To think that nobody EVER changed their religious beliefs thanks to a door-step caller?

[CrystalHaze]

Just exactly that, really.

Following today's 'have you heard the good news?' doorstep visit, I've been wondering what the conversion rate actually is, and I cannot think of any way in which it could be a successful strategy for drawing people to your religion, unless they were particularly vulnerable.

So, what I'm wondering is: has anyone ever answered the door to a total stranger, listened to what they have to say on spiritual matters, and subsequently seen the light?

while i respect all religions, with the door stop brigade i just tell the truth that i'm a pagan, the jaws either drop or they scuttle down the garden path, can't think why !

already l really feel for you.
I have never been a witness myself, but have my mother and in-laws that are.
My sister in law was disfellowships recently, through no fault of hers.
You are right to be cautious about keeping quiet about your faith now.
My sister in law has lost most of her family, including her own sister.
I hope you find a way to cope.

Oh, my mum was 'converted' on the door (in a way) after inviting the witnesses around.

Tapirbackrider, which religion do you have experience in? Because everyone is assuming it's the Jehovah's Witnesses, but what you're saying is very different to how they work and what they say/believe.

So they are at a dead lock which some one has to stop. The patent acting like a parent not a hurt stroppy teenager herself would be a start.

Oops sorry wrong thread

Tapirbackrider, sorry, I missed your latest post - please disregard my question!

Tapir's experiences are completely different to my own. I've never been told to look for vulnerable people in newspapers, or even heard of that happening, and TBH it sounds a bit weird. It's also not normal or ok to take your small children door-to-door and members not serving a full-time mission don't generally knock on doors unless they've volunteered to go out with the missionaries for an hour or two.

Round here JWs do bring their small children with them; I now prefer to not answer the door to them rather than have to be forceful to get rid of them. (The local JWs don't listen to a polite ''I'm not religious'').

When I was quite (mentally) unwell & on a lot of meds I was very vulnerable & must have got into conversation with the a couple from the local JWs & gave them my name.
I don't actually remember that conversation or giving them my name (I was that ill) but several times after that they kept visiting & I didn't know how to stop them. Then they called round once when my mum was round & she managed to get rid of them & asked them not to come back.
But this couple did come back one day & tried to get into conversation again.

I said, ''look I don't believe in god & I like the world as it is'' - they looked shocked & asked me how I could possibly like the world as it is, was I siding with the devil? So I saw my chance, said yes & that particular couple have never come back!

As I said, I never answer the door to JWs now, I don't care if they know I'm in or not.
I've also had problems with chuggers & salesmen being rude to me so I never answer the door to them either.

If you don't want JWs to call again, the phrase that works is, "Put me on your Do Not Call list".

When preaching door to door, JWs carry a kind of mini-map with lists of houses, and there is indeed a do-not-call list which is meant to never be called on except once every several years to check the owner has not changed.

Mil was converted at the doorstep, it took them about 10 years for her to convert. She has to go to the doors, regardless of conversion rate - she is not encouraged to target anyone and would be concerned that someone was too vulnerable to make an independent rational decision to convert.
She doesn't try to convert me or any of her dcs or gdcs but she gets around the requirement to spread the word by handing dh the watchtower every time we visit, apart from that her religion doesn't get referenced very much.
She advised me to let the local JW callers know that I did not wish to be called on again and I don't get callers anymore.
If you are worried about being rude or getting into a debate at the door, she suggests you answer the door with a phone in your hand and just say you're on a call, less embarrassing for both parties. I think she really hates door stepping, she has come across some scary people who are none to thrilled by her presence but she feels she has no choice.

Poirot

That's my fault, I should have said to start with that I am a former mormon.

My approach to religious door-step callers:

www.facebook.com/friendlyatheist/photos/a.10152839688055080.1073741825.353026650079/10155102897235080/?type=1&theater

The JWs in this area don't appear to knock on doors quite so much any more. Instead, they gather outside the local stations, not speaking but holding out booklets. Why?

I genuinely don't understand it and if I'm honest I find it quite odd and slightly disappointing - presumably they feel that they will earn the more brownie points if they stand holding out a booklet as against going in to the community and actually setting an example. It seems a gross waste of time and resources ie is there no value in helping people out, doing voluntary work etc?.

I pass a group of JWs 3 or 4 times a day and have never seen them actually speak to anyone. I don't quite see the logic behind it.

Just been googling, Chantenay, and apparently it's a new tactic they're trying in various cities to see if it gets a better response. They're standing there quietly because they think people will feel more comfortable making their own choice to approach.

It's far less intrusive than doorstepping but you definitely have a point about setting an example in the community.

The standing and handing out literature is called streetwork, and is another often used method as door-to-door preaching wouldn't reach everyone, people never home, not answering etc.

Its also very handy for people who are intimidated by going door to door (based on my experience - I used to be terrified of it). Much easier to stand holding a magazine and hoping you don't need to speak to anyone than actually walking up to strange people's doors again and again, anticipating a direct encounter each time.

I am so, so glad I never have to do that again.

don't 96% of religious people believe in the religion they were born?

so, most people don't change their religion, door-step caller or not.

I live in a very religious area (not JW) and we get missionaries all the time. They are very sincere and sweet but as politely as I can, cut them off before letting them start their spiel.

I can see them making converts this way. We are not ostracized by the community since we aren't the dominant religion (some areas around here Are that way) but it would make my life 100 percent more sociable. I can't see it happening to Me personally but yes, I'm sure if it that there has been converts on our street and this is how it started.

I loved inviting in all kinds of people when I lived in student digs.
Some of them would help with the washing up, some the hoovering and some the laundry.
It was ace as I'm a bit of a slattern
And their teeth were always so excellent, it gave me faith in orthodontics.

Already......you know you can leave without being disfellowshipped....just stop going to meetings.

Feminine......'SIL was disfellowshipped through no fault of her own.'

She was not repentant for what she had done.....is the reason for being disfellowshipped.

easiest way to change someones religious beliefs- ask them to think

Thank you very much Empress and Already for the info.

calzone No, I can't just leave. My family are heavily entrenched and will report me to the elders the moment they know I am doing something not allowed... like throwing a birthday party for DC, going to a different church with DH etc etc. Not to mention not being able to have any sort of honest conversation with my family about what I believe.

Those things and many more that I would like to do, but can't yet without being thrown out. Can't voluntarily leave/disassociate as the penalty is still shunning.

I know it will come out eventually as I said, as living a lie is too painful, but I am enjoying whatever I can have left of my family.

Toffeelatte Jesus is documented in historical documents outside the bible. His death is recorded for example. This is actual fact - you could easily confirm this to be true with a little investigating.