most of the life we have on this earth because I don't believe there is anything after so we need to care of this planet for ourselves and the generations to come - didn't meen to sound selfish sorry if I came across that way.

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

Vanessa, on this "paradise on earth" are we still in human form? Or is it their spiritual form but they believe the location of heavan is this planet? Just trying to get a better understanding.

If anything Gillian to give something better to our kids and grandkids.

Adri - posted on 02/19/2010

Jenny, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the end is near. There is no point to put an effort in this current world we live in because according to them it's going to end very soon. They look forward to the new earth that God will create. It will be in this earth but it will be made new.

Lady - posted on 02/19/2010

Depends what you believe doesn't it - personally I think this is it so make the most of it!

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

But still like 80-100 years for alot of us (and I'm an athiest so there is no "after" for me). 80+ years is certainly worth putting some effort into this planet and it's inhabitants, is it not?

Adri - posted on 02/19/2010

Jenny, the paradise earth they are looking forward to is not for when they are dead. It's a paradise here on earth for all the living people who survive this system of thing. Everyone else will be destroyed. They don't need to put effort into a paradise earth now because they are supposed to be "no part of this world".

Good Day! - posted on 02/19/2010

Jenny, the short answer to that:
After death is eternal. Life is temporary.

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

I don't understand why religious people don't put as much effort into having paradise on this earth. Why wait till your dead for all the good stuff? We could have it all right here on earth if we all worked together for it.

Adri - posted on 02/19/2010

My mom was a Jehovah's Witness. She left the church years ago. I used to study with them, attend meetings, even when door to door a few times but never became a baptized one. I absolutely HATED going door to door. Hated!!!! I very much felt pressured. I HATED bothering people but they make you believe that if you want to be approved by Jehovah then you must witness to the people about the end of this system of things. If you deny him, he will deny you and you won't make it to the new paradise earth. If anyone is familiar with JW's publications you will see the beautiful drawings of paradise earth that they envision. They are absolutely beautiful and that draws people in. Who wouldn't want to live in such a peaceful, gorgeous world? I did, still do. That sucked me into the religion. I really believed it so I forced myself to go door to door. Everytime I knocked I was sooooo hoping no one would answer. I think many JW feel the same way. Honestly, I really enjoyed the meetings, conventions and I would probably have become a JW if it wasn't for the door to door. My mom left for the same reason. She felt extreme pressure to the point that it started affecting her health. She is much happier now but like me says she sometimes misses the meetings. I remember one meeting I attended with her were the elder basically lectured the whole congregation for not doing enough. He said they need to try harder to get bible studies with more people. I looked around the congregation and the people's faces looked downright beaten down. Definately a lot of pressure. That's why I can symphatize when I see a JW but I also symphatize with people who don't want to bothered or preached to in their own homes. We haven't had a JW knock at our door in a very long time. Maybe DH scared them. I would probably just hide if they come again. I don't like being rude to them or anyone for that matter.

?? - posted on 02/19/2010

Just say it Teresa ;) just take a DEEP breath and say it ! And then close the door and giggle !!!!

Teresa - posted on 02/19/2010

I wanted to say I have never run into a JW that is obnoxious. I don't engage them. They say their piece (usually about a minute), hand me their magazine, and leave.



The people that drive me nuts are the ones selling their vaccuming service. They come while my girls are running around and my son is screaming. I'll tell them I'm not interested. They continue their talk. I tell them now is not a good time. They continue their talk... about how it's free, when IS a good time, etc.... I think I could use some of you around sometimes cuz I don't have it in me to be rude. I want to tell them.. listen, I'm a single, stressed out mom of 3 young, wild kids. NEVER is a great time to come back!

Meghan - posted on 02/19/2010

Once they hear or see my dogs behind the door...they always walk away...lol...I hate it when they come door to door...although I do have a very close friend that is a Jehovah's witness, she must not be from the door to door sect, because she never preaches anything to me or wants me to join anything...shes just my friend. If they do come to the door I just tell them I have a kid with diarrhea inside and if they still wanted to come in then they were more than welcome...if the dogs don't get them, that usually does...my door knockers are usually teen aged boys lol!

Sharon - posted on 02/19/2010

I am only annoyed with the door to door religion sales people when they refuse to take "NO" as an answer.

But answering the door with a 45 in your hand tends to discourage .... all of them.

Krista - posted on 02/19/2010

In a way I almost feel sorry for the poor buggers. Not the ones who are obnoxious and aggressive, but the ones who are polite about it and would probably rather be doing a million other things on a sunny Saturday.



I can't remember which magazine it was in, unfortunately, but I remember reading this article where a guy basically went undercover with a bunch of proselytizers and did the whole door-to-door thing, and gave a whole behind-the-scenes report. It was pretty amazing just to see the mindset of these people -- a lot of them really do genuinely believe that they're trying to save us from some horrible fate. That's why in a way, it's kind of pitiful. It doesn't excuse them when they become obnoxious or aggressive, but it kind of helped me understand why they do what they do. I just wish that THEY could understand that we're all grown-ups here, and responsible for our own souls.

Mary - posted on 02/19/2010

I can't imagine that they have much success with the whole door-to-door thing...I don't know anyone who is even willing to converse with them IF they even open the door to acknowledge them.



When I moved into my current neighborhood, they stopped by once. Apparently, I have the ultimate antidote...my lunatic dogs! Just let 150lbs of barking dog answer the door for you (1/2 of which is pit bull)...and they seem to lose some of their ardor. I even invited them in, but, shockingly enough, they declined, and simply left a copy of the Watchtower on my porch. They have yet to return, and it's been 3 years. Glad they don't know that the worst thing that would have happened is they would have been licked to death...although I have to admit that all that puppy breath IS kinda nasty ;0

Krista - posted on 02/19/2010

Sarah, at that point, I would have kicked them square in the nuts, and said, "There's a taste of the agony YOU'LL be experiencing in Hell for being such a hateful asshole!"

Sarah - posted on 02/19/2010

I was walking home school with my kids one day and 2 young lads dressed in suits came up to me and introduced themselves as Mormons and could they ask me a question.
I said, "Well i'm in a hurry" and they said (following me down the road) "What's the MOST important thing in your life?" It was obvious they wanted me to say the kids, so i turned around and said "Sex and drugs. You?" They stopped dead on the pavement and off i went home!!

Another time there were some born again Christians preaching in the High Street. My friend and i were only 17 and we got into conversation with them. They were telling us how we were damned to Hell as we'd had sex before marriage and blah blah blah. They said that everyone will go to Hell unless they turn to Christ. My friends mother has recently died from cancer, and they stood there and told us that her lovely mum was burning in Hell, in eternal pain and suffering. Nice huh?

?? - posted on 02/19/2010

Gillian, you'd be amazed at how far some people will go to convert others to their religion. There is/was a woman around COM some time ago, that told us in 1 thread that her husband and her were struggling to afford the bills they have, they have baby #2 on the way and they were 100% against the government raising their taxes even 1% in order to help with the cost of health care.



And then in a few threads later, she told us that she donates to a group on a monthly basis that send people to remote places around the world to spread the word of God to people where their communication is otherwise cut off from the rest of the world.



This woman and her family were struggling to pay their own bills, did not want to help the health care situation in their own country... but gave money away to an organization to spread the word of God to remote tribes in the jungles of butt-fuck-no-where!



And she had the nerve to tell me I should keep my 'preconcieved notions about religious people' to myself! LMAO !!!

Jennifer - posted on 02/19/2010

LDS = Latter Day Saints It's the church that Mormons follow.

Lady - posted on 02/19/2010

Sorry to be ignorant but LDS???
One time a few years ago we had two American men one young and one slightly older come round our door they were dressed in black suits and ties and wanted to tell me about the good news - is this anything similar?
I was pretty shocked they had come all the way to England just to go round door to door but that still didn't stop me from telling them no thank you I was an atheist and very happy with my decisssion. They then went on to say "but look at the lovely neighbourhood you live in, look at all the lovely flowers - who do you think created all of those?"
When I said what about all the children starving anf being torchered and killed everyday they finnaly saw they were fighting a losing battle and left.

Jennifer - posted on 02/19/2010

I'm usually polite to everyone who comes to my door but to be quite honest Jehovah's Witness get right on my nerves. I have my own religion so go leave me alone and get on with yours. I don't understand how they have time to go around pestering everyone anyways!!!

Johnny - posted on 02/18/2010

No, that's true. It wasn't cold calling that lead to it. But the woman involved was no more than a mere acquaintance. A friend of a friend of my mom's. But I have had the LDS come to my door, and they've never been that persistent. It still really bugs me that they do it, like I said earlier, I have a lot of issues with the idea. but we told them never to come back and they haven't. It has been at least 3-4 years.

Traci - posted on 02/18/2010

That's really strange, I've never heard of missionaries being so persistent, unless they were asked to do so by a family members. Even then... I can't imagine that. Certainly, it wasn't a situation that arose from cold knocking on your door.

Johnny - posted on 02/18/2010

LOL Traci. But the JW's would track you down even if it meant battling Bin Laden to do it. They are pretty persistent.

They were actually missionaries. Two men and two women. They were paired off initially, sort of tag teaming me, but when things got "serious" they started to come as a full team. They were all from various places in the US, I live in Canada. The men had the Elder on their name tags (which my dad found hilarious) and the women were Sisters. They were all in their early 20's. But I think they were "sent" by the local leaders in my case. I'm not entirely certain how it works, but my mom's best friend found out that our acquaintance had informed them that I was ripe for conversion.

Traci - posted on 02/18/2010

If it was 4 missionaries, then they weren't the young Elders you normally see. They must've been from a local Ward. Missionaries are told to never be that disrespectful.



edit: Missionaries only travel in packs of two, any more implies that it's local leaders from the Church. And I know what you mean with local leaders. I went inactive for a number of years, and it never ceased to amaze me that they could find me in caves of Afghanistan if they needed to. Hey, there's an idea....

Johnny - posted on 02/18/2010

I'll admit that JW's are way more obnoxious. But I had a group of 4 really persistant LDS missionaries bothering me for a year in high school. My father had to finally threaten to call the police on them. They'd track me down after school at 7-Eleven or McDonalds with my friends. Turns out an acquaintance of our family had spoken to them and asked them to "help" me. I guess she thought I was ripe for conversion or something. The funny thing was, by the time the were harassing me, I had already read much of the Book of Mormon because I had asked my mom's best friend (who is LDS) for a copy to learn more. I had decided that it was not for me and my mom's friend never bothered me about it or tried to convert me. She had much more respect for my family than that. But these missionaries sure didn't. Perhaps this is where my strong abhorrence of door-to-door proselytizing stems from.

Krista - posted on 02/18/2010

I actually have a copy of the Qur'an here. It's sitting right next to our Bible. It's fun when my husband's extended family visits, because they're all fundamentalist Christian. We're talking Hell and brimstone, kids bawling their eyes out during the sermon, the whole nine yards. So it's always delightful to sit there and watch them grow more and more puzzled, because they know that he's atheist and I'm agnostic, but to see a Bible there and then a Qur'an sitting next to it?

I figure it's good for their brains to have to puzzle that one over -- I'm probably helping them all ward off Alzheimer's.