the woke me yesterday morning.... before 7am

someone had called them, thought it was from my address

Ive talked to JW when they have called, told them i believe in God, but dont go to church...and if i want to discuss religion, id seek them out if i chose to.

i was polite

They come to my door, and I say Shalom (My partner's Jewish). Does the trick every time.

many years ago, while I was strung out of mind on whatever drug I could get my hands on, a couple of JW's knocked at my door one morning...I was still up from the nite before, still feeling the effects of the half ass cocaine my cousin had scored...

I thought I'd have some fun so I invited the guys in...as they proceeded to talk, I proceeded to roll a joint...they were not detered...I fired it up and began smoking...they were not detered...I offered them a hit...they declined and were not detered...

I realized what an ass I was being and put it out....I listened to what they had to say...they were very polite and respectful...not once did they judge me or comment on my obvious lifestyle...

to be honest, they earned my respect at a time when I respected no one or nothing, not even myself...

roodboi said:

Damn, you're awesome.

Vendetta1 said:

back then, I was a piece of shit...I grew into my awesomeness

roodboi said:

Ace said:

You be nice to Prince. He bought some kicky new heels just for door knockin'.

i always wanted to invite them in and show them old prince concerts.

cborgman said:

The butt-out outfit?
The jizz guitar?
Fake blowjobs from Wendy?






Seriously though, I was always curious about how any faith group -not just the Witnesses -go about convincing a grown adult to switch religions. Even by the age of ten our belief systems tend to be pretty solid, and faith is one of the hardest things for most people to change their mind on. I don't understand the process, but it fascinates me. Especially when it's really only a sect conversion and the basic tenets are more or less the same, but the smaller details shift. How does a person, for example, go from KNOWING that Christ died on the cross to KNOWING he died on a stauros?

meow85 said:

Maybe something they hear hits the spot with them about a particular religion? It doesn't sound that much of a stretch to me. Maybe they just followed what their parents taught them and now they are looking for their own path?

IshmaelB said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Then why the focus on the small details? Where does the fervour new converts display come from? Like I said, How do you go from KNOWING Christ died on a cross to KNOWING he died on a stauros?

cborgman said:

don't worry, they seen it all

satan worshippers, human scum, people trying to "shock" them

BklynBabe said:

Glad I don't work for UPS! Lawd I'd hate to be the one to interrupt your hobby time

cborgman said:

Oooh al-right...

meow85 said:

It's the excitement of the new I suppose.

TheEnglishGent said:

I think it would be interesting to find out what made Prince decide to become a JW.
Or to hear his story at least.

wildgoldenhoney said:

His baby died and didn't his parents or one of his parents die around then too? Add into the mix one of your heroes being around who's a witness along with always being spiritually curious and not employing anyone who will tell you you're wrong and you have the answer.

TheEnglishGent said:

Life-changing experiences that he couldn't possibly have control over...

BklynBabe said:

They do it because it works better than any other method they have tried.


It's sort of like when people go to buy a car. You will not get ANYWHERE near the dealership before an eager salesman approaches you. Why do they do that? Cause it works. Surely they would love to sit inside and bullshit with their friend in a climate controlled enviroment and if they met their quota that way they would.

If people were logging on to the JW's official website and ordering up a Bible Study as often as they were welcoming one from the one at their door, things might be different.

The fact that people don't seek them out on their own should send them the message that people don't want to hear that mess. So if they get cussed out on somebody's doorstep, they're just getting what they deserve for irritating the hell out of people in their own homes.

Lately people having been seeking out organized religion in general. In the USA church attendance has gone down. That results in less money in the basket and the closing of many churches. I think the Jehovah's Witnesses are holding steady and may even be increasing slightly. They also do not pass the basket so, in these hard times, people do not feel so pressured to give oodles of $$$.

meow85 said:

We don't really focus that much on small details. Cross vs. stauros comes up pretty much never in an average Bible discussion with Jehovah's Witnesses, and I've been having such discussions for over 30 years. It is a detail, but hardly a "deal maker" or "breaker".

What's usually most attractive to those we speak with is examining the Bible, seeing for oneself what God's purpose is for us and the earth and how rewarding it is to arrange one's life to please Him rather than seeking how He can please us. The "fervor" of new Witnesses comes from the desire to share the good things they've learned with others.

Despite the usual sentiments about door-to-door ministry, it is THE most effective means of reaching people with this important message. Jesus set the example by preaching to people wherever they happened to be -- and a lot of people are at home. Believe me -- I know folks don't particularly care for it. And you should know that Witnesses are not always "over the moon" about going out on cold, rainy, snowy, "rather just sleep in" days. But as Christians, we are commanded to bring the good news about God's Kingdom to as many as possible -- and that includes to their homes. It's love for our neighbor and obedience to God that motivates us.

The fact that most JWs were reached that way kinda speaks for itself. There are about six people coming to my congregation now, as Bible students, who were contacted at their homes.

Thanks for relating that experience, roodboi. Most Witnesses are kinda hard to rattle. And huggiebear -- regarding "Shalom"; I personally LOVE to talk to Jewish folks. They are often taken aback when I let them know that God's promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are pretty much the entire reason we're out talking to them!

RenHoek said:

Maybe I'll answer the door in a wet T shirt and nothing else (along with that goat's head and knife) and see what happens.....

Vendetta1 said:

I feel the same way.