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Jehovah’s witnesses at the door, what do you say?

347 replies

singsong · 26/01/2005 12:11

I believe in god but not from same pov as Jehovah?s witnesses. I have no complaints about people choosing to follow this religion, I think it?s everyone?s right to make their own choices. Also I?ve nothing against Jehovah?s witnesses as people, we had some lovely family friends once who were Jehovah?s witnesses (although they have now moved away). But I?m not really very keen discussing these issues at the door with a complete stranger. Had a lady come round today (very nice polite lady) who was ?spreading the word? I did what I normally do in this situation which was be polite and have a short conversation with her about the issue in her magazine (avoiding talking about it from a religious pov but just life in general) and then said goodbye. My mum on the other hand is quite rude to them and tells them to go away quite abruptly. It?s really not in my nature to be rude but I?m worried that by engaging in conversation in this way I?m maybe misleading them into thinking I might convert and join them in their religion.
What do other people say?

OP posts:
hercules · 26/01/2005 17:44

But surely that's the point. JWs are doing it to save their children. IF you thought there was a bomb outside your door that would kill your child if they opened it, you would do everything within your power to stop them opening it. IT wouldn't matter to you whether someone else didnt believe their to be a bomb, you still wouldnt let your child through. We all have our own "truths" and just because someone elses truth is different to yours doesnt make it less of a truth.

hercules · 26/01/2005 17:45

there

hercules · 26/01/2005 17:45

not their

Tommy · 26/01/2005 17:48

I made the mistake of engaging in conversation once! I was pg with DS1 and at home so I thought I might as well. They came back often after that but I found their views very difficult to relate to my own faith (RC. I found that they didn't have any answers to quaetions I put to them and couldn't cope if I challenged anything they said - like used a different bible quote to counteract something they quoted at me. I understand if they need to do this sort of evangelising but think they should be up to the job before the start!

happymerryberries · 26/01/2005 17:55

My Father was a passionate and very active Christian. He was very well read on the subject and delighted in welcoming JW and mormons into the house for a good discussion. The last time it happened the poor Mormon lad said, 'I'm going to ask my supervisor to come and see you'.

briggy · 26/01/2005 17:56

i can understand about birthdays etc (maybe), but i can't understand the transfusion thing, 2 b perfectly honest, i don't know why they won't have it, they may be valid reasons to them, i just know i couldn't do that & i don't agree with it.

happymerryberries · 26/01/2005 17:57

Because in the Bible it says that when blood is shed it is unclean. I think that it refers to the blood of animal sacrifice, but I could be wrong. It is taken as an absolute truth by JW

bundle · 26/01/2005 17:57

I alternate between "I am not interested" and "This is a bad time for me" (usually with dd's obligingly wailing at my feet...

lowcalCOD · 26/01/2005 17:58

leahbump my dad is a vicar ( retd) I enevr understodd why they came to rectories

misdee · 26/01/2005 17:59

they belive blood is sacred and shouldnt be transfused. they do do operations without blood, have people who work closely with hospitals to try and make sure that everything goes well.

briggy · 26/01/2005 18:02

i just think that if there's something you can do you should do it. sometimes praying might be enough but only a tiny % of the time.

misdee · 26/01/2005 18:03

they use other products instead of blood as well. and they have a blood salvaging machine as well in some hospitals (bit like a dialysis machine from what i've gathered)

bundle · 26/01/2005 18:04

is it true some JWs donate their own blood (autologous transfusion) if they know they're going to be having an op, by way of getting round that one? I would have thought God would forgive them...

happymerryberries · 26/01/2005 18:05

Some will also use a product called erythropoeitin, a hormone that stimulates the body to make more red blood cells. But not all of them.

briggy · 26/01/2005 18:22

i think it's a huge waste of life if you don't do everything possible

hercules · 26/01/2005 18:24

But briggy, that's your belief. They believe they are doing the best for their child just as by you, giving your child the treatment, believe you are doing the best.
Who's to say who's right.

briggy · 26/01/2005 18:34

evryone says that i'm always right. but i know i'm not. it's such a hard subject & neither side would ever win arguement completely

hercules · 26/01/2005 18:55

No, because everyone's truth is different.

Ameriscot2005 · 26/01/2005 19:01

I say as little as possible. Any conversation at all is only going to spur them on.

Basically, a "thanks, but no thanks".

Although I don't agree with their theology at all, I have a lot of admiration for JWs and LDSs. Apart from being extremely nice people, I would love to have their gift for evangelism : I have trouble inviting people to Alpha courses . Note that if I did have their gift, I don't think I would use it by knocking on doors.

NameChangingMancMidlander · 26/01/2005 19:02

"I'm not interested, thank you"

leahbump · 26/01/2005 19:03

lowcalCOD - re- JW's and vicarages, we are lucky enough to live in a non marked house that is not next to a church. Which has benefits for kids...ie no homeless callers, no drunks etc BUT we do then get JW's etc... Still I feel much safer with the idea that a teenager might open the door to a JW than to a drunk. (ds is only 11.5 months but we'll be here at least till he's 10!).

There are so many people who can do 'cold calling' on the front door...I'd much rather this than the more desperate folk many of my collegues get at their doors, esp as I have kids.

leahbump · 26/01/2005 19:06

ditto ameriscott- my dh (also ordained) is big into evangelism...and the JW's etc do seem to have more sucess than other churches have done for years....

lots of parents still bring babies for baptism, they actually come to us! Yet at the church I work at..that's often it, we never see them again!!

However, I am not sure that their 'scare' tactics, at least the only ones i've ever heard!..are ones that i would want to use....if only the 150 other people in my congregagtion would have their confidence to talk about what they believe though...my job might be less stressful and we might be more successful!

Ameriscot2005 · 26/01/2005 19:20

Leah, we actually get quite a few members through baptism. I don't know how much pressure they get from the curate in the baptism course, but most feel obliged to come to some of our weekday events and, of course, to our Sunday services. And once they are in, they are hooked!

munnzieb · 26/01/2005 19:21

I say i'm science, DH just says good bye and closes the door, he's v rude. but normally the one's by us try to convert and say war etc is bad. i'm poilet but firm, i'm into the big bang thank you. and they go.

leahbump · 26/01/2005 19:25

grrr is only i was in charge....I would make it soo much more fun....unfortunately i'm not and the BOSS just isn't that proactive...ie there are not any midweek events at our church other than boring services.....ho hum....we'll have to see how much influence i can have (new job u see started this month!!