Religious proselyting with no Stile.

[*Paul*]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.
You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.
They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.
I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?
I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

 

[Don Penguinoini]

I said this before, i think. I think its absolutely terrible. Those people are not followers of their faith!(those who knock at your door) What religions particulary? I bet Hare Krishna people came. God they are soo nnoying.

 

[Sunstone]

I think meeting people like that would amuse me the first time or two. But it would soon get old.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't like that either. I know it is important for people to hear about God but I think we do best if we have a good impression. When Jesus taught the people all came to Him and not the other way around. I am sure that is the same for some of the other religious icons of other religions. There are Churches plenty and people do know where they are. There are public venues that people know about (such as Billy Graham going to an Arena). Home is a sacred place to spend time with your family and friends.

I certainly don't mind hearing about different opinions, but when I am at home I don't want someone knocking at my door to sell me things, including trying to sell me God. God is NOT a commercial good.

 

[Don Penguinoini]

I think meeting people like that would amuse me the first time or two. But it would soon get old.

The trinity, Jesus etc.... Brhma Vishnu Mahesh yes? No, Jesus etc. No, B V M, yes 4 heads 4 arms snake head, yes? No jesus, god, holy ghost... Yes! I havea friend who exterminate ghost! I get number for you!

Thats how id like it!

 

[Random]

What's wrong with a firm "No, thank you, not interested"? Usually works amongst polite people, no?

 

[logician]

There's little more dangerous than evangelical religion.

 

[frg001]

I think the same tactic as sometime used for telesales people comes in handy...
"Knock knock"
"hello?"
"Hi we're from *insert religious group* can we talk?
"One second I will just go and get my hearing aid"
.
.
*loud cussing*
.
.
.
*loud cussing*
.
.
.
"Ah hi?"
"Well we would like to..."
"Bollocks the batteries are screwed, One second"...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
etc

Not that I have tried it with the door to door botherers.

 

[Panda]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.
You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.
They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.
I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?
I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

When I was in Dundee(city nearest me) a couple of weeks ago a couple of Mormons came up to me when I was waiting at the bus stop. They were obviously "advertising" Mormonism but I found them very kind and they quickly realized there was no hope of them ever converting me, so they just sat and chatted while I waited on my bus. I'm sure if I had asked them to leave then they would have.
I see no problem with them as long as they won't continue after you have asked them to stop, sometimes it can be a good way to learn more about other religions.

 

[*Paul*]

It's not the intention that bothers me, that I admire but it is the methodology, I find it insulting, why not just say what you mean instead of trying these techniques and methods, I find it all a bit dishonest.

My wife and I were personally groomed by people we thought were friends for a missionary visit, it was so obvious and I could see it happening all along.

 

[sojourner]

There's little more dangerous than evangelical religion.

Unless it's evangelical atheism...

 

[frg001]

Unless it's evangelical atheism...

Except evangelical atheism is not trying to ram just one of MANY versions of THE TRUTH down your throat, just that there is in fact NO TRUTH.

So in effect what you just said was incorrect?

 

[roli]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.
You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.
They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.
I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?
I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

What's more insulting is the when they profess to be a christian and expound on their well rehearsed scriptures ,quoting certain verses that they have memorised and specifically use to counteract any opposition to their beliefs ,that they will shut down the conversation immediately when a challenge is put forth from a well adversed person who knows the scriptures extremely well and challenges their doctrine and beliefs.It goes something like this and I have discussed with many, "well we have to go" , "we have an appointment", we will call you ,although they wanted your number initially ,they all of a sudden, forget to ask for a contact number and insist they have to go, The challenge it appears threatens them ,somewhat
Oh and one other thing, I might add that although they claim to be christian,they seldom ever get to the underlying authentic and actual doctrine that is at the core of their belief, they sugar coat it with alluring resemblences, but never actually discuss the differences of their beliefs and that of the born again christians.

 

[Katzpur]

They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.

For a minute there, *Paul*, I thought you were talking about Mormon missionaries! Then I came to the part about briefcases, and realized you weren't. :no: , Mormon missionaries don't carry briefcases.

By the way, if any mod happens to read this... Would you mind changing the spelling of "stile" to "style"? I keep thinking of the old nursery rhyme about the crooked man who walked a crooked mile, and found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile.

 

[*Paul*]

For a minute there, *Paul*, I thought you were talking about Mormon missionaries! Then I came to the part about briefcases, and realized you weren't. :no: , Mormon missionaries don't carry briefcases.

By the way, if any mod happens to read this... Would you mind changing the spelling of "stile" to "style"? I keep thinking of the old nursery rhyme about the crooked man who walked a crooked mile, and found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile.

The spelling was deliberate Katz I meant to say Stile not Style, you are right, the brief cases are unique to JW's in my experience though for the rest of what I have said is typical of my experience with mormon missionaries.
It's like the Christadelphians too they have set out a leaflet campaign in my area offering a non denominational discussion and study on scripture so I decided to take part but what happens? All I have done is sat through lectures by Christadelpians, which are so full that you have no time to question or discuss unless you are the kind of person to butt in. There has been nothing non denominational about our studies.

 

[*Paul*]

What's more insulting is the when they profess to be a christian and expound on their well rehearsed scriptures ,quoting certain verses that they have memorised and specifically use to counteract any opposition to their beliefs ,that they will shut down the conversation immediately when a challenge is put forth from a well adversed person who knows the scriptures extremely well and challenges their doctrine and beliefs.It goes something like this and I have discussed with many, "well we have to go" , "we have an appointment", we will call you ,although they wanted your number initially ,they all of a sudden, forget to ask for a contact number and insist they have to go, The challenge it appears threatens them ,somewhat
Oh and one other thing, I might add that although they claim to be christian,they seldom ever get to the underlying authentic and actual doctrine that is at the core of their belief, they sugar coat it with alluring resemblences, but never actually discuss the differences of their beliefs and that of the born again christians.

I agree, also there is the constant tactic of emphasising on what you agree on I feel it is designed to bring your defenses down and make you feel harmonious. IF Rat poison is mostly protein and 98% or so of it is harmless, do we call it food or poison?

 

[Katzpur]

I agree, also there is the constant tactic of emphasising on what you agree on I feel it is designed to bring your defenses down and make you feel harmonious. IF Rat poison is mostly protein and 98% or so of it is harmless, do we call it food or poison?

This is a great thread, *Paul*, but what I don't get is why you don't just admit that it's the Mormons you're talking about. It sounds as if you and Roli are both on the same wavelength. You're both talking about how missionaries from certain religious denominations beat around the bush and don't come right out and say what they're really there to say. Aren't you two doing exactly that right now? If you'll just come right out and say that you dislike Mormon missionaries, it would make a lot less disingenuous. You do that, and I'll address each of the complaints you raised in your OP. The invitation is open to Roli, too, of course.

 

[*Paul*]

This is a great thread, *Paul*, but what I don't get is why you don't just admit that it's the Mormons you're talking about. It sounds as if you and Roli are both on the same wavelength. You're both talking about how missionaries from certain religious denominations beat around the bush and don't come right out and say what they're really there to say. Aren't you two doing exactly that right now? If you'll just come right out and say that you dislike Mormon missionaries, it would make a lot less disingenuous. You do that, and I'll address each of the complaints you raised in your OP. The invitation is open to Roli, too, of course.

Katzpur I have mentioned three groups in this thread, Jw's, Christadelphians and Mormons all guilty of similar things, feel free to defend the missionaries. I do not dislke them but the methodology, I have no intention of singling out one group - remember in my op too I said that some protestants are also guilty of this, so I really don't know why you are assuming that this is about mormonism.

Edit - I have never been accused of beating around the bush before. Lol

 

[Katzpur]

I have noticed just lately that when i have had representatives of other religions at my door that they are using sales techniques to try and win you over.
You know you open your door and the first thing you see if this shiny happy face who drops you a line with some kind of small talk, a comment about the weather or the news, something like that to get you to drop your guard.
They, like the gas, electric or double glazing salesmen will be clean shaven, have tidy hair, a smart suit and a briefcase which is all a part of the illusion.
Then the conversation will turn into the world today what you may think is wrong with it and then comes the punch line selling you their particular sect etc.
I find this methodology unnatural, arrogant and a little insulting.
Since when did God need tactics and techniques for His message to reach the hearts of men, did I miss the part in the acts of the apostles where Paul was giving out courses in evangelism?
I really dislike all this and it happens in protestantism too, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the message itself needs no business techniques to sell it.
Well if I as a Christian find all this nonsense a bit distasteful how do you others feel about it?

When the chit-chat goes on too long, I'm inclined to agree with you that it would be tempting to say, "Would you please just tell me what you're here for?" Most Mormon missionaries don't actually spend much time talking about the weather or the news. They begin by introducing themselves and saying that they're from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have a message to share with you. I guess I don't see how a casual comment about something other than their religious beliefs has anything to do with trying to get you to "drop your guard." That statement alone sounds so confrontational. One doesn't need to worry about dropping one's guard unless he is anticipating a fight. Mormon missionaries are specifically told NOT to get into arguments with people over doctrines or anything else.

Okay, so you object to the clean-cut, well-dressed appearance of missionaries. I really don't have any comment about that, other than to say that I see nothing wrong with anyone putting his best foot forward, so to speak. With Mormon missionaries (I don't believe this is the case with the JWs and I've never even spoken to Christadelphians), they always wear their name tags. Think of that as an opportunity for you to have a slight edge over them. You don't even have to worry about dropping your guard if you know up front who they are and what they're there for.

If you've had a specific conversation with a Mormon missionary that you found to be arrogant or insulting, perhaps you could go into a bit more detail so that we could talk further. Right now, I'm kind of in the dark. Mormon missionaries certainly don't intend to be arrogant or insulting.

Aside from the fact that you would prefer that the Mormon missionaries never call on you at all, what would you suggest in lieu of the "tactics and techniques" you see them as currently using?

 

[Smoke]

For a minute there, *Paul*, I thought you were talking about Mormon missionaries! Then I came to the part about briefcases, and realized you weren't. :no: , Mormon missionaries don't carry briefcases.

It's so hard to balance them across the handlebars.