[Closed] Doorstep God Botherers.

I think for one lot its part of their duty to their religion to do it (ie go out and convert people). I may be talking rubbish though

I normally try to engage them in an intellectual conversation - much fun to be had.

My wife thinks it's highly amusing - the only person on the street that looks forward to the jehovah's witnesses knocking on the door 😈

Invite them in, offer tea and biscuit's, put 'partyboy' music on, then slowly start taking your cloths off, see how long they stay and how naked you can get 😉

I often wonder how they get on round here. I can't imagine they get all that many converts from Islam.

[i]I think for one lot its part of their duty to their religion to do it[/i]

Yep, they call it Missionary Work. I think they think they are missionaries. Sad really.

I'm a devout atheist, but I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked. 😕

Hey ho.

I normally try to engage them in an intellectual conversation - much fun to be had.

My wife thinks it's highly amusing - the only person on the street that looks forward to the jehovah's witnesses knocking on the door

So predictably boring !

Invite them in, offer tea and biscuit's, put 'partyboy' music on, then slowly start taking your cloths off, see how long they stay and how naked you can get

Nows theres something I've not heard of before !

I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked

+1. Just be polite to them. They won't try to 'convert' you, they'll just move on if you're not interested. No need to be rude to them.

rkk01, me too! I had a Jehovah's Witness for the best part of half an hour engaged in discussing evolution, physics, energy transfer. He couldn't grasp how animated life energy came to be "put" into things without the big guy upstairs. He also thought a life without an afterlife was tragic, which I also approached: where's the value in an infinite experience? There was a lot of basic science he appeared not to understand.

He seemed like a person who genuinely wanted to connect to others to help them understand what he believes to be true. I respect that, it must be really hard to keep going door-to-door. He also appeared a little fragile/vulnerable which saddened me slightly. I can appreciate how people needing answers can enjoy the support and affirmation an enthusiastic social group can provide.

I hope I made him think.

youtube and channel4 aren't playing with me this morning,

but, you know that scene in black books? - the one where bernard invites the witnesses in for a chat about jesus?

it turns out it's not actually as much fun as the tv said it would be...

🙁

at one point we got talking about evolution - it was around the time that the fossil of Ida had been revealed, which i was (still am) really excited about - but all i could get out of them was some dusty quote about "like begetting like" - or something like that.

I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked

+1

Fairly sure it works - not a high percentage rate, of course, but there's a fair few people out there who are either lonely, or searching for the meaning of life... (Personally, I don't think there is one, but I realise that lots of people think otherwise.)

Personally I just say I'm not interested, and close the door.

but, you know that scene in black books? - the one where bernard invites the witnesses in for a chat about jesus?

Go and watch Mrs Browns Boys, it's got an even better sketch.

There outright nice to people they have a motive of their vision to en list you... and if you don't believe their gossip they get a bit spiteful...

Answer the door...
ME "I believe in science and evolution sorry, thank you"

.... "insert, angry pitying rant from said knockers" ...

ME "ok thank you bye now"

... and they always seem to wangle their way into my mums house who I know has no interest in them but they keep insisting on coming back so I have to tell them enough is enough... JESUS WEPT... duh dum cheee.

It's not the niceness, its the delusion.
I'm only ever polite though, cos I know a few and its a tight knit community...

I am not normally rude. But this chap used a very patronising greeting when I opened the door. That pissed me straight off, so I told him that was no way to speak to anyone on their doorstep and that I also am not interested in what they are trying to sell.

I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked

+another1

I've got a good mate who's a JW. I'm a devout atheist. He's never tried to 'convert' me, and I've never mocked his religion.

I remember being doorstepped by some Jehovah's. Thing is, at the time I think I was the only non-Muslim on my street.

I bet that was a pretty thankless morning

Don't get me wrong - I don't do rude and taking the proverbial.

I actually enjoy the fact that them and me have a mutually respectful conversation, but from different perspectives. All of the ones that I have talked with have been very polite, thoughtful and willing to engage

I love a good chat with them if I have time.

Some are quite interesting to talk too.

I am not sure if they deliberately miss represent evolution or if they don't understand it though.

I always just say ' No thank you, I worship Satan, Lord of Chaos'.
Then smile, wave and slowly close the door.

Why does doorstepping someone count as being nice>

To me its very rude - same as cold callers of any sort. whats the difference?

I had an interesting conversation with a couple the other day.

My questions was if god really does want us to praise him, what does this say about his character.

bazzer - the doorsteppers are generally jehovas witnesses, and 'sharing the good news' is, as far as I recall, a large part of their beliefs. They also take the bible literally, so dont even bother with evolution. Having said all that, I have attended a service at the local kingdom hall, when I escorted a patient there from a secure unit I was working at. It was a bit of an eye opener, but the folk were all friendly enough, albeit a bit intense.

I'm a devout atheist, but I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked.

They're not trying to be nice though are they? They're trying to convince you that what you believe in (or don't believe in) is wrong, and that you need to be persuaded otherwise. They're no different to people who go around trying to get you to change your gas supplier.

I'm never rude to them though, just tell them I'm not interested. They don't come around that often for it to be much of an issue.

There was a lot of basic science he appeared not to understand.

Much like your average STWer then.

I just say "no thanks, I'm not interested" and close the door, that seems to do the trick.

They're not trying to be nice though are they?

Well, actually, they are. In their own way. They're certainly not trying to be 'nasty', are they?

All you need to do is say 'no thanks' and that's that. No dramas, no need to assert yer ego, just a bit of politeness and common courtesy and all's well.

Is that so hard?

Where I grew up there is a big Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, or whatever tis called. And a big Mormon Church.

They would send the shock troops over from USA, young tall handsome American blokes in suits with name badges, on their 10 speed bikes (or 9 speed as they tithed 10% to the church, one of my dad's "jokes")

Let them in too right, my sis and I would sit and drool until my dad got home and sent them packing. Never managed to convert us tho.

Although given their ill informed attitudes to blood transfussions one could argue they are not necessarily "nice" to their own children.

They're certainly not trying to be 'nasty', are they?

See above. As is often the case their beliefs have often "nasty" outcomes.

They're certainly not trying to be 'nasty', are they?

I never said they were, just that they have an agenda over and about just being nice to people.

All you need to do is say 'no thanks' and that's that.

Like I said, I agree with that bit. No need to be rude.

Yes they are Jehovas who knock the door, but you do have to admire their balls, so to speak.

The do come across quite friendly, but I do have a friend whose wife is an Ex Jehovas witness. When she said she was leaving the church, they told her parents and family that they could not see her anymore if she left or they would be thrown out of the church. She has not had any contact with them for over 10years.

I have no idea if this is common or just their church but its very scary.

When she said she was leaving the church, they told her parents and family that they could not see her anymore if she left or they would be thrown out of the church. She has not had any contact with them for over 10years.

I'm sure they said it in a "nice" tone. No harm done eh?

Well, actually, they are. In their own way. They're certainly not trying to be 'nasty', are they?

Well, that depends on your definition of nasty.

I think they're dangerous and deluded fantasists who prey on the vulnerable.

So yes, they are nasty.

"I'm a devout atheist, but I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked"

I kind of get where you are coming from, live and live and all that....but are you sure they are doing it for your benefit or theirs? That said I'm never rude to them, life is too short. Honestly, I just feel sorry for them.

They are not going out of their way to be nice to you, are they? They are trying to 'sell' you their way of thinking.
If they weren't trying to make you a 'believer' they wouldn't be knocking on the door for a chat.
They would have very little success turning up on your door & being rude.

I am never rude to them, and sometimes I do engage in a conversation regarding evolution, the infinite nature of the universe, the chances of intelligent life forming etc. and sometimes it is quite interesting.
I have always wondered how they would react and how much time they would give to a scientist turning up on their doorstep & wanting to discuss science, evolution etc. with them and turn them to their way of thinking. Would they be accommodating or not?

I was decorating our hallway once when a pair of them knocked on the door. They even offered to help with the decorating!! I was tempted to accept, just to see whether they actually would or not, but I was quite impressed with the immediate offer of help. I should have politely refused, but asked if they could trim the pear tree & cut the grass instead! 🙂

I'm always just honest with them. I let them know its too late. Having had a catholic education, I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life feeling a nagging sense of guilt and shame, while having no idea why

And I'm afraid no amount of 'good news' is going to change that

"Having had a catholic education, I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life feeling a nagging sense of guilt and shame, while having no idea why"

Brother, you need to bin that guilt.....they should apologise to you.

Where I grew up there is a big Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, or whatever tis called. And a big Mormon Church.

The same thing.

They would send the shock troops over from USA, young tall handsome American blokes in suits with name badges, on their 10 speed bikes (or 9 speed as they tithed 10% to the church, one of my dad's "jokes")

I understand missionary work is an essential part of the faith - at 18 you're sent off (no choice in where) to any part of the world to spend two years growing up and speaking to people about your faith. You do it with a buddy, who'll be someone you've never met before. That sounds pretty tough to me.

Used to work with a devout mormon chap who'd done all this. Met his wife when doing this in the USA. They now have 6 kids..!

(No, he never tried to convert me. No, I was never rude or belittling about his faith.)

I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked

I enjoy chatting with the local Jehovas Witnesses - they come round about every 6 months - used to be a couple of youngish girls - I think I had started to instill a few doubts as I robustly defended my position as a virtuous pagan - and then the next time I got a couple of old biddies.

You do it with a buddy, who'll be someone you've never met before.

Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.

I think anyone who wants to spend their own time basically being nice to people should be applauded, not mocked

If your talking about Jehovah's then it's not actually in their interest to convert you, what with there only being a limited number of spaces in heaven you'd only be competition.

Part of being a good Jehovah is spreading the word, in simple terms it earns you brownie points from god. You don't get extra points for a conversion.

So essentially they are on your doorstep for purely self serving interests, trying to guarantee they are one of the lucky 'rulers from heaven'.

If they were being nice they would knock on the door and offer to do some odd-jobs or some such.

I once had a fascinating chat about 'evil' with two I let in out of the cold and rain.

Was a lot more interesting that trying to discuss things with some of the atheists on here....

I think they're dangerous and deluded fantasists who prey on the vulnerable.

Personally I think companies offering easy credit, catalogue firms, betting shops/companies etc are far, far more destructive in our society, than a few bods who want others to share in something that makes them happy, but there you go...

Personally I think companies offering easy credit, catalogue firms, betting shops/companies etc are far, far more destructive in our society,

Finding something worse doesn't excuse a lesser wrong.