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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Jehovah's Witnesses

124 replies

DisappointedOne · 25/12/2015 10:50

Our local JWs have a habit of knocking on doors on Xmas day. (We don't actually celebrate anything on Xmas day so have plenty of time to engage them in a scientific argument conversation that can potentially last for hours.)

I'm happy for anyone to believe anything they like, but don't come pushing it on my doorstep.

Not sure how friendly a welcome they get at other houses. TABU, aren't they?

OP posts:

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 25/12/2015 10:54

They're actually being quite fantastically rude.

I've always said that you define cultish/obsessive behaviour when you no longer regard manners or common sense. I strongly believe that.

Original poster

DisappointedOne · 25/12/2015 10:56

It's hilarious though. DH is talking about installing a whiteboard just inside the front door so he can point out the flaws in their arguments visually.

OP posts:

Iwonderwhy123 · 25/12/2015 10:57

I try to be polite but very brief with them.
People are entitled to believe what they like but don't try ramming your opinions down my throat. That goes for any religion or denomination.

B33rTricksPott3r · 25/12/2015 10:58

Same welcome as any other time of the year. Either don't answer the door to them or say "I am C of E and won't be changing that. Have a good day" and shut the door.

Original poster

DisappointedOne · 25/12/2015 10:58

(Last year they argued that the number of earthquakes is increasing, because humans are angering God. The graph was cumulative, so DH pointed out that you'd expect the number to go up. He had the dictionary out to define "cumulative" to them and everything. I thought they'd swerve is this year, but they've been here a good 20 mins so far!)

OP posts:

Iwonderwhy123 · 25/12/2015 10:59

Oh and please do take them in for a lengthy discussion OP as it will present them knocking on my door whilst I'm trying to cook dinner or deal with kids/husband/family!

Justbatteringon · 25/12/2015 10:59

Yeah my mum mentioned to me she was going out on Christmas Day (a JW) she usually does now I think about it I just looked at her with that look I give her when she's being strange and told her to wise up and not waste her bloody time.

Original poster

DisappointedOne · 25/12/2015 10:59

I just imagine them knockin and some flustered cook answering with a massive carving knife in their hand.

OP posts:

BalthazarImpresario · 25/12/2015 11:14

I have friends who are jws and they don't knock on Christmas day. They go ice skating as the rink is open for them (or anyone I guess) and usually long walks. They've never gone out knocking on Christmas day.

calzone · 25/12/2015 11:17

Where are your friends Balthazar?

Ice rink near us is open and free (as in don't pay!) today.

DrewsWife · 25/12/2015 11:18

I'm Sally Army. My most frightening moment was to open the door to a knock expecting my own ministers. There on the door step was a pair of JW and some Mormons I knew. Whilst my minister was killing himself laughing sitting in the car. I was like a rabbit in the headlights.

I must really need saving.

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 25/12/2015 11:25

My dad was an amateur theologian. He loved JWs coming round as he could have a good discussion about religion and history. He would invite them in, pull down various books and explain in great depth the flaws in their arguments, referring to early Codexes and Dead Sea Scrolls. Eventually they would get to leave, defeated.
I miss my old dad.

WhereYouLeftIt · 25/12/2015 11:35

"It's hilarious though. DH is talking about installing a whiteboard just inside the front door so he can point out the flaws in their arguments visually."
I like his style!

abbsismyhero · 25/12/2015 11:39

i had a dog she was a wonderful dog daft as anything loved people (usually got so excited she would pee on there shoes) she was an english springer spaniel so a bit of a handful on year JW came knocking i answered with her by my side as per usual she turned into a monster growling snarling barking the works fortunately i had my hand on her choker chain fortunately it was a check choker which stopped at a certain point because she would have strangled herself trying to get out to them! ive never seen her react like that before to anyone it was insane they legged it down the driveway saying they would pray for me i assured them i would return the favour dragged her in the door as soon as it was shut she stopped

dogs are not stupid

hefzi · 25/12/2015 11:49

As well as Christmas, they're good at showing up just when you're in from church. My DF has great form for inviting them in for a chat - drives DM mad: they once had a cleaner who was JW and it gives her flashbacks

Unreasonablebetty · 25/12/2015 11:50

Eurgh!!
I consider myself a JW and I don't know one single person who would believe that going door knocking on Christmas would be anything other than intrusive and disrespectful towards others beliefs.

Sorry you get this OP- all "my" lot are having a get together this afternoon. Only one door I'll be knocking on lol!

Enjoy your day all.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 25/12/2015 11:51

I agree with the pp who says they are rude. I can't believe they actually go knocking on Christmas Day.

Jux · 25/12/2015 11:53

EElisaveta, my dad was a linguist and knew quite a lot of the 'dead' languages. He would keep them on the door step pointing out the difficulties of translating drom Aramaic to Hebrew (or was it the other way round?) and then into whatever. He would discuss the finer points of context. They would be hopping from foot to foot, utterly outclassed but unable to bring the conversation to a close. He enjoyed it more if it was very cold and snowy.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 25/12/2015 11:54

Betty my JW friend would not dream of going and knocking on people's doors on Christmas Day. She's not that keen on doing it any other day as she feels it's intrusive.

abbsismyhero · 25/12/2015 11:59

my ex husband's family is JW i don't miss the lectures fwiw my grandad was a cofe vicar and he never preached except from a pulpit or to willing listeners

elQuintoConyo · 25/12/2015 12:02

I have a handful of JWs in my family and they wouldn't dream of knocking on Christmas Day.

You just might be unfortunate OP!

Unreasonablebetty · 25/12/2015 12:06

Mrsitsno.....
Exactly, that's how all my friends seem to feel, it's all the slightly strange ones who go door knocking at these times.
A lot of us don't like going door knocking, were generally the ones who don't push, I think that the lit carts in the town centres, and Oxford street for example are far less intrusive and wouldn't so much mind doing these but I keep running away so I don't have to go on the ministry.

I'm not sure how clear my post was earlier, but no one I know personally will be door knocking today,

And if anyone was to turn up at my door today, they would be told that I felt them to be rude, knowing the interpretation of the general populations December 25th is Christmas, it's especially rude of them to turn up and point out how "wrongit is" and I'd be asking for their address so I can visit on Halloween in costume to tell ghost stories.

DeoGratias · 25/12/2015 12:08

My mother used to try to convert them to Catholicism.

I have never had them on Christmas day however.

I do always remember the Christmas lunch time one of our white rabbits escaped and I had to knock on the neighbour's door to get into their garden to catch it. They were sitting down to Christmas lunch with all their adult children. They were terribly good about it and we saved the rabbit. Felt awful disburbing their lunch though...

definitelybutter1 · 25/12/2015 12:10

My DH got us blacklisted by the local JWs. It was an awesome and epic 'discussion' that ranged far and wide. I wish I could have video'ed it.

He is brilliant.

Unreasonablebetty · 25/12/2015 12:12

Definitely- what happened?!

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