Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Greg Houser on March 15, 2011 at 7:57pm

That is funny! First time i have laughed all week. Thanks

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hollyn on March 15, 2011 at 8:32pm

This is why I don't answer my door to strangers.

 

This story reminded me of something my coworker shared with me a few weeks ago. He had just finished working on his car and gone inside when he heard a knock on the door. Entirely disheveled, he answered the door expecting to find his neighbor returning a tool he left outside. Instead he was greeted by a young man and his mother, there to spread the word and happiness gained from being a JW.

My coworker decided to listen to their spiel and then respectfully stated that he has a hard time believing in any kind of metaphysical being that you can't see or gather any evidence to prove its existence.

At which point the young man defended his position by saying, "Well, you can't see oxygen and you know it exists!"

I facepalmed at about that point and I don't entirely remember what all my coworker said next aside from questioning this young man as to whether or not he had ever read about the process of photosynthesis. My coworker eventually had to tell these people to leave after the conversation turned a little more aggressive and defensive; obviously these visitors had overstepped their boundaries and hadn't quite resigned to their defeat. 

 

But really, this is why I don't answer the door. Unless I've ordered a pizza to be delivered or I'm expecting a guest, if there's an unwarranted knock on my door, I'm not answering it. 

 

I wouldn't count on these people actually being open to considering your point of view. They don't care what you think. They only care that they're saved, you're lost; you're a challenge and it's their duty to care for your poor, grieving soul and usher it right back into the loving arms of Jesus.

I'm not a fan of debate, especially on a doorstep. I don't solicit my thoughts upon people like the Avon lady, why can't I expect the same courtesy?

 

If anything, I would have wanted to know why their knowledge and preparation hadn't enabled them to discuss the subject matter the first time they visited. It sounds to me like they're asking the wrong questions to the wrong people.

 

Anyway, sorry about the rambling randomness... Good luck with your experience, I'm curious as to the outcome... you are a far braver person than I am.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim on March 15, 2011 at 8:44pm

They're consulting the Elders.

Hit them with a few tidbits of information.

Charles Russell was a sheister who was jailed for fraud when he sold magic wheat that had curing properties. He also sold a mixture of Chloride of Zinc as a cancer cure which actually made many sicker.

Russell's wife filed for divorce because Russel was sleeping around.

That'll get them started.

Want to make their heads spin? Start quoting obscure biblical verses, the nastier the better. Watch how they squirm to try to get out of explaining why God commanded genocides or that Jesus is a decedent of a murderer and and adultress. (if you're not familiar, David knocked up Bathsheeba and sent her husband to the front lines to die so the truth wouldn't get out.)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pat on March 16, 2011 at 10:06am

As for me, living in a very rural area, I ask if they're literate. When they say "Yes", I point to the "No Trespassing" sign at the beginning of the driveway and tell them they have 30 seconds to get off the property before I call the law. Not very neighborly, I'll admit, but no worse to them than disturbing my peace and quiet.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wiley Coyote on March 16, 2011 at 12:29pm

Whenever the JW's come knocking on my door I tell them that the Mormons were here about an hour earlier and converted me then close the door. (& vice versa when it's the Morons knocking)

 

Another tactic I've had fun with is to ask the Mormons for a copy of Watchtower... or to ask the JW's about their magical underwear. Whatever, just mix them up and act serious about it and get them babbling on, then casually close the door on them.

 

Other times I answer the door, listen to their introduction, laugh hysterically and close the door.

It all depends on what type of mood Im in.

 

If at all possible, I'd love to get the JW's & the Morons to show up at my door minutes apart, invite them in and see if I could get them fighting over my imaginary soul. One of these days.... ;)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by FreeThinker on March 18, 2011 at 5:41am

Yesterday, I went to lunch at a local restaurant and a JW woman came in and handed a copy of The Watchtower to the waitress and said "Here's some complimentary reading material for your break room".  As soon as the woman turned around, in the garbage it went. 

 

I wonder what JW's do when Mormons show up at their door and vice-versa.  Do they try to convert one another for hours or do they slam the door?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ursula Moertl on March 18, 2011 at 6:24am

Personally, I no longer talk to Jehova's Witnesses. I did bible studies with them about 8-9 years ago simply to get to know their argumentation and because I did not want to jump to conclusions about a religious sect I basically knew nothing about. The lady I saw for a few months was very nice in the beginning but as soon as I agreed to visit one of their Sunday gatherings she and the people she brought with her got increasingly aggressive and pushy so I was forced to tell them that I am an atheist and nothing they can ever say will ever convince me of the existence of a supernatural being. It took some time for them to stop calling, showing up at my apartment uninvited or ganging up on me when they saw me in the city.

 

After this experience I decided to learn more about people who have escaped this particular kind of brainwashing and let me tell you the JW's are as bad and in some areas worse than some of the other God fanatics out there. 

 

One of my colleagues told me about her mother's run in with JW's in Munich where she worked as a primary school teacher. In one of her classes there was a young boy whose parents were JW's. This boy had a serious accident on the way home from school but not so serious that he could not have been saved with surgery and a blood transfusion. His parents refused and delayed the medical treatment to the point that their young son died.

 

There staunch refusal to consider blood transfusions for their children is just one of the reasons why I consider the doctrine of Jehova's Witnesses to be inherently evil.

 

The last time the JW's knocked on my door, I let them finish their introduction and then told them that I respect their right to believe in whatever nonsense they want to as they are adults. I then went on to tell them that I consider them abominations for the fact that they rather let their children die than give them the medical treatment (blood transfusions) that could save their lives, I also told them that I had studied with them and compared their bible version to several others I had in my possession at that time and that they as everybody else change the bible to suit their perverted beliefs and conveniently overlook everything in their holy book that does not suit them. After that I made it very clear that in their own interest they should never darken my doorstep again, which they have not since.

 

My advice to you, Greg. Should they ever show up again, let them know in no uncertain terms that they are not welcome, because if you give them even an inch you'll be hard pressed to get rid of them any time soon.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hugh Kramer on March 18, 2011 at 10:48am

If you find talking with them entertaining, that's fine. If you think you're going to convert them though, you're wasting your time. One of their nicknames is "Jehovah's Witlesses" and it's a name they've worked hard to earn.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grace Fitzpatrick on March 18, 2011 at 11:00am

LOL  That is true.  I usually just say "No, thank you, I'm not interested" and leave it at that.  I imagine they are secretly relieved when they are turned away.  Since they believe there are only 144,000 slots in heaven, they should be relieved when next to no one (their fellow Xians feel the same way about them as we do) wants a spot.  More room for them.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Goz on March 19, 2011 at 10:41am

So few people understand about the age of reason..Explain it to them.

• ▶ Reply