How to handle unsolicited religious callers?

I open the door and they say hello and I just say goodbye and shut the door 😆

You should have signed up to their religion there and then, quit your job knowing that God will look after you, leave home and go and live in a commune with them.

I have never had Jehovah's Witnesses come to the house, but a few months ago, Mormons knocked on the door, and they were very polite. They did ask if they could speak with me, and I had nothing else on, so said yes. We talked at the doorstep. I figured they were either JW or Mormons, but they didn't identify themselves immediately.

The first thing they asked me was if I was worried about the future, and mentioned something about God, and I thought "Ok, let's just be honest here" and I was.

I asked them why should I be worried about the future, if it's all part of God's plan? I said, wasn't it especially clear in the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle (among others) that we were exhorted to trust in the Lord? And that it is not our place to question the Lord's purpose, and so what was there to worry about? (I know my theology).

They seemed surprised, and just kept going on about being worried about the future, and what about all the things from Revelation. I just kept saying that the Bible is clear that it is not for us to judge and we should trust that God has a plan for us. In the end, we had to agree to disagree. I'm not bothered by it, but they didn't seem to have any clue what I was talking about. They also seemed not to know much about what's actually in the Bible except Revelation.

I wonder if they'll come back, or maybe they've decided I am a lost cause. I found it quite entertaining.

OP, if you don't want to talk to them, just say "no thanks " and close the door.

Someone once told me that if you have a sign, there is some law about harassment. I haven’t looked into that to see if it true, and I’m not sure how it’s “policed” but I can honestly say the knocks on my door have gone down to zero from a few a day ( apart from one group who don’t understand the wording).

That's exactly what I did do! I said no thanks and closed the door, and often look back on it and laugh - I mean, who would possibly say yes, please do, I would love you to come into my house and give me a short presentation about the antichrist?! 😂

I understand that if you ask to be put on their 'No call's list, JWs stop calling.

No need for bad manners or rudeness, just say you're happy with your own beliefs/church and wish them a nice day. Simple, polite and makes it clear you don't want any information on converting.

If they are Mormons who politely introduce themselves, I tell them I’m not in the market for a new religion but wish them well for their mission.

If they are JW is just say ‘no thanks’ and shut the door.

If they are anyone else, or just start talking at me. I stare at them unnnervingly in silence and when they stop for breath they get “who the fuck are you and what do you actually want”? Or if I’m busy I shut the door. Works well for political activists too.

You should care more about yourself than what random strangers think.

I hope you feel better very soon ❤

If it’s a frequent issue, how about writing a firm rebuttal on a post it note a keep it stuck to the back of the door. You’ll see it as you open the door so it’ll be fresh on your mind as you come face to face with religious zealots, salespeople, etc and you can quickly announce “I don’t engage with anyone who knocks on my door”, then shut the door quickly.

Do you really care about being rude with pushy people when you are in pain?

Cut them short and tell them you’re busy and shut the door, even if they’re still speaking. I allow myself to come across as rude to unsolicited doorstep callers!

But responding to either is easier, quicker and less stressful than waiting for the phone to stop ringing or the caller to stop knocking, and gives you control.

"No, thanks. Not interested.

The last lot came round when I did have Covid (I looked ill as well). ‘Hello would you like to discuss our Lord?’ ‘no I have Covid.’ Leaflet thrown in my direction as they stepped back, waved and they left. End of.

Tell them you’re a satanist. They’ll leave pretty quickly.

You can be as rude as you like to people who come to your door

A village a few miles from here has a Kingdom Hall. Some houses have No Jehovas Witnesses signs on their doors or gates.

If any religious canvassers come to my door I say I'm perfectly happy being a heathen, smile and then shut the door firmly.

I have one of those fuck off cold callers stickers on the porch and if anyone sales/religion/politics etc happen to not notice it (idiots,) then I point at it and close the door. No awkward conversation needed. I used to live in a working class area and when I went middle class I genuinely could not believe how targeted we became as they assume everyone is loaded. That's when I got the fuck off sticker and it works a treat, hardly any now and if they do they get the above. 🤣🤣

"Ah, no thanks. I'm not interested but good luck!" And smile as you close the door. Whilst ignoring anything else they say.

That's what I do. Then you haven't been rude but you have established a boundary.

How about reframing it as far ruder to let them speak and waste their time than let them get on with knocking on the door of someone who might be receptive to it?

I have a sign on my door, right under the knocker, reading, "No Junk Mail, No Cold Callers". It doesn't deter them from knocking completely, but it does mean that I can wordlessly point to the sign and avoid engaging in any conversational gambits, and then I simply close the door.
I bought the sign when the front of the house was being redecorated, and was astonished by the rich variety of signs which were available when I googled, some very forthright indeed!

‘No’ and shut the door in their faces

And if they knock again, a simple ‘fuck off’ generally suffices.

I read somewhere that being rejected is helpful as it reinforces that they are the ones and the rest of us are terrible, won't be saved etc. This was Jehovas Witnesses. I find the one outside with the little stands fascinating, they don't attempt to speak to anyone, they just chat between themselves, again is that proving to them that we are all damned?

But yes as everyone else has said, shut the door, Why are you painting yourself as having so little agency? Similarly when chuggers call out, just ignore and walk straight on - assuming you are female you get more of those anyway as they don't tend to approach men as much - but you don't owe anyone a conversation. No rudeness needed.