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

[singsong]

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?

I miss the Moonies. Do they not call round any more?

wrt denying life saving treatments to people, surely it's simply because they value the soul of that person above their physical life and according to their beliefs, that is what must happen.

Hey, our vicar resigned this week... a vacancy to be filled...

Having been brought up a JW, I know, as Misdee has already said, that they do keep lists and all you have to do is ask them not to call again.

Interesting story. Last year we had to all choose a religion to research as part of our course and I chose JW for ease. 4 days later, two JWs knocked on the door after living here with no-one visiting us for the 7 years we lived here. I arranged to see her the following week, making it clear it was for research purposes only and that I had no intention of returning to the faith.

Lovely woman, gave me some good info, and then somehow managed to get me to make an appointment for her to see me again. Shocked I agreed until I'd thought about it and decided I didn't like that tactic and so called to cancel.

I told my dad, a practicing JW, and he said that "when you seek our god, god seeks out you" which freaked me out slightly especially as he was right about the 'ghost' my mum and I had in our bungalow about 15 years ago. He told me to leave the bible open and start reading from it the next time the presence came. I did, and told the presence not to come again, and it worked.

Anyway, they do it because I think it was Peter who said to go out and teach the word rather than wait for people to come to you.

ghost in your bungalow?

lol! will save for another thread!

I say 'I'm a militant atheist & my husband's a Buddhist. We'll swap tracts, shall we?'

Don't usually see them for dust after that - apparently they aren't allowed to accept literature which contradicts 'the party line', as it were.

I know lots of them are v nice people (have taught 4 JW kids from the same lovely, polite, friendly family) but I'm afraid I just don't appreciate unsolicited visits of any kind - if I want double glazing or spiritual enlightenment, I'll go out & look for it.

start it soon, i only here til 2mos then i have pootah access twice a week

will start a new thread about ghostly goings on then!

I dont get annoyed with JH believers. We are all on a path to discovery. Usually the ones who come to my door are quite young and so fresh looking. Not ravaged by time, kids, husbands and low incomes( i think anyway).

Usually i ask them if only 144,000 people are getting into heaven according to their religion, what sort of person do they think they have to be to get in? And, are "they" getting in.

Also there are far worse who come to my door, like carpet salesmen.

oh, yeah, I love the definite number! And, the chosen ones actually know who they are and I think they're called 'elders' if I'm right. we had one in the Leek congregation. Basically, he knows that when he dies, he will go to heaven whilst the rest of us.... die!

That goes for the evangelicals as well. Unless you are saved you will not get into heaven. God help all the muslims, hindus, buddhists, etc. All regigions have their quirks. If you believe in God in the first place, however, there is only one god and i am sure our church of england vicar will be able to quote the passage about there being many paths to heaven. The road is narrow, but not that narrow.

Really, nobody knows they are "saved" until the resurrection and of course until we die. So i think we can certainly speculate and try to lead a good life but it is folly to "think" you are saved, in my estimation. What does that actually mean anyway.

I dont think i would be disappointed if my kids became jehovah witnesses though. There are far worse things.

Finally a point on JHers not wanting to shed blood, etc. It has become quite common in the catholic churches where i live to see communion wafers on the floor, half eaten. Thus the body of Christ is not only spat out, but walked upon. I dont know if its anorexics who are doing it, or satanists in the church doing it on purpose but there was an uproar recently, and rightly so.

Interesting POV here but a lot of the points made about JWs are incorrect.

The reason we preach is because it is a command from Jehovah from the Bible. Jesus said in Matt 28;19, 20 that we should 'Go therefore and make disciples of people....'

Do you think this is easy? NO. Do you think we always enjoy it? NO. We are just normal people and in a lot of cases, Mums with children. It isnt a case of us being sent to the door with children so that people feel sorry for the children etc It is just a part of our life which we get on with and because we were asked from the Bible to do it.

If you thought something lifethreatening was going to happen in the world, wouldnt you want to tell people about it to try and save them? This is all we do. We usually arent too pushy but we do feel it is important otherwise we wouldnt do it, would we?

The book of Revelation, which most religions say is a mystery, speaks of a number, 144,000, that will go to heaven to rule as kings with Jesus. It also speaks of a Great crowd who will inherit the earth forever. It isnt the case that only 144,000 get to live.

And, if we are honest, do any of us want to die? If we could choose a date to die, could we? Wouldnt you rather live, in perfect health, with your family forever? I know I would.

I know a lot have a prob with Blood Trans and I can understand. These days it really isnt an issue as there are so many alternatives. We do not refuse medical treatment at all.....it is literally just the blood and there are so many infections in blood these days that even some drs and nurses are saying that they would not have blood products if they were needed. Blood expanders are used plus many other products...just not blood. And we certainly do not let our children die.

So, all I ask is that you dont give JW's a hard time. It takes a lot to knock on doors esp as we are normal people with difficult lives like everyone else. (I am also a reg poster)

Fair play to you NOta. Yes it must take a lot to knock peoples doors, cause you know what reaction you generally will receive. Really, if you truly believe in something then it shouldnt be trashed. And i withdraw my previous comments if you will let me. If you are a druid and you truly believe, then your faith shouldnt be mocked. Ok, in my opinion a druid is misled, but hey thats my opinion.

Thanks for clarifying things anyway.

I know JW's take a lot of slating. I'm sorry, I did mean to say it takes a lot of guts to do it. my younger brother did it from the age of 17 but my dad could never bring himself to do it, despite having been a JW for the last 67 years of his life.

However, I have to disagree with you. JW's are pushy. I appreciate it's only what they've been commanded to do (sorry for quoting peter, but I never did take much notice at the kingdom hall...) and that they're genuinely interested in humankind's welfare, but, in it's current form, the JW faith is still a relatively new one regardless of the fact that there have always been witnesses of jehovah, and I just feel in its current form, there's a degree of indoctrination - just like any other form of religion.

Hence my decision, and probably many others, to stay as far away from religion as possible. And it's a shame. It really is. But I believe religion causes so much angst in the world that I'm prepared to wait and see what happens.

Say you're Catholic. That worked for dh.

Oatcake, OK, some JWs are pushy and that is embarrassing but if someone says that they do have a faith then surely it makes sense to have a discussion with them.

All we try to do is to make them see that what is going on in the world is a sign of the times as mentioned in Matt 24;7,8 'there will be wars, food shortages, EARTHQUAKES, etc etc....vs 13 says that 'he who has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.'

I've wanted to say this nearly all day...... so here goes......

Just of late it seems alot of mn'ers are quite righteous about whats pc, racist etc, but Jehovah Witnesses...well thats different...say what you want...be as rude as you like...it's only JW ..that makes it alright then.

I know that if I had more JW's as neighbours instead of some of the drug taking, sponging, thieving, don't give a shit about anyone else scum which we do have , I'm sure life would be a whole lot nicer.

The JWs were fantastic to my Mum after my Dad died (she is not one, they called on the off chance - as they do!). They gave her some texts which they thought she would find comforting (she did). One of them finished tiling her kitchen floor for her and they found someone honest to mend her boiler. There was never any pressure on her to convert and they still pop round occasionally to see how she is.

I've never met a pushy one (now the Mormons, on the other hand...!) and wouldn't be rude to anyone who came to my door (apart from NPower).

Thank you, makealist. You are a very nice person. (As I am too )

yep. decided to stear clear of the natural disasters bit and the end of the world as yes, I do feel it in my water that that end of the world is nigh - not in my lifetime perhaps, or even ds's but things as they are, aren't sustainable.

As I said previously, I had a lovely chat with a JW last year and really enjoyed her company and what she told me, but felt in a terrible position when she gave me one of the publications and asked what else I was interested in. Naively, I pointed out the bit on spirits actually, and she said "ok. so when can I come and see you to discuss it again". I was very disappointed in her and was angry I was put on the spot like that.

Off to bed now. goodnight all.

sorry, a bit addicted to this thread, but agree with makealist that JW's have always been fair game - people would be up in arms if sikhs, muslims, etc were subject to the same taunts.