To want to tell the Jehovah's Witness that call to my home to PISS OFF

[DaphneMoon]

I have just had them again. This is the 5th time in just over two weeks. Why you might ask. Well the first time I made the mistake of answering the door. She was a pleasant lady and started talking about how nice it is to sit and talk to our Dad's. I told her that I was not fortunate enough to have my father around anymore and to be honest she could not have called at a worse time as it would have been his birthday the next day. I did not let her in and only spoke to her for about 2 minutes out of sheer politeness as this is how I have been brought up. She said she would call again I said no thanks I have my own faith. She has been 4 times since then, each time with a different companion. I am sick to death of this I have not been answering the door when I see her walking down the street.

Surely this is harrasment. What I really want to shout at her in a very loud voice is:

PISS OF YOU WEIRD RELIGOUS CULT MEMBER, MY VICAR DOESN'T CALL CONSTANTLY AT YOUR FECKING HOUSE TO PREACH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, WHY DO YOU THINK AFTER 43 YEARS I AM GOING TO CHANGE MY RELIGION BECAUSE OF YOU. AND I GIVE BLOOD SO THERE! AND SLAM DOOR.

But of course I won't say it I will just nod and smile and say no thanks and close the door quietly.

Thanks rant over!

[combustiblelemon]

Article from The Independent explaining their origins and beliefs. Personally I'm quite glad that the world didn't end in 1975.

[wannaBe]

"Before all you narrow minded individuals have another go, put yourselves in their shoes for a change and think how you could fit all that in and be grateful
that they are trying to do some good.All that they do is done voluntarily and so they dont get paid." voluntarily. They choose to do it. No-one makes them do it... oh but wait, their religion makes them do it. not a cult?

Anyone who will allow their child to die in the name of their religion (rather than allowing them to have a blood transfusion) cannot, IMO, be considered to be a good person. So either they are not good people who have no respect for human life, or they're all brainwashed into believing that what they're being told is right. I like to think of people as essentially good people, so I will settle for the latter.

[wotulookinat]

I don't consider myself to be narrow minded. I rather think that someone who thinks that only people who follow their particular set of beliefs will get to Heaven is more narrow-minded.

[wotulookinat]

And that doesn't just apply to JWs. My aunt is a re-born Christian and believes the same. I find it rather hurtful that she occassionally tells us that we won't be going to Heaven.

[Tanee58]

I agree Divvy, they are divisive (which is also a part of Christian doctrine, though, as the Bible acknowledges that converts will lose their unconverted families). I lost my friend. My school friend (whose brother died because he had a brain haemorrhage and his parents refused a blood transfusion) barely kept in touch after we left school and I haven't seen her for years - they tend to keep to their own community socially - but what closeknit religious group doesn't. My DD has a school friend from Junior school who is on MSN and keeps in touch that way but I know that won't last once she's older. They are nice people - which is why it's hard to be rude to them (and seems unfair) - but their beliefs give them very thick skins - hence the repeated visits.

I actually won't answer the door if the bell rings and I see two shadows on the step. But surprisingly, they don't often visit, even though we have a Kingdom Hall very near us.

[seeker]

Next time, could you ask them WHY their poor children aren't allowed to go to other children's birthday parties? I would love to know - I'm sure it doesn't say anywhere in the Bible "Thou shalt cause your child to be distressed and also her friend to be distressed by refusing to let her attend a wicked, sinful event - namely a party at a soft play area with CAKE!"

[Tidgypuds]

Their religion doesnt make them go knocking on doors, its a personal choice for them to take part in the ministry.
Nobody forces them to do it, they do it because of their love for god and because they want to.

[Tanee58]

Seeker, as I mentioned earlier, it's because they don't celebrate birthdays as that would be elevating them to a higher status than Jesus. I had the same misgivings when my DD had parties and her friend couldn't come - but her friend didn't seem to be bothered by it, even when they were tiny. Yep, brainwashed from an early age !

[seeker]

Oh is THAT why! Thank you - sorry, I haven't read the whole thread. Well, at least there's a reason - even if it is a bonkers one!

[Tanee58]

It makes sense to them - but I do wonder if, deep down, the littlies feel left out when they're not allowed to join in school Christmas activities and friends' parties - especially when most other religions are happy to join in.

[TheInvisibleManDidIt]

Not sure about posting on this anymore as I don't want to get into a religios debate, but anyway..

Birthdays aren't celebrated as Jesus said to his followers to celebrate his death,not his birth. Also on any other occasions mentioned in the bible that involved celebrations of peoples birthdays it basically ended badly for any 'true' follwers of God.

The 144,000 that will go to heaven have been pre-chosen. However any other followers of the truth will live in paradise forever after armageddon. They preach just now to, as they view it, give as many people as possible this chance for survival.

I was in their religion. I left. I do feel it borders on a 'cult'. It was horrible as a child to ot be allowed friends outside the congregation and be told that, basically, if I didn't do as Jehovah told me to, he would kill me at armageddon. A young child should not grow up fearing that the slighest disobedience will have these concequences. They can be lovely people but they are not being allowed to think for themselves.

Sorry for diverting from the whole original question Daphne, but this is why I think you're totally entitled to tell them, very abruptly and as polite and as rudely as you like, to leave you alone.

I apologise if this offends anyone. Just trying to give a view of someone who had to grow up with this

[Divvy]

So, do you think they knock on doors (gaining points) to get taken from the paradise group, and go to the Heaven group?

As if I was them, I would want to be one of the chosen ones.

[YeahBut]

Never seen such a look of horror and fear in the eyes of our last JW doorsteppers when I told them we were a household of atheists. Not rude or unfriendly, just very matter of fact. Don't think they'll be back!

[unaccomplishedfattylegalmummy]

I just tell them either I'm a Satan worshipper, or a Jedi. {grin] They don't come back.

[solidgoldskullonastick]

All religions are cults. Oh, and they're all bollocks, as well. Which is what I tell anyone who knocks on my door peddling religion.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

I smile sweetly at them and say

'I am a catholic. I wouldn't come knocking on your door lecturing you about my religion so I'll thank you not to knock on my door to lecture me about yours'

And shut the door.

[BettySwollux]

We used to have one that lived next door - (bloody nice bloke acksherly) DH would love a good natter with him, and ask him to explain the dinosaurs existence, darwins theory, etc. Bloke could never answer and try to get away, DH played him at his own game, shouted him back and asked more questions!!

Havent read whole thread, so dont know if this has been suggested, put a 'give blood' sign in your window, they frown on that.

[Woooozle100]

they'll run away from you if you tell em you've been disfellowshipped

gay mate of mine put some hardcore gay porn inside some literature they left him and collected the following week. He wasn't called on again

[SubRosa]

If you tell them you're a satan-worshipping hamster eater, they seem to take offence. No idea why

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe people believe that JW's are in a cult.
Are Catholics in a cult? Christians? Jews? No? So why JW's?
I get the Watchtower magainze sent to me from a friend I used to work with, I used to read them on a late shift on a Monday when it was very quite. To be honest, I actually like some of the articles, especially the life stories they do. I have no interest in changing my religion, but I am open to reading about others. I usually find saying that I get the mag delivered is enough.
I actually have more trouble getting charity signer uppers to leave.

[Yurtgirl]

I agree with divvy - According to any definition I know of, of the word "cult", JWs are a cult

A friend of mine suggested putting a blood donor card in the window

I just say Im not interested - if you start getting into conversation with them, they are even more likely to call again

[UnquietDad]

If you say you are an atheist it's like a red rag to a bull. They start reading stuff at you. Like that's going to change your mind. The woman actually started sweeping her hand across the (rather lovely) view of the valley which we have from our house and waxing lyrical about God's creation and how I was ignoring it, or denying it, or some such shit or other.

I've had to deal with them a few times and each time I felt intellectually and emotionally insulted by the whole exchange. And patronised. They come to the door smiling sweetly, presuming they know more than you because it says so in their fucking BOOK. They don't seem to realise they are dealing with someone who has a University education and is more than capable of holding his own in debate and making decisions for himself - not to mention the fact that having studied literature immediately makes you dubious of relying on one source for anything and makes you want to question interpretations, readings of words, etc.

I sometimes stand there and read bits of "Lord of the Rings" at them. Hey, it's not sold as many copies, I'll give you that, but it has a better plot and is marginally more believable.

[UniversallyChallenged]

Why do people think JWs are shocked at being told "we're athiests/catholics/muslims/jedis/whatever"?
"and they rushed off, never to be seen again" have yet to meet a Witness yet who is phased by what they are told!!

They dont, they want a simple chat and if you dont want them to call back then TELL THEM.

Daphne - do you mean they have spoken to you 5 times in 2 weeks? Or do they think you are out? Because of course they will keep trying - they havent got ESP and know you are there

[onager]

Tell them to go away politely once and then say "fuck off and don't come back!" if they don't do as you request.

As for religion versus cult what difference can there possibly be?. Is it based on size of bank balance, membership, or what?