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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be afraid of the Jehovah witnesses?

138 replies

Carrierpenguin · 22/10/2014 21:58

Tonight a pair of Jehovah witnesses turned up on my doorstep. I was a bit thick and didn't realise who they were. They duped me into speaking to them for a couple of minutes and thrust a magazine thing in my hands as I closed the door, they said they'd come back. I did tell ask them if this was a 'religious thing' and they said they were christian, I said I'm a C of E church goer.

I'm worried that they are going to come back and hound me forever more now. Aibu?

OP posts:

divingoffthebalcony · 22/10/2014 22:00

If they do, say no thanks and close the door. Easy

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 22/10/2014 22:01

They aren't flesh eating zombies, . Just tell them you aren't interested and close the door.

SugarPlump · 22/10/2014 22:04

Honestly just say your not interested to be honest they'll be very used to, most people say it!

I had some turn up saying they wanted to leave magazines for our staff room at work, (we don't have one) and I told them no one would be interested they just said thank you and took the magazine.

You really don't need to be afraid of them

duhgldiuhfdsli · 22/10/2014 22:09

and they said they were christian

The general definition of Christian, for practical purposes, is trinitarians who subscribe to the Nicene Creed. Jehovah's Witnesses don't.

www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/trinity/

The JWs would argue they are Christians, because they would claim that the Nicene Creed is not essential to being a Christian. Very, very few other denominations would agree.

twinkletoedelephant · 22/10/2014 22:10

I was always a smile nicley take the leaflet and shut the door... Dd answered the door to them once ( I was in the loo she thought it was auntie) they asked if she knew about god ..... She said ERM yes of course he wrote a book.. And shut the door on them she was 4....

They are people just say no thankyou and they will leave.

bellarations · 22/10/2014 22:10

Nothing to be afraid of. As others have said, just say politely I'm not interested, have a nice day (if you are feeling generous).
Part of their commitment to God is to spread the word that's all.

WorraLiberty · 22/10/2014 22:15

Of course they'll hound you forever, until you simply say "No thank you, I'm not interested", very firmly with a smile...as you close the door.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 22/10/2014 22:17

Just say you are not interested next time. The elderly ladies I got last time were very nice even though I said I was not interested, one of them thanked me for taking to time to open my door to her.
They are not to be feared. Most will just say ok and leave you alone (I have only ever had politeness from the ones I turned away) if you just say you are not interested.

Its the chuggers I hate!

waithorse · 22/10/2014 22:32

I've banned my dh from answering the door when they call. He stands and talks to them for ages, so they are encouraged to come back. I'm answering the door next time. They will get a polite, no thanks and I'll shut the door.

magimedi · 22/10/2014 22:40

Just say "No".

My last, but one, next door neighbour was a witness (+ her Dh & 5 children).

Much as I dislike their religion & prejudices I could not have asked for a nicer or kinder neigbour.

DH was working away from home at that time & I was home alone. When she knew that, she came round with a card with their telephone number on it, & said that I was to ring any time, day or night, if I had any worries as the local police could be slow to attend any 999 call.

She knew I had no interest in the religion & never, ever bothered me - AND told the rest of the congregation that I was a lost cause! I never got another call.

She loved my Christmas lights (they don't do Christmas) & always said how much she loved living next door to a heathen!

We never discussed religion but had a great relationship as neighbours & even shared a few together.

I could think of far worse people to have next door!

ShelaghTurner · 22/10/2014 22:41

I'm not a JW but I have a friend who is and it's horrible how some people treat them, really necessarily nasty. Not implying that you are, of course. But they're people doing what they think is right, that's all. Just say no thank you politely and shut the door. They're not going to eat your first born...

ShelaghTurner · 22/10/2014 22:42

*unnecessarily

effinandjeffin · 22/10/2014 22:43

Just tell them you're not interested and shut the door. Or tell them you've been disfellowshipped (the JW version of excommunication) and they shouldn't call again as they're not allowed to talk to you.

effinandjeffin · 22/10/2014 22:44

shelagh people don't like them because they prey on the weak and vulnerable. And that's a fact.

Littledidsheknow · 22/10/2014 22:53

What effin said, coupled with their gobsmacking arrogance: I know of no other religion or religious sect that feels the need to go round trying convert people in such a way, in their own homes ffs.
Sounds like your neighbour would have been a lovely person whatever her beliefs, magimedi

neverputasockinatoaster · 22/10/2014 23:00

I tell them I'm a Roman Catholic and I get all my spiritual guidance from my parish priest.
They go away then.

WooWooOwl · 22/10/2014 23:02

The ones that come to me are lovely.

jennieflower · 22/10/2014 23:14

A few years back I had JW callers on Christmas morning, it just so happened to be my pfb DD's first Christmas, I had just lost a close relative to throat cancer that had received several blood transfusions and was pretty upset and confrontational with them. I'd like to say that 12 years on I would handle it differently but I'm not sure?

ElephantsNeverForgive · 22/10/2014 23:15

My DF is Jewish, she had a catholic flat mate. They made a point of answering the door together as the JWs knew when they didn't stand a chance!

vodkanchocolate · 22/10/2014 23:15

I dont like to label them all but My mum used to attend when we were children she was in an abusive marriage and turned to them for support, I cant remember how long she had us attending but they would get so nasty with her. Try and have us all baptised even though she said she wasnt ready to make the commitment they just wouldnt take her word for it, they would encourage her to stay in an abusive marriage, final straw was one Christmas and the fact that we still celebrated. The congragation turned on her. She stayed friends with a couple of people and has been shocked at some of the stories they have told her about how they have treated people.

I was always a little freaked out by the church itself tbh as a child not sure about now, but they are a bloody pest knocking at door all time we seem to be getting an awful lot lately been polite and saying no thank you just doesnt seem to be working. We live in a small town and one church that im aware of how can we possibly be having atleast 1 group knocking per week, call me paranoid but I always wonder if they are genuine

BadtzMaru · 22/10/2014 23:18

They call on Christmas morning?

Are they really that blinkered by their "mission" that they can't understand most people will be miffed to have their Christmas day interrupted?

NonScaryJW · 22/10/2014 23:28

I'm not scary in the slightest - I'm lovely I am

enWoooquethesythebearingwizard · 22/10/2014 23:36

The ladies who keep calling here are very pleasant and polite and accept what I've told them, which is that I have deeply held private spiritual beliefs which I don't want to discuss. That's an end to it so we have a little chat about the weather or local news and then they go away.

It hurts no one and they are not at all threatening.

justkeeponsmiling · 22/10/2014 23:44

I too usually say I'm a devoted Roman Catholic so not interested. I say it with a big smile on my face and that usually takes the wind out of their sails completely - it's quite funny to watch!
I then send them on their way with a merry "good bye, god bless!"

PercyHorse · 22/10/2014 23:49

I learned from MN that all you have to do is say you want be put on the no visit list! It's that easy. They don't come back for a few years.

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