To non-Jehovah's Witnesses: Why the brick wall?

I live near a Kingdom Hall with a very active contingent of Witnesses. They drop by maybe once a week and ask to talk. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to chat, but today I did, and a really cool couple of Witnesses just left my home not so long ago after a fantastic hour or so of discussion. They will likely come back, and I may take up their invitation to a service at the Kingdom Hall.

Now, I will say that I'm not a Witness -- deliberately so, and not just because I happen not to be. And on several theological/scriptural/ethical issues I differ very much with them. But I've never quite understood the brick wall -- or even an active hostility -- around Witnesses at our front door. (Or Mormons, for that matter.) Even in tense debate (which a conversation hardly need erode into), I've found them always civil, respectful and... willing to leave without my membership.

So, question: For those of you who are put off by Witnesses at your door, what's the problem? Is it that you just don't have time for chat? Is it that you just don't care about the things they'll like to discuss? Is it that you don't like your own beliefs to be possibly challenged? What's up?

My answer to that has less to do with them being JWs and more to do with just not wanting to be disturbed in the peace and quiet of my home. If I'm ever curious about the JW faith, I will find someone to talk to, or resources online, or there are other ways I can go about deciding how to use MY spare time to make those efforts. If I'm at home chilling out in my PJs, reading a book or watching a movie or doing whatEVER I want to do, that doesn't mean I'm waiting for someone to knock at my door so they can witness at me. I don't care if they're JW or Buddhist or what-have-you. I really just don't like having my free time interrupted. Leave a pamphlet in my mailbox. That's less of an interruption. I can look at it in my own time.

I am not hostile when they approach the door. They cannot be psychic and know every person who will not be open to their message. It takes quite a bit of bravery to face the prospect actually. I tend to agree with Anx though.

I'm just against organized religion of any kind. I believe it's unnecessary and causes many problems around the world and throughout history.

Any uninvited and unasked opinion showing up at my doorstep with the inherent purpose to convert me, is by default an invasion of my privacy. When this opinion deals about a longlived fairytale, which occurs in many forms throughout the world all with a nag for being absolute, selfrighteous and moral superior to all other, containing magical deities and their unlogical demands to "good" human behaviour, I will politely tell, with all the constrained I can muster, that I'm not interested. Religion (in almost any form) is the most harmfull sort of doctrinisation mankind has ever endured (and is enduring) and the very thought that people get out and want to spread this ungoing evil (without being punished, because it seems to be their 'right') is ofcourse very unsettling for anyone that enjoys the thought of a religion-free world. It is also witness (pun intended) to the ungoing inabillity by many members of our species to face reality, when this reality is seemingly without goal or comfort and just governed by laws of nature.

Indiscriminately this goes for all religious folk that show at my door "spreading the word".

The brick wall, is brick on both sides btw.

Don't like strangers (in general) on my property.....and I really don't want religious strangers on my property.

usually when someone stops me on the street or wherever to try to witness to me, all i have to say is "i already have certain beliefs that i'm very happy with, thanks" and they leave me alone. i'm not the kind of person who likes to debate what i believe, because faith is faith and it can't really be argued in my opinion. you either have faith in what you believe or you don't. a person's spiritual beliefs should be personal and special, and nobody should try to argue those beliefs out of you. if a person is trying to find out what their beliefs are, there is always a path if someone wants to look for it. i don't think anyone should be coerced. i think it's much more powerful when it's something a person seeks out.

Lammastide said:

I live near a Kingdom Hall with a very active contingent of Witnesses. They drop by maybe once a week and ask to talk. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to chat, but today I did, and a really cool couple of Witnesses just left my home not so long ago after a fantastic hour or so of discussion. They will likely come back, and I may take up their invitation to a service at the Kingdom Hall.

Now, I will say that I'm not a Witness -- deliberately so, and not just because I happen not to be. And on several theological/scriptural/ethical issues I differ very much with them. But I've never quite understood the brick wall -- or even an active hostility -- around Witnesses at our front door. (Or Mormons, for that matter.) Even in tense debate (which a conversation hardly need erode into), I've found them always civil, respectful and... willing to leave without my membership.

So, question: For those of you who are put off by Witnesses at your door, what's the problem? Is it that you just don't have time for chat? Is it that you just don't care about the things they'll like to discuss? Is it that you don't like your own beliefs to be possibly challenged? What's up?

You know my knee-jerk reaction when I open the door and see the JWs is to attack. I can't help it. I despise religion. But when I open the door my true nature (I guess) comes out and I'm always civil. But when they ask me if I have ten minutes to hear about god's kingdom on earth or whatever, I ask if they have ten minutes for me as well, to let them know why I disagree, they never seem to have the time (or willing to give me the courtesy). And, in my experience, the JWs tend to have this holier-than-thou attitude when they come to the door (At least the ones where I live) like I'm some lost soul (which I guess in their eyes I am) that needs to be rescued. That fake pity (fake because they don't know me) irritates the hell out of me. But I'm with Anxiety on this. I hate to be disturbed in my own home...

"...literal people are scary, man
literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry
while getting it wrong fundamentally
down at the church of "look, it says right here, see!" - ani difranco

PR

Thanks for the replies so far.

I use to be annoyed(I'm not as much now) when they came around but the woman who comes around now with her daughter(and sometimes another lady) are really nice and I don't mind chatting with them. along with some of the JW's around the Org my views have changed. I had a brick wall/mote with sharks/boobie traps up for most Christian people who wanted to talk to me. Most people I know who have a problem with JWs are either already in a faith and don't want to deal with anyone else telling them about another way or people who know where to find spirituality/religion when they need it and not wanting it in their personal space.
[Edited 8/14/09 15:41pm]

For safety reasons I don't answer the door to people I don't know.

Edmonton, AB - - If you're happy and you know it your hands, if you're happy and you know it do a

I'm not against them, per se. As others have said, I just don't take too kindly to people showing up at my door trying to "sell" me anything. I wasn't happy when a guy came around trying to sell me a new security system. I also don't like being stopped in the mall by kiosk operators: If I didn't ask, don't offer.

If I want to know about their religion, I will seek the information. In fact, I've read a good portion of the JW Bible- I asked someone I know if could borrow hers. I've also read the official JW website. On my own.

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

For me, it is their attitude. They come off as being very cocky, at least the ones in my South Minneapolis area are. A good example, Jesus and the Cross. The JWs claim that Jesus was crucified on a stake not a cross. Now, I wasn't there, but on trips to Israel, hundreds of people have walked the so-called steps where Jesus was believed to have carried his cross, and hundreds of people, Jews even, carry a cross to show they faith and love of Jesus. Could we all be wrong? Well the JWs believe that the traditional symbol of Christianity, the cross, is/was of pagan origin. JWs view the cross as an Idol and wearing or displaying one is considered idol worship. Who knew?

Also,they seem to believe that their faith is the right, and correct, faith. I mean, between the Catholics, Mormons, and other faiths, who is the actual true faith? Nobody knows, but the JWs know for sure that they are the correct faith. That is what creates a brick wall for me.

JellyBean said:

I hear ya, rodman2, and congrats on being a JW and for reading the Bible. I respect all faiths, just don't get in my face claiming that your religion is better than mine. I am not saying that you would do something like that, would you? I have seen members of all faiths do that silly stuff, which I never really understand. Because like you said, "the bible has the answers to how God wants us to act," which I totally agree with. I am going to respect you and your faith until you give me reason not to.

when strangers show up at my door with what I feel is an attack on my faith, it gets me hot. I mean, hot in the hostile way. I'm as respectful and polite as I can be, but it really does upset me a little. Maybe it's because they do come off as very matter-of-fact and they sure as hell don't wanna hear your opinion of things. I have found it enjoyable when I told them about my beliefs anyway. If they don't like it - usually they don't - good! Now you're gonna hear my message!

i treasure my privacy and thereofre strongly dislike any religioun that is arrogant enough to believe it has the right to intrude on me, in the privacy of my own home. moreover, i already have my own belief system.

certain elements of the JW belief system actually repel me, in that i think it backward and unhelpful for any one to preach against blood transfusions, participation in the election process and celebration of widely accepted holidays.

because i think these are divisive ways of thinking, and against the true message of 'god', representing a manmade religious order, i do not ever wish to be disturbed by JWs, especially not in my own home.

Lammastide said:

I've only met one Witness that was willing to hear my side of things. I am very much turned off to hearing a one sided argument.

God DAMN there are a lot of dumb motherfuckers walking around! - George Carlin
Stalkerwomen of the world unite in delusion!!!!!

When I lived home, there was a group that always "patroled" our neighborhood. When my Dad was outside washing the car or working in the yard, he would entertain them and move on.

However, my neighbor let them into her home...
Before JW, we would hang out, do things together and were pretty good friends. Now that she has joined their ranks, she has become impossible to talk to, her style of dress has changed, and I don't know her anymore.
Her birthday was Friday. I haven't done it in a while, but the last time I called to wish her a "happy birthday", I got a speech.

That alone makes me not want them around- any group that changes a person that much.... (p.s. I'm hoping it was just her.)

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

Don't you get the impression that they feel they benefit by your rejecting their beliefs?

The more they turn away from JW, the better their chances they can make it into the 144,000

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All Glory To the Hypno-Toad!

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Graycap23 said:

"Always blessings, never losses......"

Ya te dije....no manches guey!!!!!

I'm a guy!!!!

Lammastide said:

I live near a Kingdom Hall with a very active contingent of Witnesses. They drop by maybe once a week and ask to talk. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to chat, but today I did, and a really cool couple of Witnesses just left my home not so long ago after a fantastic hour or so of discussion. They will likely come back, and I may take up their invitation to a service at the Kingdom Hall.

Now, I will say that I'm not a Witness -- deliberately so, and not just because I happen not to be. And on several theological/scriptural/ethical issues I differ very much with them. But I've never quite understood the brick wall -- or even an active hostility -- around Witnesses at our front door. (Or Mormons, for that matter.) Even in tense debate (which a conversation hardly need erode into), I've found them always civil, respectful and... willing to leave without my membership.

So, question: For those of you who are put off by Witnesses at your door, what's the problem? Is it that you just don't have time for chat? Is it that you just don't care about the things they'll like to discuss? Is it that you don't like your own beliefs to be possibly challenged? What's up?

Ya know, I was in the doctor's waiting room the week after Christmas last year, and someone had put Watchtowers in with the magazines. One caught my eye: "Why We Believe the Bible"- or something like that. I started reading the article, when a woman said, "Interesting, huh?" (It turns out she had put the tracts there.) I tried to be polite, but she began "preaching" to me right there- she even threw in Christmas.
After a few minutes of debate, she asked me why I picked it up in the 1st place. I told her- very icily- "I'm an educator and I'm always interested in gaining knowledge. I did NOT, however, come to my doctor to be converted."
Luckily, the nurse called her in shortly after that.

Sometimes it's just too much.

"...She's got electric boots, a mohair suit- You know I read it in a magazine ..." {Bennie & the Jets}

Half the reason for me has been mentioned already: I don't like being interrupted, and especially by people wanting to recruit or sell something to me, if that something is an idea.

The second part is I view being convinced of the value of a religion that with archaic anit-homosexual teachings to be no different than having the KKK come to my doorstep to convince me of the virtues of joining.

C:\Otaassk~.exe




The new best Prince M&M thread ever: http://prince.org/msg/7/323876

vivid is my new boo!

Imago said:

Half the reason for me has been mentioned already: I don't like being interrupted, and especially by people wanting to recruit or sell something to me, if that something is an idea.

The second part is I view being convinced of the value of a religion that with archaic anit-homosexual teachings to be no different than having the KKK come to my doorstep to convince me of the virtues of joining.

The call for tolerance towards superstitiously ordained intolerance is frankly bizarre.

*Adds a few extra bricks to the wall*

I have many JW'a amongst my friends nad family. But usually when they come around I just don't want to hear it. I know when and where to go to hear it and coming to my home unannoucnced and uninvited is a no no. And the fact that I've known two women that have died because they were ill and refused blood transfusions saddens me.
[Edited 8/19/09 5:26am]

Dsoul said: