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Thank you for the explanation.
I don't know what you mean. What is similar to biblical teachings?
"God's love" is treating other people like children, demeaning their way of life, and insulting their beliefs in their own home?
Not much, at all.
Of course, the Scouts don't threaten you if you say "no thanks" to the apples they're selling.
No, we're in total agreement. It should always be a dialogue, especially if they came to your door. They're free to present their idea, and you're free to embrace it, reject it, or have a discussion. The only problem comes when the person initiating isn't operating in good faith, or is disrespectful.
Wow, you're trying real hard. You must be the only person in the modern age who has never seen an advertisement. Congratulations !
You must type with your eyes closed then
Why do you care what Mormons think of you after you've closed the door on them?
Ahhh, this is the heart of the matter, I think. You believe you are better than everyone else, and take any newly introduced philosophy presented to you as an insulting challenge to your ego?
Once again, you worry far too much about this stuff for someone who's a simple atheist. If you were so resolute in your belief, my guess is that you wouldn't take such huge offense at what some well-meaning teenage Mormon missionaries think about you.
You have been threatened by Mormon missionaries?! Do tell...!
Not by the Mormons; generally, it's the other denominations that go for the threats of Hell.
I still see some, but I am exposed to significantly less than what most are.
Nope. My ad-blocker takes care of them and I never have to see ads on the web. And I don't.You must type with your eyes closed then
I care when they can't take no for an answer. I care when they assume upfront they are more knowledgeable than me over a subject they want to discuss. I care that they assume there must be something wrong with me, something I am missing out on, or why else would they even approach me?
Not at all.
To give you an example, some JWs came knocking on my door many years ago when I still practiced neo-Paganism. These two guys wanted to tell me about spirit guides. They assumed I didn't know anything about them, they assumed such a concept was not a part of my religion back then, and the assumption that I needed what they were selling. And then it was a bunch of "but this says, and the Bible says, and the Watch Tower says." They were the ones who had no interests in hearing what I had to say. If I shut them out like that, I can't debate them.
And once again a theist assumes I am an atheist.
I don't care what they think of me. I actually laughed, really hard, when the next one to show up was the "older and more experienced" missionary. I care that very obviously I am not interested, but yet they didn't take the hint and showed back up. And again. And again. There is no other expression for such behavior other than "very ****ing rude."
Uh, because we're used to getting the worst?
Ahh, but this thread was about Mormons.
Du er ikke den eneste med rodder i norden. (sprog: DK) Well, if you don't know what I am talking about - that's OK. I don't feel like being the light-bearer this time around. You guys study on your own.
What pictures? Telling details of a story in visual terms, for example, helps the listener.
So you lied earlier. Great- thanks for the wild goose chase.
Bully for you.
Again, you're using some kind of self-esteem issue. You already don't like these missionaries, despite the fact that outwardly they are nothing but pleasant with you (the Latter-Day Saints, that is). But you harbor deep animosity for them anyway because of some notion that they are judging you after you close the door.
Then might I suggest that you truly listen to what the Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses are trying to tell you. Perhaps you'll learn something about yourself and become a better person. And of course, you're welcome to attend my church the next time you're in my neighborhood.
I've had the same experience. You simply tell them that your spiritual needs are taken care of, thank them (optionally), and then close the door. None of them will force their way in, and spew vile hatred at you, while holding you and your Pomeranian hostage.
My apology. You are a simple... what, then?
Sure. You care so little, that you're here railing against their well wishes, however intentioned, and using hyperbole to state that they must be wrong.
Jeg si ikke jeg var? Which has nothing to do with the issue of proselytizing, by the way.
They can be concerned in the social safety of their own churches, then. With all the random bible quotes you're tossing out, you're forgetting a very pertinent one: Matthew 10:14 "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." All those missionaries that just keep coming back aren't very good at listening, are they?
There is nothing wrong with them trying to spread their own message. You might do the same thing, if you had a thing you thought was good news.
Oh, that's a good one. But Matthew also said in that same passage, "Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave." and "If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you."
I sincerely doubt it is the same missionaries.
Of course there is - some people are tired of hearing it. Especially in their own homes. What makes their message and their beliefs any better than what I've got? (Of which they know nothing about prior to knocking and ridiculously asking if I know about Jesus, by the way).
No, I might not. I've got more respect for other people's right to belief.
And that contradicts my point... how? They're not going to find a friend or a convert at my door; best leave me be and try a few doors down. And if the whole neighborhood rejects their message, maybe don't keep trying. And if they happen to find a welcoming home, bully for them.
Perhaps, but also - as clearly stated - those who don't welcome them or listen to their words.
You can sincerely doubt to your heart's content. You're not here, and you don't know who comes to my door. I do.
These are just well-wishing people, come to give you something, per their intent. You're making a judgment call about them without knowing them either.
How would anyone ever change their belief about anything, if new ideas are never introduced? The Earth is no longer believed to be flat, geocentrism has been discredited, and blacks & women can now vote.
How do they know that though? If you wanted to stop such attempts (and by different people, I might add), you could put a "No Solicitation" sign on your screen door, or maybe even something more strongly worded. Instead, you allow the knocks to continue and your own agitation to fester.
You realize, a couple of lines later, Sodom and Gomorrah is referenced, right? That's where Matthew is basically saying some people are too evil, too far gone, and a horrible fate awaits them anyway. Despite telling the 12 to try their hardest to find goodness and do good deeds, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
So you know these are the identical missionaries, and not merely different Latter-Day Saints preaching a similar message?
I know, they're just so pleasant, coming to nicely assume about me and tell me how wrong I am. It's funny that you're - yet again - accusing us of the exact same thing that their whole operation depends upon.
You assume that I have not tried this. What was that about judgement calls?
If I want to find out about their god - assuming, as they do, that I know nothing about him - then I'll go to their church. While they're at my door they're on my time.
Yeah, until they completely ignore those signs with the completely dishonest claim that they're not soliciting, so the sign doesn't apply to them. Stop trying to put all the responsibility on our end; as it is our homes, we have the right to be left alone in them. They are the ones intruding, and the ones that need to change if this sort of thing is to be alleviated.
And? It still gives the very clear message of "if people won't listen to you, leave them (to their folly)." They can think I'm hellbound all they want, I really don't care. But by persisting in coming to my door trying to convert me, they're not really paying attention to their bibles all that well.
Unless they've got clones running around with the same name.