Does anyone else get evangelists at their front door?

[Pacifist Patriot]

I routinely have 2 JW older females, 2 LDS young men and one guy from an unknown fundamentalist Christian church ring my doorbell. Despite smiling sincerely and politely telling them I am a UU minister and therefore they'd be wasting their time, they insist on speaking to me about Jesus. Their persistence is, um, annoying yet oddly commendable. I'm thinking about keeping a stack of Jack Mendelsohn's Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age by the front door and asking them to come back after they've read that. Too mean?

[wildflower]

1. Are the same people coming back again and again?

I remember getting Jehovah's witnesses years ago. In the end the only way I could figure to get around them was to not answer the door.

I understand that part of the teaching in these religions is the mandate to save others, and that they believe very strongly in this idea. So while it's tempting for me to ask "Why would they keep coming back if they know you're not interested?" I see why they're doing it.

I guess if I truly and deeply held their beliefs, I would be passionate about trying to spread the word too - just as we do as liberal activists. But I also know there is simply no way they will convince me, so we (they and I) are at an impasse.

I wish I could offer you some better advice on this. I don't think it would be mean to give them the literature. I'm not sure if they'd read or believe it :), but it probably couldn't hurt.

-wildflower

[Maat]

2. No - I never get anybody!

I'm in SoCal, in a very religious, red pocket in this blue state, just north of San Diego - about 45-1 hour - Inland.

Maybe it is because you are a person with very interesting vibes. And they know you are a minister ... so maybe that just eggs them on, so-to-speak.

Good to see your post! Hope you decide to pick your favorite UU quote or something, or to educate us about some basic UU principles, so that we REALLY understand. It would be fun.

[kwassa]

6. what I do

Despite the "no soliciting" sign at the entry of our neighborhood, I get Jehovah's Witnesses at the door from time to time. Depending on my mood, I engage in debate, or I don't.

The essential belief that they hold is that the end time is approaching, and they try to use current events to make is seem that life on Earth is getting worse and the apocalypse is upon us. I simply disagree with their historical perspective, and start citing examples of earlier wars and plagues, etc.

I usually get a blank look from them because they are usually very poorly educated, with little historical knowledge outside very recent events. It is necessary to be uneducated in this way, I think, to hold these religious beliefs in the first place.

Other times, I am not in the mood to deal and say "Thanks, but no thanks." I try to be polite, though.

The funniest one was a little old Japanese lady, in full kimono, who came to my door in West L.A. and bowed and said "Konichiwa!" (hello) and then tried to give me a copy of The Watchtower.

[MountainLaurel]

3. I live in a secure building

Takes care of that problem. :evilgrin:

[Love Bug]

4. Why don't you make the same appointment with all of them

so they all show up at the same time? This way they can preach to each other and leave you alone!

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. LOL! That would be funny.

[kwassa]

7. The churches that evangelize do grow

Those that go out and really sell their message do grow. It is salemenship, pure and simple.

The Mormons have made huge inroads among minority populations, whom they previously held to be inferior, by evangelizing and their message of "family values".

Likewise, many Hispanic immigrants are being lured away from their traditional Catholic heritage by evangelical Protestant services in Spanish. Church of God becomes Iglesias del Dios, for instance.

[Ranec]

8. They don't come to my door.

Then again I never answer my door unless it is someone I'm expecting.
Though, the police didn't think this was a good policy the last time they showed up.

I do get my regular copy of the WatchTower while I stand at the bus stop. They don't seem to want to talk. I thought they had a quota to hand out so I always take it. Sometimes I need something to read on the bus. :-)

I like the idea of handing out competing literature.

[Dead_Parrot]

9. I usually ask them in...

...sit them down opposite the 4 ft. iron pentagram and offer them tea.
To date, only a couple of LDS'ers have lasted more than 10 minutes.
:shrug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. best way to not be bothered by JW

is to work on their cars. This is what my husband did as a door to door mechanic. He fixed one lady's car when no one else could, and she told others. None of them ever talked to him about God except the first lady-and he told her that all paths lead to God. Somehow she made it clear to everyone else. I guess they decided it was worth it not to preach if it meant getting their cars fixed efficiently.

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. If you don't want them to come back

Try Otter Zell's "other people" shtick. Google "Otter Zell" "other people", and you'll get a whole bunch of references. Basically you engage them in dialogue about the parts of Genesis that they've never noticed. You'll leave them stammering and muttering to themselves. You'll have to study up a bit on the shtick and on Genesis to pull it off smoothly, but then as a UU minister you might find some interesting and useful stuff too.

On the other hand, if you think that handing them a copy of Mendelsohn might be too mean, you'll probably think this is definitely too mean.

The other idea that I've heard works would be way, way too mean. Answer the door with a pentagram necklace on and greet them euphorically, "Oh, great, religious people like us. We're just about to sacrifice a chicken. Won't you join us." I've heard that they'll never come back.

[Chovexani]

12. Thankfully no

I did get a couple of young Mormon guys (!) a couple years ago. They were cute so I chatted with them (what? :)).

They ended up leaving. I think my (then) purple hair and huge honkin' pentacle scared them off. :P

[Az]

13. Not so much anymore

We moved a few years ago. We used to be in an evangelist flight path. Our new location would seem to be an ideal path for them but they don't seem to show here as much.

[supernova]

14. No, not for quite a while

I live on a rural highway and door-to-door experiences are limited to the neighbors' children selling stuff for school. Gift wrap, cheese, candles, etc.

When I was little, we had bible salesmen come about once a year. But, really, how many bibles does one household need? ;-)

The last one I remember was in the late 90s. He was a big guy trying to sell me one of those "good Christian woman" magazines. :P I told the young girl who accompanyied him (daugher?) to go to college, some some weed, get laid, and she'd be fine. :evilgrin: He hasn't been back.

[LWolf]

15. Not anymore.

Before I had my dogs, I used to get them regularly. My front yard is fenced, but they'd just open the gate and walk in. When there are two barking dogs at the gate, they pass it by.

The last time someone stopped by, about 3 years ago, is an amusing story.

I got home & tossed my stuff in the house; I had a ton of yardwork to do, and was determined to master the chainsaw to take on the weed trees taking over the place. I rushed to the back yard to baptize the new chainsaw. My son and some of his friends were in the house. They didn't know I was home until they came out to leave; they stopped to admire my efforts with the chainsaw, and to take bets about whether I'd get it working. Then they left. They'd locked the door behind them, locking me out of the house. I spent a couple happy hours with the chainsaw before I realized I couldn't get in. So, hot, dirty, sweaty, and disheveled, I circled the place looking for the best spot for a break-in, which turned out to be my bedroom window. Which was painted shut. I went back to the garage and found a crowbar. I was just coming around the side of the house to the front yard, crowbar in hand, when the JWs came through the gate. They greeted me, and asked it they could have some time to share their good news. I grinned and explained that I didn't have time today, I was busy breaking into the house. That was their last trip to my door. :evilgrin:

[Tux]

16. Give them these

http://www.uua.org/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=3_17&products_id=511

http://www.uua.org/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=3_17&products_id=509

Just spreading the faith or lack thereof.