How to handle unsolicited religious callers?

[allthingsinmoderation]

I am working from home today ,well working from my bed due to a broken ankle.
I had a sleepless night due to discomfort and not in the best mood.
Just had 2 women knock (very persistently) at my door, so i struggled down stairs and was greeted by 2 smiling gurning stepford wives dine up to the nines asking me "How due you view the future"?
i was discombobulated from lack of sleep i think and almost entered into a discussion about world events but something about them was weird and i managed to blurt out that i was busy working, they were undeterred and went into a full religious speech. i stood my ground and and maintained that i didnt a have time to discuss,they wanted to make an appt to return and i felt pressured .
When i tried to evade,they pressed further.They werent rude or impolite just doggedly persistent and unnervingly odd looking.
After a while (felt like forever) they thrust some pamphlets into my hand and left.
AIBU to be annoyed by the intrusion?
Or should i be more tolerant?
How is it best to handle these people?

"Not interested, thanks. Goodbye" has always worked for me.

Just tell them to piss off and shut the door?
You didn't have to stand there listening.

I’d just talk over them and say “I’m not interested, thanks” and close the door - exactly what I do when we have people wanting me to set up direct debits to charities on my doorstep. You don’t have to let them finish talking first - they’re the ones that have disturbed you.

Could you have not just the shut the door? You chose to stay there. Nobody can force you to listen.

I just say it’s very kind of you but I have my own religion. It’s called kindness.
But thank you for caring.
Have a happy day. Bye.

I know they are intrusive but they are brainwashed. Very sad.

..........greeted by two smiling, gurning Stepford Wives, done up to the nines

Were you, aye.

Just say "no thanks" and shut the door.

Dh goes into a rant and insists on being removed from lists etc, but to be honest that's for his own pleasure.

Sign on the door "no cold callers or religious callers"
or
"not interested" and close the door.

I’d just smile and say ‘no thanks’ as I closed the door.

No need to listen to them. No need to be rude.

How you handle them is how you handle ALL unwanted callers.

Firm "No thank you, have a nice day" as you're closing the door with a smile.

It's firm, it's decisive and it's not rude.

It's always worked for me in the 34 years I've owned my own home.

Far too much conversation.

It's your door, you haven't invited them to knock for a chat, so just say 'No thank you'.

You can add 'have a nice day' if you really want to but make sure you're closing the door at the time.

I don't understand why you didn't simply tell them you weren't interested and shut the door.

I just say no thank you and close the door. I have a young child so sometimes point to him and say I'm busy, or even I'm letting all the heat out of the house. We get a lot of cold callers around here (nice quiet area with lots of older people, not sure if thats why) so I'm well versed.

Just politely say, 'Thanks very much - not for me thanks - have a nice day'. No need to be rude or to get into a discussion with them if you don't want.

I had a proper laminated sign made, night shift please do not disturb thank you. I did actually work nights, and some people STILL rang the bell, knocked. The God botherers don't get as far as the door...we have dogs. Used to live near both the Scientology and Latter Day Saints main temples. Former were nuts,latter, polite and respectful. 30 years ago, I lived near a Jehovah's witness church they actually matched round the side gates and once in my kitchen!! First house 50 years ago,it was the Plymouth Brethren, they were odd and vindictive to their elderly.

"I'm not interested, thank you."

You don't have to have a conversation with them.

Easy peasy.

I wear my work headphones and just point and mime being on a call. A cop out but it’s easier for me as I hate confrontation

If they go in straight with a question like “How do you view the future” I’d probably say something like “Gosh that’s a big question and not one I’ve got time to discuss as I’m working from home at the moment, but have a nice day debating it with others!” If they try to come back with anything else I’d just repeat the sorry I’m WFH and don’t have time for it, before closing the door. No need to be rude, but no need to get into a long chat either.

Just shut the door. They expect to have doors slammed in their face, it's part of their indoctrination about how everyone else is going to burn in hell apart from them.

Religion doesn't come into it.
I'd do the same with any caller which didn't interest me. Say no thanks bye.

Why so sceptic? The Mormons/ Jehovah's witnesses who go round where I live are always dressed very smartly, men in suits and women of all ages in skirt suits, blouses and court shoes.

When they knock and ask me if I worry about the future, I just say that I don't believe in any god and don't want to waste their time, say bye and shut the door.

I invite them to help with housework

You need to ask to go on their "do not call" list and they will leave you alone for a number of years. Eventually they do return, I assume in case you have moved and someone else might want saving. I think we got about 12 years out of that, but unfortunately I hadn't yet trained DD1 to say the same, so I think we're probably back on the list.

Firstly, it's not confrontation. It's simply telling them you're not interested just like 100s or 1000s (depending on how long they've been doing it) people before you have told them.

Secondly, you run the risk of them knocking back later and bothering you again.

You could have been firmer and ended the exchange quicker. And/or you could have felt touched by the core of mis-implemented compassionate that probably lurked inside their approach to you.

I have Jehovah's Witnesses knock on my door from time to time. I try to say a decisive 'no' and also express some appreciation and gratitude for their approach, becaue it does seem a genuinely kind approach, despite all its strangeness and muddle. They react with real warm appreciation of their own, and we all feel a little bit better as a result of the encounter, rather than a little bit bitter and sad.

Of course it isn't unreasonable to be pissed off about being disturbed from resting/working in bed. But any extra annoyance around their being religious feels a bit judgey. Would you have been happier if they were flogging double glazing?