When evangelists knock on your door...

[Spirit of Light]

I have no problem with not making people feel comfortable if they're selling something that hurts kids.

Well that is your choice, just like it is their choice to follow what their religion say is the right way.

 

[paganprince]

when i lived in the city, i'd respectfully tell them I already have a religion that I'm very happy with, and wish them well on their journey. now that i'm out in the country.... i'd probably do the same thing, but make sure they had some water. it's a long walk to the next house!

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Well that is your choice, just like it is their choice to follow what their religion say is the right way.

That's right... so I wonder why you're criticizing my choice but not theirs.

Edit: I don't go up to random people on the street and criticize their religions. If I'm having an interaction with a JW about their religion, it's only because they approached me about it.

If they don't like some of the responses they get, they can always just not proselytize. OTOH, if they do proselytize, it's with the knowledge that their message will often be unwelcome. To the extent that this is a problem, it's a problem that the JWs create for themselves.

 

[Jainarayan]

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.

How many people in the western world have not heard of Jesus? Given how many people mock JWs and Mormons and other evangelicals, don't you think people are a bit tired of it being overdone?

 

[Sand Dancer]

Where i am now is the same, 22km from the nearest town,. Never had a cold callet here.

Are you also in Britain? Maybe it's just a US thing...lucky us, not.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Do you mean that you listen to them out of respect for their view? Because I think it is a cold, hard fact that they will never pay heed to your speech. They listen only to plan for what they can do to contradict you.

So far I have not come across anyone from JW who tries to contradict me when we discuss. because when they ask me, can we talk with you about God, I always say yes, of course, you can come in. or if it is on the street I stop and we can talk even for an hour. Because if they quote something from their bible, I look a the Buddhist texts and see if what they say contradicts Buddhism, or if it is similar in thoughts. then when I have told them that I do follow Buddhism, and ask if it's ok we look at both religions in comparison, they smile and say yes we can. sometimes if I meet them on the street we go to a local cafè and take a chat there.

Its all about sharing and learning from each others

 

[shmogie]

What do you say when members of a religious group (such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses) knock on your door, evangelising?

I currently politely say “sorry, I already have a religion” and leave it as that

But the next time it happens I think I’m going to say something outrageous such as “I don’t need religion, I have a direct line to God” (don’t worry, I don’t believe I have a direct line to God!) or make up a religion and tell them I belong to that

I invite them in and say, lets talk about the Bible. I have met some fine people this way, I have learned much about what JWś believe. I have had a chance to exercise my faith and defend it, which is all good for me.

They are rare Christians, in that they take the great commission very seriously.

If we who actually understand the Gospel were doing what they are doing, and I have done it, it ain´t easy, we would be furthering the Gospel as we are supposed to do.

 

[Spirit of Light]

That's right... so I wonder why you're criticizing my choice but not theirs.

Edit: I don't go up to random people on the street and criticize their religions. If I'm having an interaction with a JW about their religion, it's only because they approached me about it.

If they don't like some of the responses they get, they can always just not proselytize. OTOH, if they do proselytize, it's with the knowledge that their message will often be unwelcome. To the extent that this is a problem, it's a problem that the JWs create for themselves.

I do not follow JW as you know, but I find it interesting to talk with them, the reason I asked you questions of why you were rude toward them was not to insult you it is to learn why some people can not talk about a topic like religion, even they do not believe in it

 

[Muffled]

What do you say when members of a religious group (such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses) knock on your door, evangelising?

I currently politely say “sorry, I already have a religion” and leave it as that

But the next time it happens I think I’m going to say something outrageous such as “I don’t need religion, I have a direct line to God” (don’t worry, I don’t believe I have a direct line to God!) or make up a religion and tell them I belong to that

I like to invite people in if I have the time. I can debate people in person just as easily as I do here.

 

[Muffled]

We may find their method annoying but they are just doing what all Christians are asked to do, 'go forth and spread the Gospel'.

I believe I have hosted the JW's and Mormons and they never once mentioned the Gospel.

The Mormons adked me to pray about Mormonism but they didn't like the answer I got.

 

[oldbadger]

What do you say when members of a religious group (such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses) knock on your door, evangelising?

I currently politely say “sorry, I already have a religion” and leave it as that

But the next time it happens I think I’m going to say something outrageous such as “I don’t need religion, I have a direct line to God” (don’t worry, I don’t believe I have a direct line to God!) or make up a religion and tell them I belong to that

A good JW could take interest and ask you about it all.

 

[Muffled]

I point to the notice we have on our door stating, 'No cold callers', and shut it again without saying a word.

Now there is an idea. Telephoning. It works for politicians right?

 

[oldbadger]

They were so obnoxious in our town we just said "get off my porch".

Is everybody inhospitable and rude in your town?

 

[Muffled]

A good JW could take interest and ask you about it all.

I believe you ought to know what Jesus said: "there is no-one good", but God" Of course Jesus was called "good" so you know what that means.

 

[Muffled]

I normally invite them in for a conversation but do make clear to them i am a buddhist. Normally very nice people

I went to Friends meeting with a Buddhist. He was nice enough but he avoided hymn singing. Maybe he was tone deaf and couldn't sing.

 

[savagewind]

I believe you ought to know what Jesus said: "there is no-one good", but God" Of course Jesus was called "good" so you know what that means.

That would be a good point if he was being called good by God but God didn't say it. Someone in the crowd said it. God said this is my son listen to him.

 

[savagewind]

But what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach is that God wants us to listen to the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. @oldbadger you seem to see no problem with that.

 

[oldbadger]

As I have stated before, I have a particular antipathy to those of the evil JW cult, after being told by a couple of their acolytes that our adopted baby Down's Syndrome son would have been better off dead than having the blood transfusion, which saved his life in 1986!

You have started seven million people because of the response of one

 

[Muffled]

I've always found the people who strongly object, are the one's who try getting into a doorstep religious debate then ack like babies if their view is even slightly questioned.

I believe that is why you are a theist and not a Christian because you don't forgive people.

 

[ChristineM]

Are you also in Britain? Maybe it's just a US thing...lucky us, not.

We were in the UK, we jumped off the sinking ship, now in france.

Actually we moved before the brexit debacle when everyone thought a leave vote was an impossibility. One the best decisions we have ever made