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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed with those selling religion door to door

60 replies

Ilovemyself · 30/05/2013 10:00

Yesterday morning, whilst getting the children ready to go out there was a knock at the door. 2 women of pensioner age stood there when I answered, and asked me if I had thought of god.

I told then that I didn't want to waste their time or mine as I had my own particular views and was rather busy.

They did ask what my religion was which I told them and hoped they would go away.

At this point, they pulled out their leaflets and asked if I had ever wondered if god was cruel. I was polite, took their leaflets, and said I was busy ( again).

They thanked me and said they would come back to discuss what they had left.

I was polite to them throughout. Would I be unreasonable to either ignore their knocks or answer and tell them to go away. I really think your religion ( or lack of) is your personal business and going door to door does pray on the vulnerable and elderly

OP posts:
wharrgarbl · 30/05/2013 12:35

Yes they are selling something, they're selling religion.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 30/05/2013 14:29

I like the idea of showing thigh. Shall I use one of my wife's robes lol

OP posts:
Solari · 30/05/2013 14:41

My whole family is JW, and I still technically am because I can't leave without being disfellowshipped and shunned (as I am baptized).

The work is very organised, maps of areas are divided up into smaller laminated maps called 'territories'.

Different 'territory' maps will be rotated through and groups will focus on covering a whole territory (speaking to every door at least once) before moving onto the next territory.

Not home/don't answer = put on the 'return to door' list
Take literature = put on 'return visit' list
Answer but not interested = no calls until the same territory map gets pulled out again.
Ask to be put on 'do not call' list = They won't call at all except perhaps once every few years just to make sure the house owner hasn't changed

If you do take literature, they will try to take your name and you'll be marked down as a 'return visit', one of the many stats that gets reported by every Jehovah's Witness at the end of the month on their report sheet:

Hours done
Numbers of literature left
Return Visits
Bible Studies

PeterParkerSays · 30/05/2013 14:58

My pet hate is mormons. We arrived home from a journey from hell (over Christmas, car had broken down, given a lift home from the garage and suitbases etc dumped at side of road) when DH tried to help two smart young men who were looking for a nearby street. They ignored me (apparently not allowed to speak to non mormon women), so I started picking up bags and walking across the road to home.

15 minutes later DH got away. I'd moved all the bags, cases, presents etc. by myself whilst they tried to indoctrinate DH into the good word of the Angel Morony (or however you spell it). Fuming wasn't the word. DH thought it was hysterical (he's definitely Catholic, or maybe Quaker but certainly not mormon) and wanted to give them points for effort, trudging round Lincoln in mid-winter trying to convert strange men who you ask for directions.

TryDrawing · 30/05/2013 15:06

Yes, defo borrow one of your wife's robes Grin

And report back.

HollyBerryBush · 30/05/2013 15:12

JWs, in my experience, are usually just delighted you have God in your life, doesn't matter how you believe, obviously they'd like to get a convert, but by and large, they are just spreading the word.

Mormons, once they get an interested person, do not let go. they are very tenacious. NDN when I was growing up, very lonely, would have all sorts of strange doorknockers in for tea. Took her years to get rid of them again - and a large investment in some awful barley drink, as Mormons don't touch caffeine.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2013 15:12

I started a thread on this recently after the bastards had woken DD up two days in a row. Good suggestions were:

An "I Give Blood" sticker.
A sign that tells them you will sacrifice a kitten in the name of Satan for every leaflet offered.
Calling the local HQ and asking to be off the list.
Letting your chatty child talk to them for an hour or two.

Bad suggestions:

One poster's DH thinking they were the HV and letting them in, telling the poster there was someone here for her. Grin

TheBigJessie · 30/05/2013 15:18

Are you an Enviro-bore? I am, and I have realised that I have a gift. From now on, I am going to ask all leafletters about their church's environmental policy and how they offset the impact of all these unnecessary leaflets that are either dumped into landfill, or recycled, (which is better than waste but costs energy, and so isn't as good as re-use or not Not Printing Unnecessary Stuff).

CherylTrole · 30/05/2013 15:20

I hate this intrusive shit. I also hate the freaks that shout into their microphones in the middle of towns that all gays are going to hell. Take your placards and narrow minds and do one.

PeppermintPasty · 30/05/2013 15:27

YANU to be annoyed.

I once got rid of a couple by smiling cheerily and asking them to wait while I got them a copy of Socialist Worker to take away with them. Never seen anyone move so fast.

BTW, I am not bashing the Lefties with a cheap joke, this happened to me in the days when I could justifiably call myself a Revolutionary, with a capital R! Ah, happy days...

EverybodysStressyEyed · 30/05/2013 15:30

The local baptist church put a booklet through the door. It was a graphic cartoon about what happens if you turn from god (drugs, violence, rape in prison, HIV, death). It was quite upsetting but what made me really angry is that ds normally picks up the piles of junk we get to bin. It would have been really awful if he'd read this (and he would have done) and just wasn't appropriate matter to be put through the door.

Grrrrr

So yanbu

AgathaF · 30/05/2013 15:38

I dislike anyone selling anything at our door - religion, double glazing, driveways, frigging mops and window wipes.

I used to answer, but now just turn away from the door as soon as I have seen who it is. I don't care a jot if they've seen me through the glass, they shouldn't be so bloody pushy.

itsblackoveryonderhill · 30/05/2013 15:45

I'm not religious at all, but our local JW's do knock on our door and I think they are great.

They fully understand that I'm not a 'believer' and I'm more for Darwinism.

When they were telling me about 'satan' I said to them that I'd just been reading a book about a fallen angel who was vampire and his 'father' was 'satan'. They didn't seem shocked by this at all.

They are fully aware that I'm not going to be converted, but I do like our discussions because I know jack shit about religion and they explain it to me in a very simple fashion and answer my questions.

I've nothing against other people having a religion and I like to be an informed person. What do I say if my DD asks me when she is older. I wouldn't have an answer, but through our monthly conversations I'm learning more and more.

One thing I didn't know was that the 'forbidden fruit' on the tree is not necessarily an apple, it's just it's visual representation in books etc.

So, in my opinion (from my conversations with out visitors) is that if you said you would not like to be visited then they wouldn't.

CelticPixie · 30/05/2013 15:53

I dislike JW's and all that they stand for and I don't understand why are they are allowed to harass people in their own homes, trying to convert them to their cult. And lets not beat about the bush, this is exactly what JW is. A cult. A religion doesn't tell their followers that they cannot socialises or associate with those who don't share their faith. It doesn't tell them that they should die rather than accept a transplant or blood transfusion.

I was at school with a JW girl and asside from the obvious not being allowed to sit in assembly or RE religions ( which is also bollocks) she was not allowed to go to friends homes after school, she was not allowed to go shopping with friends on a weekend, she was not allowed to attend birthday parties or exchange Christmas presents and cards. Nor was she allowed to take part in the school play. Basically she wasn't allowed to do anything where she might me non JW's who'd open her mind to what a load of bullshit their "religion" is. She was therefore open to bullying, which happened all the time and one day she left. Never saw her again.

CherylTrole · 30/05/2013 16:03

ALL organized religion = Cult

Solari · 30/05/2013 16:18

You just described my childhood CelticPixie. I have no doubt that some JW children are very happy being raised in the faith (as I was until a certain age), and some undoubtedly believe strongly in it themselves.

Its when you grow up and change, and decide you don't believe any more, or want to follow a different spiritual path, and realise you can't be open about any of those things or your entire JW family will cut you off (in the belief that this is how to 'save' you spiritually).

CelticPixie · 30/05/2013 16:37

Yes Solari. This is why I believe it to be a cult rather than a religion. Can you imagine any other religion where you'd be told cut a member of your family off because they didnt really believe in all anymore? I know someone who's parents are very strict evangelical Christians but she doesn't really believe in it and is more on the fence regarding religion, but her family are completely fine about it and respect her feelings 100%.

The girl I mentioned in my earlier post was actually a very nice person and a lot of people really liked her, but she was never really allowed to be friends with any of us. Being different as a teenager sadly leaves you open to bullying and she was picked on by a group of people. Then one day, suddenly she didnt come to school and we were told that she had "left" and that was the end of it. None of us ever did see her again.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 30/05/2013 20:07

I must admit, I don't like children being indoctrinated with any religion. Ours will be given a strong set of values that are based around not doing harm to anyone or anything else, and to work hard to get what they want.

If they want to know more about our beliefs, or any other religion then we will let them find out, but we certainly won't be forcing it upon them.

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 30/05/2013 20:22

TooOldForGlitter, any religion is fair game in my book.

AFAIK there is no law that says you can't insult someone's religion, is there?

Fabalab · 30/05/2013 20:46

YANBU to be annoyed with the set you got. They were rude and pushy and I would have been annoyed too. All it should take is a 'no thankyou, bye' and they should accept that and go.

I'm a Mormon BTW.

NicknameIncomplete · 30/05/2013 21:03

Why is it only JW and Mormons who harass you?

I have never been approached by a christian, muslim, hindu, buddist, jedi etc.

I have been polite and said no thanks or im not interested & they still came back. I have a sticker on my door & i still got them. They havent been back since i looked at them through the window & then ignored the door. That was about a year ago.

faulkernegger · 30/05/2013 21:18

Mt Uncle would always say " I'm a Methodist, I'm afraid I haven't got time to convert you today. Goodbye."

Picasso31 · 30/05/2013 22:03

Always remember my parents inviting them in one afternoon for a chat. An hour of intense biblical debate later (mostly pointing out all the bits that directly contradict each other) they were desperate to get out the door, 3 hours later they finally managed to escape never to return again. Great strategy if you're a bit bored! Not tried it myself though....

TheHerringScreams · 30/05/2013 22:21

We live near Mormons and JWs. They appear to be in fierce competition because if I mention the word 'JW' to a Mormon, they rant about stuff, and vice versa Hmm Most of them are very nice, one older person comes in and has a chat, leaves a leaflet and is very polite and kind. If it's someone I recognise as especially annoying, I tend to send dd2 (13, queen of sarcasm and militant atheist) which usually stops them for a bit, but we've only recently found out about being taken off the list, so we are JW free. The Mormons keep coming though...

I recommend opening the door naked (if you have no shame) like a friend did (it seemed to work apparently) OR holding up a hamster and telling them you are going to sacrifice it to the devil if they give you a leaflet (don't follow through and do it, obviously).

wintertimeisfun · 30/05/2013 22:36

i always find them very friendly. there is a huge temple where they worship on a saturday and it is always very well attended, they always seem to happy among themselves/contented. i am not into religion but i must say that out of other religions i have observed they seem at peace :) this i admire. no, i am not thinking of joining :-D