to be afraid of the Jehovah witnesses?

[Carrierpenguin]

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?

One bad apple spoils the whole barrel. One red sock in the wash turns everything pink.

You should very quickly read a good story in the Bible...like the one of the ten commandments, as British Law and indeed most western law is based on this.
If they do not properly introduce themselves, "Like my name is David Cameron..." then tell them who you are, ask them about their lives or ask why are they in there Sunday best on a bloody cold Wednesday morning. Or as it is near Halloween you could dress up all spooky...
The worst thing to do but probably most effective is to shout out before you open the door "BLOODY HELL ITS THE JOJO's..."
Basically, its common decency to state one's name and if they don't do that then ask are you canvassing for UKIP?

Have fun

I can understand why they scare you. I used to let them into my home and hear what that they had to say, but it gradually began to dawn on me that they are not wanting to be your friend as such. they are in the business of collecting souls. And that IS scary.
Now when they come to the door - I just suggest that they should change the the way they introduce themselves - with the usual - 'don't you think the world is such a bad place' ...and then,'but don't worry God will intervene'. I tell them it's such a negative position because there is also a lot of of good and change in the world ..that my God is proud of.

manwith - never realized that - you're right - they never introduce themselves by name.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

That is the bit in Corinthians which JWs interpret as you should disfellowship someone who has sinned.

raltherdraffe is the in the Old Testament?

They call it 'bad association'. JWs are meant to avoid bad association with naughty people like ex JWs as it is a slippery slope and might be a way for Satan to get a hold of them.

Then why spend so much of their time knocking on the door of people who could have bad associations?

That is the paragraph my ex quoted to me (he had a copy of the St James Bible) as the reasoning behind him being disfellowshipped. There are other verses in the Bible which are also interpreted by JW as the reason to shun sinners, but that is the main one apparently.
I was raised Christian and my mum was a Sunday School teacher, but C of E treat some parts the Bible very differently than JWs. JW have their own interpretation of the Bible, which is mainly the same as C of E but they do have some very significant differences.

The main doctrinal difference isn't their interpretation of the bible, directly, but their disavowal of the Nicene creed. The Nicene creed, 325AD in its original form, put an end to the blood-letting over the Arian heresy. The JWs seek to return Christianity to its "original" form (they are hence retorationists) and claim that "original" form to be non-Trinitarian, which essentially drags up Arianism again.

carm.org/arianism-and-its-influence-today

That's why very, very few Christians will accept JWs as Christians and why, for example, CofE schools in areas with a large number of JWs or Christadelpians will have forms of wording in their admission policies to make it clear that the "other Christian denomination" category doesn't include them.

They're very annoying but harmless.

Just say no thank you and close the door.

I did get caught out by the last lot who knocked on my door. The elderly lady who spoke first sounded like the Queen's posher cousin and it took me a moment too long to realise what she was about. Took it well enough when I said no though.

They look fabulous when you get thousands together in arenas for conferences - very smart. I like them.

JW's are generally pretty nice people. They just think God really wants them to witness to everybody and they think they're doing you a favour. It's annoying but they really do mean well. They're also used to people shutting doors in their faces. They probably get cursed out all the time, so if you smile politely and say very clearly that you are not interested, they will go away.

You need to nip it in the bud with them quickly else they hound you for weeks. They did it to me because each time I was taken by surprise (expecting packages so opened the door) and I was too nice to say bugger off. They came back every weekend for about four weeks I think until DH answered the last time and told them we weren't interested.

DH found it hilarious, my little Jehovah friends as he called them, it wasn't funny! I felt a bit harassed if I'm honest. I never made it out that I was interested, I just tried to quickly get rid of them and accepted the leaflet at the end. I think it's important NOT to accept the leaflet and just to tell them you're not interested, then they go...

I have noticed recently they have a new approach as well as knocking on doors. They have a stand full of leaflets in the local towns and if you go near and get a free leaflet then I assume the nearby jw will come and grab you.

I had a pair of JWs at the door about 10 months ago. I answered it as I was expecting someone else.

DD was in the middle of a homework tantrum and throwing maths book across room. DS has just done a huge explosive poo, was screaming in my ear and we were both covered in the stuff. I'd just started a hugely messy period. DP had just rung and said he was running an hour late

I was in such trauma I didn't even register they weren't who I was expecting Instead I opened door barely glanced at them, told them to go into kitchen shouted wait there I'll be back and shot off to change DS's nappy and clean us both up.

I came back to find one helping DD with her maths and the other washing up!! It was only then I registered they weren't X and Y. I asked what they wanted and they said not to worry they'd just leave their magazine as it was obviously not the best time. As they left the one who'd been helping dd shouted "remember to carry the tens over".

They never came back . Still horrified with myself for ushering two complete strangers into my home. Still can't believe I did it! Won't be doing that again lesson learnt.

No need to be cared - they're invariably very pleasant people. As are the Mormons when they come round. I say, very nicely and politely, that I thank them for calling but in fact I'm Jewish ... or I'm Roman Catholic, so they'd be wasting their time (in fact, I'm sort of both ... Jewish mother, RC father, but I'm actually an atheist ).

Once, when my kids were tiny, they'd been awake all throwing up with a tummy bug and I was up to my eyes in sick covered sheets to launder. The two JW women who'd called, when I told them I was busy and why, offered to come in and help with the clean-up - that was sweet.

Sometimes JW come round with small children in tow. I've got in the habit now, along with claiming my (non existent) religion precludes me wasting their time, I do hand over a tiny Matchbox car or some other small toy that's long grown out of by my grandkids.

i have two ladies who visit me i just stand on the doorstep have a little ten minute conversation with them mainly about my cats take the mag (goes straight in the bin) no harm done, when i was younger if a JW knocked on the door used to say i would love to talk to you but im late for a coven meeting that used to send them fleeing down the garden path

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.

Really? How about Mormons?

Also I've had Catholics at my door recently. In Ireland! I think I know all I need to know about that thanks! Would much prefer the JWs.

For some reason we have them knocking on doors a lot but not sure why they target during the day as most are at work so very little response.

I just very politely showded them the many needle holes in my arm where I give blood and they avoid my house.

Always handy to have a 'I donate blood' sticker in your car or window. Saves a lot of wasted energy on both sides.

They are not 'harmless' - and anybody who thinks so doesn't know what JW's are about. Also, they are only 'nice' until they have you in the fold and have been baptised.

"You should very quickly read a good story in the Bible...like the one of the ten commandments, as British Law and indeed most western law is based on this."

Possibly off-topic, but this really isn't true. Look at the 10 commandments and let me know how many of them are the basis for British or indeed European law.

Well, numbers 6, 7 8 and 9 can lead to legal action and sometimes a sentence if you break them in this country.

The thing I find odd is, they are told they have to spread the word, hence all the door knocking, and yet, I know several JWs socially, and they never once make any comment to me either about their religion (except to turn down party invitations) or try to convert me. They are all, without exception, lovely people too. I just don't understand why the proselytising is confined to strangers (though I'm glad it is!)

FIL's siblings have been JW for nearly 40 years. They're respectful of us and we're respectful of them. They are still people with feelings.

If you say no thank you, they normally respect that.

I don't like them.

Worked with one. Was friends with another.

The one I worked with knew I had a gay flatmate and would go on and on and on at me about how it was a sin and he'd reap what he sowed. Every fucking shift.

The 'friend' would tell me how all disabled people should be executed to purify the population.

I've never had time for any extremist bullshit like that and avoided them both.

But if you consider the above 'beliefs' with their lack of boundaries (knocking on doors to peddle their thoughts) then I think you do have a reason to be wary.