to wish I could complain to someone about the bloody rude religous callers who keep appearing at my door?

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I'm a practising Buddhist, I don't do religion.

So why in this day and age is it acceptable for people to stand on my door step and tell me I'm going to hell? I even have a sign on my door saying "no religious callers" after I had trouble with another group last year.

I'm not rude to them, I politely tell them I'm not interested, but they just go on and on, I hate the thought of slamming the door in someone's face but I was so tempted earlier, this man didn't just tell me I was going to hell, he went on and on about how I'm responsible for the Planets problems and was starting to yell. I told him he was scaring my daughter, made my apologises (why did I do that?) and closed the door.

I'm raging and I want to complain to someone, but I don't know where, so I'm afraid you lot will have to listen to my rantings.

[MaryBS]

Do you know which church he was from?

[theyoungvisiter]

Just don't discuss at all - I just say "I'm sorry, now is a bad time, goodbye".

It helps that we have an intercom though - easier to put down the phone than to slam a door.

[atworknotworking]

Open the door point to the sign and close it again. sorted

[onepieceofcremeegg]

That sounds awful PP.

I think you need to find out who they are/where they are from. If they are reluctant to tell you, feign interest in attending one of their gatherings/take a leaflet or whatever then go along to complain to one of the leaders?

If they are JWs then it is possible to have your name added to a list at their meeting hall and they will ensure you are not visited. I am sure the same would apply to most churches, I am certain that if you contacted our vicar (for example) he would be most apologetic and put a stop to this harrassment.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Mary - not sure which church they use.

I used to say something along the "I'm busy" line before, but TBH I'm pissed off that they ignored my sign.

[dawntigga]

In my younger days I opened the door to one persistant group nekked - they NEVER came back

dxx

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Nakedness might work. I shall remember that .

[Aimsmum]

Message withdrawn

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Is it illegal? If not, why not?

[Thunderduck]

If they are J.Ws a chalk outline of a body and a few copies of The Watchtower scattered about will help.

[GrandadOnagar]

Isn't it 'threatening behaviour'? After all they are saying their invisible friend is going to torture you.

[BitOfFun]

You are being a bit wet, if you don't mind me saying. It's hard though, if you're a nice person, to do something that feels rude. If you've got the sign though, you can just close the door.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I don't like it when the 'friendly' ones knock on my door, never mind the loony, shouting ones. I can't be the only one who doesn't like it? If I wanted to go to church, I would go to church.

And it is bloody offensive to be told that because I practise Buddhism I am personally responsible for everything bad that happens in the World. I don't make rude remarks about their beliefs, what gives them the right to belittle my choices?

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I know I was wet, I can't believe I apologised!

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Buddhism isn't a religion, its an education/way of life.

[slug]

Keep a selection of pamphlets about Buddhism next to the door. When they knock say "Oh I'm glad you came", thrust them into their hands then close the door immediately.

Hosestly, if they are too rude to comply with a polite request (your door sign) then why should you even engage with them? The problem with these people is they are so sure of themselves that they can't concieve of anyone else's viewpoint as being in any way valid. I have several strategies, from telling them I'm a godless heathen, to sighing and shutting the door, to, in my more evil moments, displaying what havoc can be wrought by someone with a degree in religions and an unhealthy knowledge of Leviticus . In the end though, a gaping dressing gown with a baby hanging off a nipple is a sure fire way of watching disappear up your garden path at a quick trot.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I read your "sighing and shutting the door" as "singing and shutting the door". That would probably be enough to send them packing in my case TBH.

Damn my niceness. I'd shut the door in their face and end up chasing them up the street to apologise.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Who do you think I meditate with? The vicar at the local Catholic church? My teacher doesn't class Buddhism as a religion, some Buddhist might call it a religion, but most don't IME.

[Stayingsunnygirl]

My friend tells the few religious callers who brave the razor wire to knock on his door that it's a bad time for them to call because he's in the middle of sacrificing a goat in a satanic ritual. That seems to get rid of them.

[RubberDuck]

"buddhism is a religion actually"

Technically, it's a philosophy, not a religion. I'm an atheist but follow some buddhist approaches to life.

"Open the door point to the sign and close it again. sorted" - I do this (I have more sales people than religious people knocking though but my sign covers both!). You can smile politely, point and just close the door without a word. It doesn't feel antagonistic or rude, and you have made your point perfectly.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

They church they come from is in Bournemouth apparently. Seems like a long way to travel (a ferry crossing) to spread the word.

[theyoungvisiter]

Plopper - do you think it's possible your sign is egging them on?

I just wonder if there is a certain type of evangelist that sees a sign saying "no religious callers" and thinks "wow, what a feather in my cap to convert her!"

Probably the same kind that goes all the way from portsmouth to spread the word...

[theyoungvisiter]

sorry, bournemouth