I heard an interesting theory recently, that this sort of "cold call evangelism" isn't really about trying to gain converts (how many people are actually converted by door knockers? Seriously, what's the success rate?)
I think you'd be surprised. I have studied the Bible with quite a few people that I have met at their door. I was one myself.
These days though, our website JW.ORG is probably our greatest gateway......we get hundreds requests for Bible studies every day.
it's actually far more about creating group unity within the religion, and otherising outsiders. People get sent out on their missions, face hardships among the outgroup who general ignore or ridicule them, then return to the ingroup who praise them. It's a pretty good way to make you stick to your ingroup and avoid the outgroup, with all that entails.
Whether this is a conscious plan of any religion's leaders, or if it's just a useful aspect of doing what they think they're called to do, I don't know. Makes sense as a theory, though.
Very psychoanalytical but the simple fact is that its a command from Jesus....it wasn't optional (Matthew 28:19-20)....and it wasn't just door to door either. Christians were to preach anywhere they find people. You will often see our mobile carts on the street, or going around the businesses early in the morning when they are not busy. Sometimes its just incidental, waiting in a doctors surgery or at a bus stop or train station......we're everywhere.... and we love to tell people about God's Kingdom.
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