Proselytizing

I'm an atheist and I do not like to have people who are peddling their church knocking on my door while I'm trying to read. Since I'm an atheist, that's probably not a surprise.

I'm curious. For the Christians on this forum. When you're doing something, usually on the weekend, and you have someone knocking on your door, are you irritated or do you tell them how happy you are to see them out doing the Lord's work for him? Does it matter whether or not they're from the same denomination as you?

 

Nope I do not like it. JW bother me and I have been known to tie the dog out to keep them away.

Regardless; though, Christians and even those Calvinist (JW) people are called to witness. So even if you do not want to hear it people will come.

I find it a much better than being drug out of my home and executed for not accepting Islam though. Glad I live in America and I am glad people have the right to witness.

Hey here is an idea. Put up a sign: "Your witnessing only proves my point. You evolved from a monkey. Go away and don't knock or I call the cops."

 

I hate it too. It seems condescending, IMO. Faith is a person's free choice. Send me an advert in the mail, fine--don't knock on my door.

Frankly, though, ANYBODY unexpected coming to the door annoys me. If you're expected, don't bother knocking, come on in (unless you're a repair person type--then please, knock).

 

It depends.
Anyone knocking at my door, being impolite, unwilling to understand NO, is frowned upon.
On the other hand, we are all people, and wish to be treated as such.
I politely make my expectations known, and unwanted guests usually get the message.

 

I like it better than being run over by a truck, too. Oh, and better than be sodomized by a horse. False dichotomys rule. I understand they're forced to pester me. My wife actually had to sign an oath to pester everyone everywhere. She was good at it, too.

The church folks proselytizing are by far the largest group. I live in Mexico now so I get less knocking on my door but the protestants are becoming a nuisance. The only ones I've found to be always polite are the Mormons.

 

Amongst your reading material. Does this inlude the Bible? I'm a Christian, I'd just as soon not have any stranger knocking at my door whether they are salesmen, religious people or the IRS. A simple sign on your property should alleviate this bothersome interruption.

Am I irritated, no. But I do agree this is less bothersome than in some countries where you fear the knock at the door for being pulled out and shot or something. Take it all in perspective and you can still be nice all the while getting over yourself.

 

It's been years but I've read the Bible. I'm not sure why you think that's significant. I've also read "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stenger. Now, that was a good read.

I assume you're joking about the signs.

 

The last time a door knocker came to my house I basically had to slam the door in his face before he got the message that I wasn't interested.

 

Sometimes lonely shut ins appreciate visitors. There are different opinions on it. I like to debate them (Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons) and demonstrate the error of their religions and point them to the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

BTW, Jehovah Witnesses and Calvinists? Two TOTALLY different groups.

 

I usually invite them in, if I have time. I'll talk to them for a little bit and thank them for their time. It is their right to practice their faith.

 

Excellent point. Not everyone is offended and for some, it might be a life-changing visit. Why deny those who welcome the intervention just because you find it obtrusive. I'm more than capable of NOT answering the door when I know JW's are cruising the neighborhood... and I always know 'cuz the dogs go crazy anytime someone goes door to door.

A simple "No Solcitors" sign can be purchased for a buck... or you can always get fancy:

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Your signature line.... It is absolutely awesome. I love it and highly recommend that everyone at least look at it and then allow their conscience to be their guide.

Thanks for posting it.

 

As weird as it sounds I kind of like it when the Jehova's Witnesses stop by because they always give me a couple of copies of the Watchtower magazines which I love to read for kicks. Seriously, their interpretations of the Bible are totally hilarious to me. Plus I like how realistic the drawings are in them, so I appreciate them for the artwork me being an art nut and all.

Although the most recent JW visitors I had were two creepy old men who I was worried about opening the screen door for since I am just a young woman and I was home alone as well. My dad has firearms in the house but I have no idea how to use them so not sure that would do any good to protect me if some crazies posing as religious people pushed their way in or something.

In this day and age not only do people have to be careful to who they open the door too but the one's going around knocking on doors need to take precautions as well. It's not always safe for either party so I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.

 

When given a Watchtower magazine, the first thing I do is take a yellow highlighter to it and mark every statement in it that conflicts with the Holy Bible. I've had issues that were 50% marked up.

Any denomination or so called Christian religion that has other reading material that they use and consider equal to the Holy Bible sets off enough red flags for me to stay away from. I don't care how good they are or how good their works are.

 

Hahaha, well like I said, I read it for (*)(*)(*)(*)s and giggles and I think the drawings are pretty. Nothing will turn me back to Christianity for so long as I live let alone a bunch of door knocking Mormons or Jehova's Witnesses.

 

Why is that? Never is a long time.

 

Thx for your support, darlin. Made my day.

 

I can't see anyone's signature. What's up?

 

It's a big long story, but I'll say it involved lots of mental abuse and violence and it was Christians doing it and using their religion to justify it. So no. Never again. I electively choose to avoid all the Abrahamic religions as ones to follow in my life.

 

That's understandable. However, does one turn away from the truth because a follower (or more) fails to live up to the teachings of Jesus?

Let not Christians be the cause of your falling away. God loves you no matter whether you believe or not, but He wishes none to perish. I believe the Word tells us SOSA and if this be true He still holds you in His hands and nothing can take you away from Him. Even you. We didn't do anything to earn the free gift of Salvation, why could anything we do lose this free gift?

I'll see you in Heaven, my friend.

 

If the followers of God are like the ones I have known and I will see them in the heaven Christians speak of simply because they believed in Jesus or whatever then I don't want to be there. Because people like that are evil and if evil is allowed in heaven then that is not where I would want to be. I'll take my spot in hell with all the other innocent and good folks who did nothing wrong but turn away from the atrocities of Christianity and found other faiths or no faith at all (humanism perhaps) to bring fulfillment to their lives and to those around them.

 

Well, let's look at this. Do you like it when some one is lost or hurt and knocks on your door seeking help? Do you like it when the police knock on your door to tell you that there is a criminal in the area or that a loved one is hurt? Do you detest it when neighbors introduce themselves or unexpectedly invite you for dinner? Does the FEDEX guy dropping off a package enrage you to the point that you think paradox delivery should be banned?

Most churches do not go door to door, but, and if we view the world from something other than our own concerns, you would note that not all houses and families are the same and every situation presents its own context. That YOU are not wanting is not all, sometimes those knocks on the door are needed, whether it be to spread the word to those willing to listen or simply discovering criminal behavior that is reported to the police - because some cared enough to knock.

When someone knocks on your door, let's just say the handling of it says more about the homeowner than the knocker.

 

Those supposed Christians that fail to follow the teachings of Jesus will experience one of two things. 1) They really aren't Christians and you won't see them in Heaven or 2) They will suffer for the harm they cause while here on earth. There are consequences that they may wish they were in hell. Jesus said of these people "I never knew you".

I hear what you're saying. Have heard it all my life, have even been there when I was an Agnostic. Your experiences have had a corrupting influence on your idea of who God is. We need to see things as God sees them and it ain't easy but He does reveal Himself in the Word. I would suggest that earth itself is a place of evil and atrocities are not limited to those who call themselves Christians. The world is full of these type of people and if we limit ourselves to that which we suppose is good, we will be dissappointed. Man is not God, man is fallen and falls short of the Glory of God.

From God's perspective, since the fall of Adam all are sinners, none are so good that they can earn their way into His presence. Thus a need for a Savior. Think about this. God gave man a choice (choices actually) and it is we who make wrong choices that lead us outside the Will of God. Do we blame God for this? I think not.

I believe God is Good. I do not believe anything bad comes from God, but from man who is selfish and willingly lets satan lead them away from Him for any number of reasons. However because God is Good, He has given us a Way to be reconciled to Him. If I believed God was responsible for death, sickness, trials and tribulations, I would be standing in line with you, waiting for the next one-way ticket to hell. But I don't believe this.

The Bible if one allows the Holy Spirit to work within them reveals the truth of a Good God. Not the one that the religious folk have taught us wrongly all these years or the one that naysayers like to point out that is a wrathful God, but one can find the reality of Who God is, what His Will is for us and how much He loves us.

I have recently come to know this God, by revelation of the Word and my whole understanding of Him and my relationship has been totally transformed. I hope the same for you. Give Him a chance, turn to Him, not evil man.

 

Or you can take some chalk, draw an outline of a body and then throw some religious pamphlets around the sketch and you won't get too many solicitors.

If they are Jehovah's Witness missionaries I always send them to my parents house. What's a son for?