To ask if there is a "No God Botherers Please" sign I can put up in my porch?

[Fab123]

OK, here's the rant (please bear in mind I'm pg and getting big enough now that getting up and down stairs for no reason is enough to make me want to throw anything to hand at your head):

I live alone and have 1001 things to do before baby arrives in July. At the bottom of my road is a fairly large church (does Alpha Courses, not sure what that makes them but strong flavoured Christians I imagine). Now I know it is Easter coming up and everything but I have just had to open the door for no less than the 7th time IN ONE WEEK to a couple with a leaflet about Jesus.

I know this sounds petty but when you have an open can of paint that you need to suddenly cover and check cats can't get to, need to manoeuvre yourself from the comfortable position you have finally found on the sofa or come breathlessly running in through the house from the garden...it's driving me a bit balmy!

I've told he last 4 couples that I have had a constant stream of them since last week but it doesn't seem to be getting back to their HQ. How strong is this community they hark on about if they can't even tell each other which road they have canvassed? And are they wasting collection money on all of the flyers and leaflets I get given and thrust through my door that go the same way as all of the kebab house leaflets?

My Q is: Is there a sign out there that I can put up (similar to the No Sales Callers) that used to be popular?

A popular means of conversion in the past has been to kill unbelievers.

Actually when I say 'in the past' for some countries that means earlier this week.

Faith to me is a private thing and I LOATHE anyone knocking on my door unless they are people I have invited/need to visit so my suggestion is this: "I respect your faith so please respect mine by not trying to sell me yours".

Wanders off to make one for my front door.......

A simple card requesting no religious/cold callers, sales people etc would suffice I'm sure. YANBU finding the regular disruptions annoying. I'm almost sure that noone means to badger you, but that, as you say, HQ is not getting the message that you are not interested. There is nothing in Christianity that suggests we should harangue others, rather it's clear that if Christians share the faith, they move on if the person's not interested. It's probably different people each time, who would be mortified to know that you've been repeatedly disturbed by others from their church.
That said, some other people here are being downright offensive and VUR, by labelling Christians as God botherers/God squad/Bible Bashers etc. I wonder if they'd be so ready to do that if it were muslims, hindus etc who were trying to share their faith.
No, I thought not....I respectfully ask those persons to ask yourselves why it's OK to slag off one particular religious group and tar us all with the same brush? If you did the same thing about Islam for example you'd be considered Islamophobic and could possibly be in breach of the equality laws, so why is it ok to ridicule all Christians? Manners!

Also, how is it that when Christians share their faith it's "forcing their views on people" but when atheists say things about faith like, "It's all a load of bollocks", that's just fine. How is that not forceful and dogmatic? Why can't we all just share our opinions without everyone getting defensive? Lots of muslim friends tell me I'm going to hell and my response is always, Ok, that's your opinion, not, "Don't you dare tell me what to think!" Why can't people be more chilled out for goodness sake. If an atheist shrugs and says, "Sorry, I don't buy your faith", then fine. Why do they have to mock, scoff and generally behave like utter trolls???
Flame me about this one.I don't give a toss. You'll just be proving my point entirely, so go ahead.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin Sat 16-Apr-11 10:52:25
I'd collect all the leaflets and deliver them back to the church, pointing out that this amounts to harassment and telling them to back off.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!

my grandad is a real athiest cantankerous old git - we often find him in his living room 'entertaining' the odd religious caller: he gets them in, gets talking and wastes their time. no tea. no biscuts. he's old, he's lonely - its better than countdown!

Can't believe people are getting so worked up about the term 'god-botherers'. You must lead very sheltered middle-class lives seriously. How is she rude? She sounds a very nice, patient lady. If it was me I'd have told them to effing do one and threatened them with a mystical violent nutty hubby by now. Can't stand it when people feel they have the right to invade my home and space- I see it as my only place of relaxation and privacy in the world and don't appreciate idiots knocking on the door and posting election shite through the letterbox every 5 seconds.

By idiots I mean people I haven't invited and never would obviously lol :)

I think the answer might be move to Texas, all trespassers can be shot. Job done!

Thruaglassdarkly,
how is it that when Christians share their faith it's "forcing their views on people" but when atheists say things about faith like, "It's all a load of bollocks", that's just fine.

I have never offered my views on religion to anyone who didn't bring it up first. Such as in a thread like this.

I would think it vile to knock on the door of a Christian and say "your religion is fake and your children will just die when they get old and be gone", but Christians who do don't have morals and standards of decent behaviour. Instead they have their orders from on high that they must carry out regardless.

The Christians churches are not content with forcing us to hear about their religion, but insist that we keep the law requiring all schools to force kids to worship their god. You don't want to be left alone to worship your god. You want to extend the control of your sick cult over the rest of us.

Ongar - If you did knock on my door and say that, I'd really wouldn't be offended though. I'd just shrug and think it your opinion, whatever. Why is discussing religious views seen to be such a bad thing? People need to be more mature about it if you ask me. Just allow each other the space to disagree. And there is no law forcing kids to "worship their god". You can withdraw your children from collective acts of worship (which are to no god in particular, but generic - where on earth do you get these "facts" from???). Have no fear, the education system in practice is far more aggressively secularist than it is religious and if anything, it tramples on religious sensitivities. I've heard collegues say how much they love teaching RE so they can show "the whole thing is a load of crap!"
Just it would be great to see people on here show a bit of respect to others on here. We're not the ones annoying the OP and I wouldn't call you rude names for being an atheist.

Thruaglassdarkly, it's another thread really, but while "you can withdraw your children from collective acts of worship" that also means withdrawing them from more essential things so there is a penalty. Additionally parents may find that the only available school is one which is overtly religious. We also have the church having the right to representatives in the house of lords.
My point is simply that these things and the door knocking demonstrate that the religions wish to impose their beliefs on others. There is no option to let and let live because religions don't want it that way.

"'I've heard collegues say how much they love teaching RE so they can show "the whole thing is a load of crap!"

They should be only teaching facts in RE. That would demonstrate that it is a load of crap since you have to lie in order to get any other result, but that should not be the aim.

I can match that though with a teacher who posted on MN that she enjoyed taking time out from any lessons (not RE) to talk about her beliefs.

Onagar- "They should only be teaching facts in RE".

While that is your opinion and you are very welcome to it; there would be nothing left of RE to teach. "God" is a hard thing to prove if you reject faith as evidence, likewise with science. I reject Evolution because I reject the ridiculous hypothesis that "proves" it. It doesn't prove it. It's merely a theory drawn up to support a theory.

LadyOfTheManor they can teach that lots of people believe god exists. That millions find comfort from their belief. That many thinkers feel that this is itself an indication that some creator must exist. That many people feel religion adds something to a society and so on. Those are all facts too.

What they should not be doing is teaching that that there is proof that their religion is right because that would be a lie as opposed to an opinion.

Any atheists teaching the subject should also stick to those facts which are quite real.

If it is done without lying or exerting pressure then I'm sure that the vast majority will reject it as silly which is fine by me.

As for I reject Evolution because I reject the ridiculous hypothesis that "proves" it. It doesn't prove it. It's merely a theory drawn up to support a theory.

I can only say that you have misunderstood the very terms you are using and therefore any opinion based on that lack of understanding is meaningless. If you look into it and find out what a 'hypothesis' is and what a 'theory' is you will then be entitled to not believe it if you want.

LotM, what senses are you using the words "prove" and "theory" in?

Ah, xposted with onagar.

YANBU because you've politely requested for them to stop. I'm a Christian, and I too would find it annoying if heavily pregnant and traipsing up and down stairs, especially when I've explained my lack of interest. In fact, I currently have the same probem (without the PG!) with Southern Electric pestering me.

Just don't answer the door. I now NEVER answer the door unless I know someone is coming around. If it's someone you know, they'll soon call you on your mobile to find out where you are and why you aren't answering.

Incredible that this thread had become all about the poor persecuted believers when the OP was asking for help/advice in keeping them from her doorstep.

There needs to be a bit of tolerance on both sides i.e. you believe what you believe and no one should be trying to convert anyone to their way of thinking let alone knocking on my door to tell me about it!

And Lady, RE should be about tolerance and education of the respective beliefs of each faith not about the "facts" peddled by each of the organised religions. Religion causes nothing but trouble- all the supposed "love thy neighbour" stuff seems pretty thin on the ground from where I am standing.

Ebay have good door signs for this. Example here

I have one on my door and it's certainly helped. It doesn't need to be rude but it is annoying to have to keep answering the door for the same thing, so that gives the answer before anyone's time is wasted.

I personally have never had a muslim, Hindu or Buddhist come to my door over and over again to try and convert me.
If I did I would also see them as 'God botherers', they believe in their God and they're bothering me.
Why should the op "just not answer her door"?
It's her house and if she thinks they are overdoing it, she should do what she can to get rid, and let her relax in her own home.

thats a good sign on Ebay,if i were you i would just write this onto some card then maybe it will do the trick.I also dont like people bothering me !

No God botherers sign is rude, definitely. Not wanting to have God botherers knocking on your door is perfectly reasonable. The ebay sign is very civil and should do the job.

Am very bemused by all the people on here who say they don't answer the door unless it's to friends and family who call ahead ...not saying it's not your prerogative - of course it is - but it is a very strange way to live in my view ...

That's just wrong, Weemee. Of course, unfortunately some people will always use religion as a cover for selfish deeds, but there have been many, many good works done by believers of various religions who wanted to do God's will.

"Religion causes nothing but trouble"

Damn, Bendy that sign is a lot nicer than the one I ordered (see my post further down the thread).

Am also amused at how this thread has now become about religious groups feeling persecuted tbh! It's a bit how I feel when they keep turning up!

Anyway, have called church (again) and will install sign (from eBay and minus God botherer's anywhere so as not to cause offence to the offensive) and will let you know if I hear from them again.

Or you may see me on the news, of course

Luckily not bothered by anyone now, but IMO a sign is a good idea. Needs to be short and polite. Something like
NOT INTERESTED

Ongar
LadyOfTheManor they can teach that lots of people believe god exists. That millions find comfort from their belief. That many thinkers feel that this is itself an indication that some creator must exist. That many people feel religion adds something to a society and so on. Those are all facts too.

But on the whole that's pretty much what they DO teach in RE. I've taught RE and have NEVER said my religion is right. I've always said "Christians/Muslims/Jews etc believe..." A survey recently (I can't remember where so don't ask me to cite) suggested that in MOST cases RE teachers with a religious faith were extra careful NOT to reveal personal opinions and biases because they didn't want to be seen to be proselytising, whereas those with no faith were much more forthright in their opinions about this. Noone should abuse their positions in school as a chance to further their particular beliefs, and my experience in many schools has actually been supported by the findings of this survey.

I just don't want someone trampling over my kids beliefs in a God, any more than you want someone ramming a belief IN God down your kids' throats is all. When you come at life from a faith position, you'd be surprised at how hostile the wider society is to it in general anyway. Throw away comments, derision, mocking, caricatures (mostly from the media)...it's part of daily life for us. I know that a long time ago the church (wrongly) used to browbeat people into accepting its doctrine, but IMHO, they were misguided according to the Bible. That said, I still think that people should be able to share their spirituality with one another in a mature way. I LOVE hearing what others think whatever their position. I don't like it when it gets all insulting and scoffing though, which on-line it often can.