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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a little snappy with the Jehovah's Witnesses

98 replies

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 11:21

OK, so I was going to post this in Philosophy/ Religion/Spirituality but I'd rather shove it somewhere more connected with the real world.

I've just had the sodding Jehovah's Witnesses at the door. DW made the mistake of being nice to them once and now they won't leave us alone. WHY do they think they are going to get anywhere with me? Pressing their mawkish little pamphlets on me and wibbling on about Adam and Eve. FGS, I have probably done more reading about religions of the world than the idiot woman who was proselytising to me. I mentioned Thor, Apollo, Zeus and Ra and her eyes glazed over! In the end I cut the "conversation" short (I use the word in its loosest sense) and shut the door on her.

I think they deserve about a minute of polite debate for having the chutzpah to door-knock. But it always degenerates into them quoting the sodding Bible at me. I'd rather have political canvassers - at least you can ARGUE properly with them....

OP posts:

SueBaroo · 17/01/2008 14:53

I've got to say, I do agree with gibberish. They don't come to the door to 'engage in debate', they come to give a message.

You already know the message, UQD, and you're not interested. I'm not interested either, but I'd think it hugely unreasonable of me to get snappy with people who weren't as well-read in terms of comparative religion, just because they didn't do what they hadn't come to do in the first place.

So really, I think YABU to expect JWs to engage in an on-doorstep version of an MN thread, yes

idlingabout · 17/01/2008 14:54

''We do these threads every week now!

Lets pick on a different religion next week, just for a change, this one is getting boring now! ''

It probably keeps cropping up because it is this religion which makes a nuisance of itself bothering people in their own homes!

gibberish · 17/01/2008 14:54

Agree Aimsmum.

If that's your view of them UQD, I doubt a 'debate' would change your mind. So why bother? And why moan about it afterwards? You chose to answer the door. You chose to spend the time talking to them. You can choose not to. Seems simple to me.

Aimsmum · 17/01/2008 14:55

Message withdrawn

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 14:55

I'm not picking on anyone, I promise.
The woman wasn't listening to what I was saying. She just kept going back to Genesis and the story of the Fall and so on. All very nice but it is an allegory. A creation myth.

It's just that anyone who has the get-up-and-go to go out there and try to convince strangers on the doorstep to believe in their imaginary friend should be able to engage a bit more.

I'd be saying the same whether they were JWs, Catholics, Hindus or disciples of the Spaghetti Monster.

OP posts:

betterhalf · 17/01/2008 14:56

aimsmum I couldn't agree with you more. Same old topic and debate as last week. Its a bit repetitive and boring now.

TellusMater · 17/01/2008 14:56

I agree with Sue.

It's a bit like political canvassing. Canvassers aren't interested in debate. Just in knowing where to target their election day activities and maybe get some poster sites.

I just say "Thank you but I am a Catholic", take the literature if it is still offered and they leave.

TellusMater · 17/01/2008 14:57

Ah. There's the monster...

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 14:58

I suppose what I wanted was for her to say "well, I can see I'm wasting my time with you" or "oh well, you seem to know what you (don't) believe". Rather than me having to do the work for them.

I know that's probably unrealistic. As Sue says, the doorstep isn't necessarily a debating forum...

OP posts:

Aimsmum · 17/01/2008 14:58

Message withdrawn

gibberish · 17/01/2008 14:59

Can see your point there. As Aimsmum said previously, there will be good and bad as there are in all religions.

Hopefully next time you will have a rip-roaring discussion (if you choose to do so) with someone who really knows their stuff

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 15:01

It is a bit different though, aimsmum. Oxfam and other charities who ring up are not claiming they know better than me. I usually say "well, I have two charities i support and I find that's all I can manage really", they don't persist.

And if I got a political canvasser on my doorstep - I never have done - I'd certainly buttonhole them with a few questions whether they liked it or not!

OP posts:

Aimsmum · 17/01/2008 15:02

Message withdrawn

IorekByrnison · 17/01/2008 15:02

Did you ever see the episode of Father Ted where the three bishops came to visit, and one of them loses his faith following a conversation with Dougal.

I'm enjoying the idea that this might have happened to your JW's after their visit to you UQD.

cestlavie · 17/01/2008 15:03

Aimsmum does raise a very good point. There are plenty of Muslim lads down our local town centre who try to foist leaflets advocating a return to Sharia law. I have as little time for them (and their beliefs) as I do for those peddling Jevohah Witness nonsense door to door. But if someone was to start a thread saying "Am I unreasonable to get snappy with Muslims?" then, wow, can open, worms everywhere!

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 15:04

I think someone should start a thread saying "Am I unreasonable to get snappy with Muslims?"

They haven't bothered me yet so I can't!

OP posts:

gibberish · 17/01/2008 15:04

rofl! I LOVE Father Ted

Grrlscout · 17/01/2008 15:07

YABU if you argue with them and they keep coming round. They're trained to come back to homes where they get any kind of response that could be interpreted as interest. They might think you're on some kind of spiritual quest or something. Or just enjoy winding you up!

Someone I know who was raised JW told me the best and permanent way to get rid of JWs. When they come see you, tell them that you are "disfellowshipped". It means that you are already a JW, but that you've done something naughty and are being shunned by your congregation. They can't continue the convo without the possible risk of their own spiritual taint. I've tried this myself and it makes them turn pale and leave immediately.

SueBaroo · 17/01/2008 15:09

Very true about the 'disfellowshipped' thing. Then they're not allowed to talk to you.

cestlavie · 17/01/2008 15:18

Ooooh... interesting... how would you go about getting "disfellowshipped"? Does it involve goats and pentangles or something a lot more prosaic?

hippipotami · 17/01/2008 15:32

See, I think that by arguing with them, or being arrogant, or being rude, they mark you down as 'must visit here more often'

I once, very politely declined and asked to me marked down as 'do not contact', and they have not bothered me since. Not even the very nice JW couple who lived opposite for a number of years ever brought the subject up.
All you have to do is be polite, as with any other member of society really!

betterhalf · 17/01/2008 15:34

I completely agree. Why make up stories about being disfellowshipped. Be a grown up and say you dont wish to be called on again, if that's what you want!

Aimsmum · 17/01/2008 15:38

Message withdrawn

gibberish · 17/01/2008 15:39

I'm unrepentant about thinking unquietdad was being a tad unreasonable. Would that qualify me for being disfellowshipped?

SueBaroo · 17/01/2008 15:42

lol, gibberish

Surely it's unrepentance about something specific? (and UQD may or may not be involved?

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