Proselytizing

Nonsense. If they door knocker won't bugger off when asked to then it says more about them than the homeowner.

 

I am one who has gone door to door carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't anymore, but I have in the past.

The receptions varied, but very very few people were rude or angry that we visited. Most were very polite and would listen and converse with us.

And, there is some who did turn to Christ as a result and did begin going to Church. So it is a beneficial exercise in furthering the kingdom of God.

Of course you do not schedule it at the ususal times of supper or early morning. You do all you can to remove being a hindrance. That said, you cant' remove all, because just being a Christian and visiting is a hindrance to some.

Quantrill

 

Technically the JW's are following the bible to the letter. The bible says that it is the duty of every christian to try to convert as many people as possible.

 

Bull.

You are to "offer a reason for your joy" when asked, and if not heard, to "shake the dust from your sandals" as you leave.

There is no command to actively convert--share the peace of Christ, yes--be a nuisance with your version of Christ's peace--no.

 

Actually, they don't follow the Bible to the letter. And the Bible doesn't say to 'convert' as many people as possible. The Great Commission is for us to go out into the world and share the Good News.

The JW's have distorted beliefs about Jesus and His teachings. Just check out their website or read any issue of the WatchTower and you'll see what I mean.

 

No--it's to share the joy. Conversion of heart is a job for God and the individual.

If they want it, they will seek it.

 

The purpose of doing so is to convince people to convert.

Also, I would say that many sects of Christianity have corrupt beliefs. The catholics believe that any child who dies before beig babtised is barred from heaven. Many Babtists believe that anything that can be seen as enjoyable is a sin. There are many other beleives that are never found in the bible, but are followed....I would call every one of those beleifs corruptions the original intent of the bible.

 

I would agree with your 2nd paragraph. Me, not being religious is the result of things such as you wrote. As a matter of fact, my witness and evangelizing is to help others see the corruption that many doctrine and traditions have that have led the religious to accept a view of the Bible that is false.

 

Well, seems you and I can agree on a number of things related to the Bible.

 

They do, don't they. Now what does it say about a homeowner that holds a grudge about such disruptions for years at a time?

There are bad drivers out there, road rage remains the fault of the ragger not the bad drivers out there.

 

Who cares? I have yet to see someone knock on a door and begin by saying, "You're children are going to hell because they are unbaptized."

The may come as a shock to atheists but Christians don't just knock on the doors of atheists. They knock on our doors too, even when we are strong in our faith and denomination choices. Ergo, it would be best to remember that the practice is common enough that people are aware of exaggerations.

There is also a sharp contrast in how we appear to address the 'disruption'. By most counts the person in this circumstance is kind and honorable, and, if engaged in actual conversation there is potential for ... opportunity. Its not every day that good people walk up to your door and introduce themselves. If all you see is their religion, then perhaps your vision is more clouded and exclusive then you realize.

 

My only complaint about the door-to-door stuff was the number of religious folk who ignored my "No Soliciting" signs. To be fair, leftist signature-gatherers and donation seekers would also do this. The lefties would usually apologize and leave. The fundies however were a different story. I got less and less polite as time went on. Just stay off my property if you're not invited, OK?

 

Your experience is quite different than mine. Those stopping by to have me sign a petition or asking for donations to something I never heard of were a pain to get rid of. The religious folk were kind and understanding. By the way the JW and Mormons are not fundies.

 

Make a bigger sign. Seems a simpler solution then holding and emotional grudge.

 

Did they keep coming back week after week as the religious nuts did to me?

I always got the same story: "well sir, we don't consider this soliciting." Hey, come on folks, just respect my privacy.

Never said they were. And they were not the ones who kept coming back. In fact I was visited by both groups and both assured me they would put me on their "do not knock" list and as far as I knew they did for a while. But I kept getting hit by some "Good News Fellowship" or some such thing. They were not so cooperative with the whole no soliciting thing.

I did invite the Mormons in once -- they watched me smoke a cigar and drink a few Martinis while we listened to some metal. Ozzy I think. That was fun.

 

When it comes to my private property, I'd prefer they keep the "joy" to themselves.

 

It's a grudge that I don't want them to stay after I tell them I'm not interested?

Wow you're self entitled.

 

Gee, I wonder just how often some Christian comes knocking on your door or ringing your doorbell in order to tell you about Christ. Is it every day, once a week, once a month, once or twice a year or even fewer times? I have either a Jehovaha's Witness or Mormon ring my doorbell about once a year, usually during the summer. I politely inform them that I already have a church which I attend and do not want to listen to their message. End of story.

One thing I have found is that those ringing my doorbell are invariably polite and soft spoken. There is no hard sell, no ranting or raving and when I decline to listen to them, they go on their merry way.

I wonder if you tie the dogs outside to keep little Girl Scouts from knocking on your door to sell you some cookies. Do you yell at the neighborhood kid who is selling something as a fund raiser for his school? How are you with neighbors inviting you to their yard for a barbecue?

Is your time really all that precious that you can't take thirty seconds from your day, once or twice a year in order to answer your doorbell or a knock at the door and politely tell people you are not interested, or do you simply have something against Christians? For some reason, I suspect the latter.

 

Apparently the reason you pay your mortgage and your property taxes is to give the religious nuts a platform to harass you.

 

Oh hogwash. It amazes me that so many atheists have claimed to such mewling victim status on having their door knocked. I live two blocks from a Mormon Church and I have never seen one go back to house where they were not invited or were told they were not welcome. Indeed, aa is taught to.missionaries or MANY faiths, they simply move on to those they believe are ready to hear the word. Simply put, jerks are clearly worth their time.

As I stated, such anticsbreveal far more about the property owner then about the missionary. I think it is far more likely you toyed with Missionaries, and openly mocked their beliefs for some kind of perverse thrill. But I am glad to know that you drink martinis at noon merely to be mean to someone.

Now tell me, how does this behavior, openly mocking someone else's beliefs (and Mormon Missionaries are 19 years old) compare to calling someone retarded?

Understand that you want your beliefs respectived, but look howbyou treated others - even excusedniy by blaming them. Millions of.other people are left alone after expressing such desires to missionaries, you however were 'forced' to mock them to rid of them?

Not buying that for a second.

 

I happen to value my privacy and I have something against Christians -- especially those who do not respect my privacy. Girl Scouts and school fundraising groups are taught to respect "NO SOLICITING" signs. Why not Christians?

 

Yes, because when you pay your taxes, the government automatically builds a 15 foot security fence topped with barbed worse around your house.

Clearly you atheists have it worse off then slaves because someone occasionally knocks on your door. Better repriortize the entire government to protect you from the egregious offense of a ringing door bell.

Do we see why theologians classify atheism as self worship?

 

Girl scouts are also taught to be polite and to realize that they are not the center of the universe - why aren't atheists taught this?

Once again, if your private life is irreparably disrupted by an occasional door believe ... well, just make sure hold the occasional lost delivery boy looking for help with the same derision and demand the end of pizza and package delivery as well.

Your concerns are silly, and quite frankly appear to be nothing but rationalized excuses to be mean to people based solely on their faith.

Amazing what missionaries can reveal about a homeowner, and glad to see how slim the standard has to be for atheist reject potential friendship and fellowship.

Atheists in this position are indeed victims of something, but that something is not missionaries.

 

I have JW's that come to my door. I smile, tell them I'm not interested. They smile and thank me for my time and leave.

I worry about them--and hope they stay safe.

The area around my church is run down with drugs and despair and poverty. Most of our congregation is not from this neighborhood. We knock on doors in the neighborhood occassionally to get to know the community and make people feel welcome to visit.

People like to be invited and its courteous to invite.

 

I seriously doubt that either you or any other complaining poster is constantly barraged by Christians, or anyone else knocking at your door. It is my contention that there are certain posters who enjoy straining at gnats, especially if those gnats are Christian gnats.