To wonder why Jehovahs Witnesses et al bother doorknocking?

[DollyPartonsBeard]

I've had the JWs at the door this morning. As always I politely told them I wouldn't be engaging with them as I'm well aware of their views on the lgbt+ community and we're a household of queer women.

But it left me wondering how successful their doorstep evangelism actually is; I'm pretty sure that in this day and age if an individual seeks religion or spirituality they can access information about this themselves (I feel the same way about double glazing sales). In fact the only person I know who got involved with the JWs was a very vulnerable young woman who had lost a baby. They told her they could 'save' her from God's punishment for her having a child out of wedlock which may have made me dislike their methods even more.

I'm all for freedom of religious expression, but I'm confused as to why they do this, when the conversion rate must be very low, and whether their time might be better spent doing good deeds instead of disrupting my quiet enjoyment of my home with their homophobic agenda?

noni just use lds

My dad opened the door to them once and told them he's a Satanist after they had knocked the third time that week. They never knocked again..well for about a month or two.

In the interests of fairness then persons I know if were certainly "looked after" in a way they hadn't been. There's no drinking smoking or even coffee and certainly no kissing so for these people this was a great way to be spending time. It goes way beyond that (and I amnt against a bit of kissing) but when I said looking for vulnerable people i don't think all there intentions are terrible.

However the Salvation Army also don't drink, hang about in city centres and aim too look after people. And I know they don't frown on a bit of kissing.

Some just have to report others daily it's there kick out of life sad as it is

Nonibaloni - in interests of being clear the no tea and coffee tobacco and alcohol is LDS. No tobacco and moderate alcohol is JW. No kissing certainly isn't LDS not sure about JW.

No kissing isn't LDS but I don't know several FLDS and they don't kiss until married.

FLDS are a law unto themselves and thankfully few and far between outside of their little enclaves! Xx

Annie, I can't believe the figures with which they are increasing. I lived in Utah for a short time and couldn't believe the numbers of people leaving LDS for FLDS (and another sect that I can't remember the names of) because they thought LDS was becoming too moderate, especially because the prophet was talking about allowing Dr Pepper on the campus of UofU and BYU.

Around these parts it's briefcases and Sunday best and always have children in tow, I am guessing that means being sworn at less.
I just don't answer the door to them.

DH says they knocked the door on Christmas Day just as they were eating lunch when he lived with his parents. His Mum was n ot best pleased.

Are you sure you mean FLDS I know there's been a small flight to RLDS/community of Christ? FLDS tend to avoid outsiders. Xx

The JWs I've encountered have been very preachy (obviously not all are, but the ones I've encountered have been) and the JW kids I've known through school etc were bloody miserable not being allowed to celebrate birthdays, take part in Christmas events etc. It's put me off it as a whole although I'm sure there are plenty of absolutely lovely JWs, I just can't agree with the enforced misery of it all.

I've met quite a few LDS missionaries, they've always been very polite in my experience. I'm happy to stop and chat to them, especially the US ones. No chance of them ever converting me, but they're friendly :)

Annie a 100% the FLDS, some even moved onto compounds after having lived in Provo and that kind uberLDS lifestyle for years but a number were moving up to the Idaho border but not cutting themselves off quite as much.
I think multiple marriages might be a factor but they mentioned Dr Pepper as sending it over the edge.

Sorry for the thread derail btw.

Wowsers; I feel there must be something more to it, considerably more. Sorry too for the thread derail. Xx

I've lived in my new house for about 2 years and had my first lot of JW about a month ago.
Had a pleasant chat about the dog and the weather, and asked them to put my address on the no call list so they don't come back.
No hassle.

They set up shop at least once a week outside my local hospital, I registered the urge to ask them about blood donations... They don't approach anyone though, just try to give their leaflets out. Luckily they don't come to my door, ever. I must be on some avoid list!

A pleasant enough looking lady tried to hand me a leaflet when I was out shopping the other day, as soon as I saw it was JW I said that I did not approve of organised religion and declined. She had a look of total sadness and anguish on her face, which made me wish I'd just taken it.

The JW position on transfusions I'd changing. They are beginning to accept blood parts xx

They don't call here anymore, I think we must be on a list of p!aces not to go since DH told them, many years ago, that we had said many times that we are not interested
and that this time if they didn't get of his property he would physically escort them and their children off, probably helped that he was trimming the hedge and was holding the hedge cutter at the time

I'm sorry but if this thread was about Islam it would have been deleted by now. The fact that someone has commented "Absolutely mad" and this is acceptable worries me. Such double standards

How often have evangelising Muslims knocked on your door and tried to get you to convert?

YY exactly. It's only JW that knock my door, I would feel just as if other religious groups did it.

There is something about me that puts JW right off. I don't know what it is, I am perfectly mild-mannered and unremarkable, but last time any knocked, they accepted my lack of interest without demur, shared some gossip about the old lady who had previously lived in my house, then left. I didn't even have to tell them I was Catholic (untrue) or a committed blood donor (true).

They must drop lucky at times - I used to work with a man who became a Mormon when they doorstepped him just after he'd discovered his DW was having an affair. He probably wouldn't have gone looking for Jesus or the latter-day saints left to his own devices, but as they found him, he felt it was meant to be, or something.

These cults die out unless they constantly target the vulnerable and gullible. They're parasitical.

I'm sorry but if this thread was about Islam it would have been deleted by now. The fact that someone has commented "Absolutely mad" and this is acceptable worries me. Such double standards

Double standards? I'd be just as happy to refer to a religious practice from any religion as absolutely mad. However, knocking on people's doors and inflicting your religious views on them pretty much invites comment.

They used to come knocking on Christmas Day when I was a kid, that didn't make them very popular