Had my first door preachers since in forever (last I remember were when I was a child; any since then have been in public)...
I was unexpectedly nervous (or maybe annoyed too...it's 10:30am and I work from home); either way it made me shaky (my hands literally shake if I am nervous, mad or both); I think I might be subconsciously still concerned about religious people knowing where I live (yet, no problems opening up my house to strangers for meetup groups or discussing in public settings)...nonetheless, I was frank and honest, told them I was an atheist and had already researched the claims myself so I wasn't interested. Didn't catch what church they said they go to and didn't care to have them repeat themselves...it was a young woman and another woman who wasn't talking I'm guessing one or both of themwere in training (think I might have seen some men on the sidewalk when I looked out the window) but I don't think it was mormon.
I'm sure they are thinking look at that deadbeat atheist who hasn't even done her hair and makeup today...
How do you handle preachers at your home's door and how does it make you feel?
I try to be pleasant but short. I don't really feel the need to get into why I'm not interested in being imposed upon; I find that a warm smile and a simple "No thank you" as I close the door is sufficient.
The one time that I did feel the need to exert myself a little more strenuously was when one of the door to door preachers actually lied to me. His ploy was "Your husband asked that we come back at a more convenient time so we could talk. Can we come in?" The reason why I know that this is a lie is because I know my husband. That is the very last thing he would do - he doesn't even feel a compulsion to be polite to these people, and he's also not the type to try to engage them in a debate. He'd be more likely to roll his eyes and slam the door than engage with them. So I clarified "Are you sure it was this house? My husband?" "Yes, abosolutely." "Well, that's nothing short of Solstice miracle given the fact that we're both atheists and have zero interest in religion." "Maybe your husband is ready for the good news." "I doubt it."
I later confirmed with him that he had not spoken to any door preachers, and he certainly wouldn't have invited them back if he had.
The whole thing reminded me of the famous bible scam that people used to pull - "Ma'am your husband bought this beautiful bible for you. Now pay up!"
My mother used to call a local church to send some people over, but that ended after about three times. I haven't had one for a very long time (about seven years). Though I have had religious door hangers. The last few times I had some religious knockers, I talked to them for as long as they wanted to talk to me, most of the ones I talk to appear to be very nice people. Unless I was busy, then I'd tell them I was busy and didn't have time to talk.
I can't answer to how it made me feel, I don't have much in the way of feeling things.
There were a couple of Mormons once who came by (through the insistence of a friend of my brother's). I couldn't really be bothered with them, I know I probably would have to stifle a laugh.
It was my born again mother who stood up, left the room and got her copy of the bible to debate them. ::)
My sister was staying at a Catholic hospital just now and mentioned that they sent a preacher to her room to pray with or for her. She said that she mentioned she was an atheist and that it wasn't necessary. I'm so proud of her ;D
Quote from: Davin on January 20, 2012, 04:54:35 PM
My mother used to call a local church to send some people over...
Wow!
Quote from: Stevil on January 20, 2012, 06:32:10 PM
Quote from: Davin on January 20, 2012, 04:54:35 PM
My mother used to call a local church to send some people over...
Wow!
After she found out I was an atheist (I didn't hide it, but didn't feel like "coming out" to anyone), she tried to "save" me. I didn't mind it very much, I'm not much of a social person, but I don't mind talking to people. If the religious people going door to door acted like most theists act in online forums, I'd probably have an issue or two.
Nobody here goes door to door in the autumn or winter because it's so cold and icy, only in the spring or summer when the weather's good, if not downright hot. When I see them coming to my door (it's always either LDS or JW's, nobody else), I go over to the door with a couple bottles of cold water (on a hot day they've never said no yet!), I smile, I let them know I've read both the book of Mormon/stuff from the Watchtower society, as well as the Bible, and after having thought through the issues myself, I've come to the conclusion that those beliefs just aren't supportable, to me. I wish them a good day, make sure they don't want another Godless Heathen TM water :D and send them on their way.
It's a bit sad. They're always so very surprised that I've read their books, pamphlets and literature. I can even produce the copies I own to show them, if requested. It's as though they're trained to believe that if ONLY people would just read their stuff, they'd surely be convinced right on the spot.
Ah well. I try to be friendly. Except for on occasion...
The only time I had to be very direct, and very rude, was when two young men came to my place and after I told them all the above, they asked to come inside. I explained I didn't invite strangers in, but I'd sit on the porch to speak with them a few moments only, since I couldn't leave my daughter alone. One of them actually grabbed the DOOR and tried to step inside after I'd said no, so I took his arm, pushed him back out the door, and closed and locked it in his face.
Quote from: Amicale on January 20, 2012, 08:31:42 PM
The only time I had to be very direct, and very rude, was when two young men came to my place and after I told them all the above, they asked to come inside. I explained I didn't invite strangers in, but I'd sit on the porch to speak with them a few moments only, since I couldn't leave my daughter alone. One of them actually grabbed the DOOR and tried to step inside after I'd said no, so I took his arm, pushed him back out the door, and closed and locked it in his face.
Wow.
What you need is a good big guard dog.
My girlfriend's mom actually INVITES the door to door religious nuts in to talk in her kitchen. What a loon!!
I just found out my future father in law is an atheist. I'll need to learn a little mandirin to speak to him though. His english is fine, but thick accent. Haha!!
Btw, he has a Doctric (um sp?? Above PH.D degree) in biology and chemistry. Hm, intelligent and atheist. Not too shabby
Post-doctorate I think it's called.
Hardly a surprised though, especially since it's in the natural sciences.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on January 20, 2012, 11:48:13 PM
What you need is a good big guard dog.
I was holding my tiny ankle biter guard dog when I answered the door to the evangelists...I always answer the door that way when I don't know who it is (though also sometimes if I do know just because it's easier than having to lock her up). She may be tiny but if made nervous or scared she will bite; so I think she may offer some protection (assuming that she is loyal to me at all...she may just run off at sign of trouble).
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 20, 2012, 11:51:01 PM
My girlfriend's mom actually INVITES the door to door religious nuts in to talk in her kitchen. What a loon!!
I know people who do that...it usually doesn't make their spouses very happy but for some reason they enjoy trying to talk to them.
Quote from: Whitney on January 21, 2012, 01:21:44 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 20, 2012, 11:51:01 PM
My girlfriend's mom actually INVITES the door to door religious nuts in to talk in her kitchen. What a loon!!
I know people who do that...it usually doesn't make their spouses very happy but for some reason they enjoy trying to talk to them.
My gf's mother is a total nut. We don't get along at all. She curses at me a lot in Madirin. I'm pretty sure she will try to throw holy water at me. (she's christian)
Mimi says she talks to them cuz she enjoys it. Seriously, what?!
I've only talked with folks like this twice. I used to leave it to my ex husband, an atheist philosopher who enjoyed debating with people. Once I opened the door when he wasn't home. They said they wanted to ask me three questions. When they got to the fifth or sixth question I began to fear I'd never get rid of them. That's when my borzoi (a large dog, previously called Russian wolfhound) started growling at them. They couldn't get out of there fast enough. LOL I praised her like crazy!!!
The second time happened a few weeks ago. I'm now single, and much more able to stand up for myself, so didn't feel afraid of the JWs like I used to. We talked awhile. I said I was a secular humanist, and had to explain what that was. Whenever they tried to steer the conversation to the end days or their Watchtower literature I changed the subject and told them I didn't believe. They finally left, and asked if they could return that saturday. I said ok. They never did return. My theory is that they reported back to their superior. When he found out they'd met a nice, friendly, decent atheist, they went into emergency mode and got them into deprogramming as quickly as possible. LOL
About a year ago, my wife and I were at a friends' house when some Mormons knocked on their door. My buddy answered their knock, and five minutes into the "conversation" he seemed to be stuck. To help him out, I went to the door, put my arm around him, rubbed his back and asked the door preachers what their thoughts were on gay marriage. I actually felt sorry for the dudes. They were only 20-years-old at best and not equipped to handle the question. Needless to say, they straightened their ties and jumped back on their bicycles in record time.
Quote from: BullyforBronto on January 21, 2012, 04:29:46 AM
To help him out, I went to the door, put my arm around him, rubbed his back and asked the door preachers what their thoughts were on gay marriage. I actually felt sorry for the dudes. They were only 20-years-old at best and not equipped to handle the question. Needless to say, they straightened their ties and jumped back on their bicycles in record time.
That is awesome!
Quote from: BullyforBronto on January 21, 2012, 04:29:46 AM
About a year ago, my wife and I were at a friends' house when some Mormons knocked on their door. My buddy answered their knock, and five minutes into the "conversation" he seemed to be stuck. To help him out, I went to the door, put my arm around him, rubbed his back and asked the door preachers what their thoughts were on gay marriage. I actually felt sorry for the dudes. They were only 20-years-old at best and not equipped to handle the question. Needless to say, they straightened their ties and jumped back on their bicycles in record time.
LOL! :D
Reminds me of the time two LDS members (young guys, maybe 20ish also) came to my door when my girlfriend was visiting us, they hadn't gotten too many words in edgewise when she walked up behind me, wrapped her arm around me as she was holding my (then 2 year old, 3 now) daughter, planted a kiss on my cheek, and said 'Oooh! Sweetie pie! Is this that awesome gay couple you said would come over today? Great! Let me grab the wine and the board games!'
... and the two young guys looked SO baffled, tripped over themselves saying we had them mistaken, *they* certainly weren't gay, and they got the heck out of Dodge while the two of us ladies started giggling helplessly and my little one yelled 'YAY!' which made us laugh even harder.
Quote from: BullyforBronto on January 21, 2012, 04:29:46 AM
About a year ago, my wife and I were at a friends' house when some Mormons knocked on their door. My buddy answered their knock, and five minutes into the "conversation" he seemed to be stuck. To help him out, I went to the door, put my arm around him, rubbed his back and asked the door preachers what their thoughts were on gay marriage. I actually felt sorry for the dudes. They were only 20-years-old at best and not equipped to handle the question. Needless to say, they straightened their ties and jumped back on their bicycles in record time.
LOL! :D
The best way to get rid of them is to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible. ;D
Quote from: BullyforBronto on January 21, 2012, 04:29:46 AM
About a year ago, my wife and I were at a friends' house when some Mormons knocked on their door. My buddy answered their knock, and five minutes into the "conversation" he seemed to be stuck. To help him out, I went to the door, put my arm around him, rubbed his back and asked the door preachers what their thoughts were on gay marriage. I actually felt sorry for the dudes. They were only 20-years-old at best and not equipped to handle the question. Needless to say, they straightened their ties and jumped back on their bicycles in record time.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg517.imageshack.us%2Fimg517%2F6655%2Fpmslsu0.gif&hash=864936626eaf8fd08f72c935dec3770cf5cd5bb5) best post of the day!
You are amazing, bullyforbronco.
Sadly I havent had any door preacher experience because I live in a small NYC apartment. :)
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 21, 2012, 03:08:16 PM
You are amazing, bullyforbronco.
Sadly I havent had any door preacher experience because I live in a small NYC apartment. :)
I'll knock on your door and ask you stuff if you want.
Things are so wrong, don't you think it is the time to invite Jesus into your life?
The only time i have had missionaries at my door was a Saturday morning. I was moonlighting as a bouncer at the time and had slept less then two hours when they woke me up. I told them this in my broad northern norwegian accent and then told them to "ta rennafart å reis tel helvete!" >:( Any other norwegians here can tell you what that means.
Don't know who they were, don't know where they came from, but they never came back.
Later of course, I ended up as a roommate with a ex-hindu turned Jehovas Witness. That was weird.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on January 21, 2012, 03:20:08 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 21, 2012, 03:08:16 PM
You are amazing, bullyforbronco.
Sadly I havent had any door preacher experience because I live in a small NYC apartment. :)
I'll knock on your door and ask you stuff if you want.
Things are so wrong, don't you think it is the time to invite Jesus into your life?
I'm having a hard time finding a job. I should pray harder! :(
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 21, 2012, 06:47:44 PM
I'm having a hard time finding a job. I should pray harder! :(
Become a pastor. You know you could fake it. Living with yourself and sleeping at night is another question, but hey... ;)
Seriously, hope you find something soon. I'm prettymuch in the same boat. I've got temp work here and there which is okayish since I've got a little munchkin running around here, but I'm looking for something more stable than that. I just thank 'Asmo' that I'm currently living with family. Built in babysitters are a huge help while I'm going nuts job hunting.
Thanks, Amicale!
I currently live with my grandma, but I'm dying to move out.... Argh.
I serve industrial grade coffee, educate them on the many glories of Satan and generally not see the same pair more than once.
To me, door preachers are a source of minor entertainment, nothing more.
Quote from: Asmodean on January 21, 2012, 09:05:15 PM
I serve industrial grade coffee, educate them on the many glories of Satan and generally not see the same pair more than once.
To me, door preachers are a source of minor entertainment, nothing more.
I would love to come to your house for coffee. :)
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 21, 2012, 10:02:22 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on January 21, 2012, 09:05:15 PM
I serve industrial grade coffee, educate them on the many glories of Satan and generally not see the same pair more than once.
To me, door preachers are a source of minor entertainment, nothing more.
I would love to come to your house for coffee. :)
You and me, both. We might even get Cecilie and Guardian85 to join in too, if we were really lucky.
Quote from: Whitney on January 20, 2012, 04:34:00 PM
Had my first door preachers since in forever (last I remember were when I was a child; any since then have been in public)...
I've lived in a security building for nearly 20 years, so the only people knocking on my door for a long time have been neighbors wondering if I would take care of their goldfish while they were out of town.
QuoteI was unexpectedly nervous (or maybe annoyed too...it's 10:30am and I work from home); either way it made me shaky (my hands literally shake if I am nervous, mad or both); I think I might be subconsciously still concerned about religious people knowing where I live (yet, no problems opening up my house to strangers for meetup groups or discussing in public settings)...
I think you need a sign for your door reading: Occupant works from home. DO NOT knock on this door unless the street is on fire and you're a fireman here to carry me and my computer to safety.
QuoteHow do you handle preachers at your home's door and how does it make you feel?
When I was a kid dealing with door-to-door street preachers was my job since I didn't mind standing there and nodding politely while they talked themselves out. I was a kid, to me it was just a break from my chores or homework.
As an adult tho, with my own home and things to get done, it was different. Then I'd just smile and cut the spiel short saying something like "I'm not in the market for a religion, thanks anyway!" I got very few comments about hell, most of them asked if they could pray for me and I told them that was fine -- didn't hurt me and maybe made them feel better, so why not? Anyway, it got them off my doorstep without any apparent bad feeling and that was all I wanted.
I've only gotten one set of door-to-door proselytizers as an adult--Mormons. I wasn't busy at the time and actually really enjoyed talking to them. They gave up fairly quickly, though. I remember a couple times when I was little and my dad seemed to take a perverse glee in inviting the door-to-door folks in to debate (they were mostly Jehovah's Witnesses in the town I grew up in), although I can't really remember the conversations. Wish I could ask him about that now.
When my new neighbors invited my wife and I to their Thursday night Bible studies I told them we don't go to church. I let them know I don't believe in any gods and never will, and that my wife does believe in god, but not in churches and Bible studies after a youth pastor tried to rape her in high school and the head pastor wouldn't do anything about it. The youth pastor was using his job to go after high school girls. He's in prison now.
Anyway, back to the main point. He wanted to chit chat with me, and I simply told him that he probably didn't want to waste his time, as I was a Christian for 33 years and likely knew the Bible better than him. I showed him my Bible with all the notes inside. He said he'd pray for us and we were always welcome, and I said thank you. Since then, his children have not once been anywhere near our yard, and he hasn't even so much as replied to me when I tell him hello. I think they're scared of catching demons or something.
I don't know what I'd do if someone showed up at my door today preaching religion. Just a trip to the grocery store usually ends in someone telling you to have a blessed day, and I have to bite my tongue. I know most people mean well when they say it, but sometimes it just sounds so condescending.
In the world where I don't censor anything that comes out of my mouth, I could picture myself seriously messing with a door preacher. Like they ask me if I've taken Jesus into my heart and I'd just rub my belly and say I've taken Jesus into more places than just my heart and that the next Messiah should be along 9 months or so from now.
I'm a jerk. ;D
Quote from: Tank on January 21, 2012, 10:04:43 PM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on January 21, 2012, 10:02:22 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on January 21, 2012, 09:05:15 PM
I serve industrial grade coffee, educate them on the many glories of Satan and generally not see the same pair more than once.
To me, door preachers are a source of minor entertainment, nothing more.
I would love to come to your house for coffee. :)
You and me, both. We might even get Cecilie and Guardian85 to join in too, if we were really lucky.
I'm game!
Enough place for everyone. Enough coffee too ;D
Quote from: Asmodean on January 22, 2012, 01:11:43 PM
Enough place for everyone. Enough coffee too ;D
Now all we need is money and time!
Quote from: Tank on January 22, 2012, 02:38:57 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on January 22, 2012, 01:11:43 PM
Enough place for everyone. Enough coffee too ;D
Now all we need is money and time!
...And far more rare commodities than space and coffee, those are :P
I was still a Christian the first time I invited a JW in. I think I was just board and maybe a bit lonely seeing as I had just moved to a new state and didn't know many people.
I was a bit surprised when he showed up at the same time a week later and brought another man with him.
I was polite and again welcomed some friendly chat but made it pretty clear I had no intention of attending a meeting at the kingdom hall or starting a regular "bible study" with him.
He kept coming by every now and then till I found a place of my own and moved.
We had talked a lot about the Trinity and Deity of Christ. Things mainstream Christianity claimed were foundational and that I had never questioned.
When I started looking for verses to prove these things I was shocked to find that aside from a few cryptic verses the Bible didn't have a lot to say about them.
It took a lot of years for the wall to fall but that was sort of where the first cracks in my belief began.
So I for one am kind of happy that Door Preacher knocked on my door.
Quote from: Crocoduck on January 23, 2012, 06:01:38 PM
.... *snip*
So I for one am kind of happy that Door Preacher knocked on my door.
Crocoduck (love the name, by the way!), I think you do have a point --when a Christian/other theist opens the door and hears the person out, and concludes 'what they believe is a load of hooey, there's little or no evidence for it, it's just man-made bunk', it's a short walk from there to 'what ELSE fits the above categorizations?', even if that walk takes people a long time to get started on.
I wish some religious people would come knocking on my door. They usually ring the doorbell, hand out a pamphlet, and then scurry on before I can get a word out. It's kind of strange, and not really like the usual style. Then again, my appearance might have something to do with it...(I sleep nude, and rarely answer the door with anything but a bath-robe and underwear. You can see my little hairy curlies! EEK!) :o
Quote from: Wessik on January 24, 2012, 03:57:20 AM
I wish some religious people would come knocking on my door. They usually ring the doorbell, hand out a pamphlet, and then scurry on before I can get a word out. It's kind of strange, and not really like the usual style. Then again, my appearance might have something to do with it...(I sleep nude, and rarely answer the door with anything but a bath-robe and underwear. You can see my little hairy curlies! EEK!) :o
OK, you're so lucky I wasn't drinking anything just now, because you'd owe me a new laptop. :D
Now, that's a visual that won't leave my head anytime soon...
Quote from: Wessik on January 24, 2012, 03:57:20 AM
I wish some religious people would come knocking on my door. They usually ring the doorbell, hand out a pamphlet, and then scurry on before I can get a word out. It's kind of strange, and not really like the usual style. Then again, my appearance might have something to do with it...(I sleep nude, and rarely answer the door with anything but a bath-robe and underwear. You can see my little hairy curlies! EEK!) :o
Thank you for that image in my head... ;D
Meh, I live on the outskirts of san antonio, where the only law enforcement is a lazy ass constable eating donuts at Las Ventana's Restaurant. There's low crime rates though, probably because there's one large inbred family that makes up most of the residents, and a smaller population of newcomers.
Quote from: Wessik on January 24, 2012, 10:13:37 PM
Meh, I live on the outskirts of san antonio, where the only law enforcement is a lazy ass constable eating donuts at Las Ventana's Restaurant.
That sounds rather exotic.
Different cultures and their myriad ways, the wonders of diversity, rejoice.
Eating doughnuts at a restaurant, I've never even imagined such a thing.
Last time I had a someone come to my door about religion they left a colorful pamphlet on in my door that basically said "Go to church this Sunday or you will go to Hell". Needless to say that pissed me off a good bit and I almost went up to them and told them not to come by house again