To wonder how many 'new recruits' religious callers get?

[barrysnotter]

When rudely knocking strangers doors and asking them about their beliefs?

I get on average at least 1 a month that I know about..

I have never let them continue talking and tell them I haven't got time to speak to them. My friend however tells them exactly where to go..

Just wondering how many new recruits they get by 'cold calling' at peoples houses?

JWs? I quite like them - always polite, their children are well mannered ..... if its raining I invite them in mind you they never come back again

JWs only want people to have faith - if you tell them you have a faith of your own, they toddle off quite happy about that.

mind you, two different sets of memorable ones spring to mind ....

1... Post birth, DS2, about 4 weeks old - wild eyed at midday, still in Jimjams, leaking milk, a swathe of sanitary towels, a toddler at heel - ladies you get the picture....... and she pokes a watchtower, with a picture of a Chinaman cuddling a koala bear in my face with the pronouncement "wouldnt the world be lovely if it was like this?" Cue - massive diatrible on the verocity of koalas from me and the rant that DC2 had had 5 interuterine blood transfusions so according to their policies, he'd have died.
She said "we'd have prayed for him"

2... Adorable Black American lady attached to sterotypical WW" RAF veteran ... he wanted to rid the country of all 'niggers' because he'd fought for it [hmmm].... and I all I could say, aghast, was "ooh, thats lovely perfume you have, what is it?"

DH's grandad was a JW recruit, apparently, not long before he died. Mil and fil still bitter about that and all the money he left them.
My brother found my dad, who is getting a bit confused, with two JW in his lounge a couple of weeks back.
I guess most of their recruits are vunerable for one reason or another.

NeedlesCuties - I know the 10 rules written by rich men to control the poor through fear commandments. I find it odd that the first 3 are all about making sure you realise that god is the best. If there IS a god, he's very insecure.

Hank Marvin has twice knocked on our door to try to recruit us to the Jehova's Witnesses. Weird but true!

I get Donny Osmonds sons doing the mormon thing ... so difficult not to say "send your Dad round and I'll be anything you want me to be"!!!

If I've got a spare 10 minutes or so I don't mind chatting to them on the doorstep. I'm an aethist but enjoy it when we challenge bat opinions/beliefs between each other. Makes interesting conversation sometimes. I'll never be converted but enjoy the discussion and you can't knock 'em for trying (no pun intended )

for JW's it is part of their faith to preach to others...but all you have to do is say you are truly not interested and they will only call once a year to check you have not moved home...if they upset you so much tell them to not call..everything is noted...

Cadbury you must live near to his kingdom hall territory...famous people are jehovahs witnesses same as any other religion and going to speak to people in his local area is part of his faith

I imagine that if they keep knocking they will eventually get the response they are looking for.
I do recall a couple of years back having a bit of a flirt with religion during a bad time, all religions interested me intensely and this was the time the JW decided to call. I really couldn't tell them to go away as much as my gut told me to. One very kindly old lady kept on coming back, always finding a reason to pop by. She used very subtle psychological tricks (one's I later came to recognise again in political 'door knockers') and it took a great deal of cowardice strength to finally leave a note on the door begging them to leave me alone!

They do home in on those who are vunerable and I don't know whether this is because they feel they are answering a call or because they are quite manipulative. Either way I guess they're doing what seems right to them.

They're 'told' to spread the word, not recruit. They spread the word, they get knocked back, it doesn't matter as they've done their bit for the Big G.

I don't mind them. I prefer them to the direct debit only guilt trip charity callers (even if for a good cause, I' dlove to give them my loose change but they don't do cash these days).. but then I like the ocassional theological discussion and it beats daytime telly.

I'm quite vocal about my atheism. I can also be mercilessly opinionated and, like aldiwhore actually enjoy a good debate. Proselytisers are always welcome at mine. So please, come proselytise to me!

The upside:
I'll invite you in and will offer you a hot beverage of your choice (or a cold one in summer; we can sit on the balcony if you like!). I like sweets, so there's a good chance of cake.

The downside:
You'll have to be prepared to give some decent arguments - which by my definition absolutely doesn't include arguments from personal revelation or (my pet peeve) the popular argumentum ad caritatem Iesu (I totally just pulled that one out of my arse but I always thought it deserved a posh name) otherwise known as "but Jesus loves you!"

Furthermore, I like my proselytisers educated to a decent standard. Please understand what an argument is and how it works. Please don't start questioning evolution unless you've got time to listen to my lecture on genetics. I once almost became a biologist and am still very interested in the subject, so the presentation is admittedly quite long.

Finally, if you happen to be a new ager (DF and his wife are both believers, so I meet quite a few): Do not under any circumstances mention quantum bloody physics. You don't understand quantum physics! Neither do I, to be fair, but I have enough of an idea about it to tell that your conception of it is completely wrong. And I will rectify your misconceptions, you will not like it, I will then have to tell you that you're a moron and will later get into a fight with my father over this. Just don't!