Experiences With Religious Door Knockers

[nailit]

Since moving to a high rise with limited access, I no longer get the religious door knockers/God Gang trying to sell me Jesus. Pity really as I used to enjoy trying to engage them in conversation and watching them back up the path as I quoted chapter and verse back at them..
(As an ex evangelical, it NEVER leaves you)
Most of the time I actually had a desire to debate/learn/exchange ideas with them but the feeling was not mutual...they just wanted to convert people and had no interest in other points of view.
I was never one for shutting the door in the face of someone who believed that they were doing good. Much rather have a mutual conversation.
However one afternoon we had a family gathering at my mums when the JW's were doing the rounds. I was sent to the door to see them off.
I politely asked them if they could come back the following week as we were in the middle of an occultic rite and were about to sacrifice a cockerel.
They actually apologised for disturbing us (at an OAP's bungalow) and promised to return the following week
(never did return. EVER)

Strange that! They promised as well.
Any stories re God Gang Door Knockers?

[Sqad]

1954...Saturday night in the Blind Beggar pub Whitechapel.
Salvation Army girl came selling the War Cry.
Had a little session in the yard behind the pub...knockers?...average.

[Jackdaw33]

I agree about brainwashing. Their internal discipline is very strict. Fall foul of the Elders and you will end up being shunned or 'disfellowshipped'. They have to produce visiting cards to show how many doors they have knocked on. If you haven't met your quota you're in trouble.

[lady-janine]

Sqad - only you.

[Gill1941]

I have a No Cold Callers sign on my door. Given to me by a policeman it says you are requested to leave and if you don't it is an offence and you could be reported. Words to that effect.
I have not had any cold callers since displaying this.

Only one and she said she didn't think it applied to religious groups and I replied Especially religious groups.
I live alone and am on crutches so by the time I get to the door I'm not very polite if it is a nuisance call.

[AuntPollyGrey]

What a bunch of nasty people you all are :-) Why can't you just say 'No thank you' and close the door? Why bother to gode them or be really rude? Says more about the person doing that sort of thing than the 'God Gangs' in my opinion. Would you react the same if the local vicar knocked on your door? I've met loads of JW's SDS and other weird religions and most are very nice -sometimes much nicer than the regular churchgoers I've met over the years. Its easy to criticise other religions by focussing on the more negative aspects but many of their beliefs are very close to mainstream Christianity.

[emmie]

i don't goad them, but have been polite and told them not interested, as i am a non believer. They are hard pushed to get into our building now we have security door and gates on the balcony

[Sqad]

APG.......I WAS polite, I thanked her and bought a War Cry.

[goodlife]

Jackdaw33@Hellywelly4@As I don't like lies, I feel compelled to answer your comments.
Are you a Jehovah's Witness? Have you ever been a Jehovah's Witness?
My children never had to sit and listen to the other children having a Xmas party. They were both kept out of their schools for that day. As it was a games day, they did not miss anything. They have games and parties at home anyway at any time of the year. The same with my grandchildren. The schools they attend actually tell them to keep the boys at home. With regard to school assemblies. A parent will usually sit with them and they have their own Bible lesson so, again, they are not missing out on anything as their teacher informs them of anything important they need to know.

[goodlife]

Jackdaw33// They have to produce visiting cards to show how many doors they have knocked on//
Please don't make spurious comments. You have absolutely NO idea. Your comment is completely wrong. Also, you do not get disfellowshipped or shunned just for disagreeing with someone. In fact, it is rarely there is a disfellowshipping, the person themself disassociates him/herself. So again, you are absolutely wrong.
Make sure of ALL things before you make such comments. Find out the facts before you start making such false and misleading statements.

[goodlife]

AuntPollyGrey@ Thank you for your comments. At last someone who is polite and courteous. There is no need at all to be rude when you speak with us at your door. A simple "no thank you" is appreciated. For how do you know who you are speaking to? It costs nothing at all to be polite. Even our children are taught to be polite and good mannered, compared to many children we see around us, rude to their parents, disobedient and rebellious.

[Spungle]

Yes, I recall well some local nuns knocking on our door and saying they were collecting for "Little Sisters of the Poor" and my dad telling them to go and have a word with the Pope and tell him to sell one or two of the paintings and sculptures in the Vatican and they'd soon have a bit of brass! They soon scarpered.

[Khandro]

Full marks to AuntPollyGrey at 13:27 Fri.

[Spungle]

[Spungle]

[vulcan42]

goodlife, where I live your fellow members are not polite and courteous. They knock the door and take a step back, after their opening speech I say no thank you I'm not interested and start to close the door. At this point they step forward and a hand goes out to stop me closing the door. As far as I'm concerned you are no better than pushy sales people who won't take no for an answer.

[royfromaus]

(As an ex evangelical, it NEVER leaves you)
____________________


Are ex evangelicals like vegans and former marines?

[Hagen]

As a rule I've always dismissed JWs politely. I see no need to insult them or use clever put-downs (tempting though it is, sometimes!). The one exception was a number of years ago when there was a big story about two JW parents who refused to allow a life-saving blood transfusion for their young child. As far as I remember, other family members whisked the child off to (I think, but may be wrong) Cyprus to have the transfusion, so all ended well. A few days after this some JWs came to my door, and on that occasion I really did give them a hard time.

I haven't lived in the UK for ten years, and during that time I have had only two visits and a hand-written letter (which was rather odd as I don't know where they got my full name and address). In each case the JWs were evidently British expats rather than nationals of the country in which I live.

[diddlydo]

I always say "I'm sorry but I never discuss religion on the doorstep" - they always back off.

[vulcan42]

diddlydo, I'll try that the next time they arrive but I have my doubts. I think I have the paramilitary section living near me.

[tiggerblue10]

I've had a few visits over the years and I'm usually polite in telling them I'm not interested. It only gets awkward when they become persistent which one or two have.