ever had jehova's witnesses bothering you at home?

[worm]

if so, what did you do?

they used to come to my door and really irritate the shit out of me. i was still a theist back then, but i was a muslim and a pretty young kid. i was 15 years old or something, so i didn't engage in any discussions, because i did kinda believe in god and i didn't really know anything about their religion. so i just listened to what they had to say and that was that. it was over pretty quick. but the last time they came (a long time ago), i just took the pamphlet they gave me and slammed the door in their face.

the worst thing about it was that they used to come early in the morning on a saturday. and if there's one way to get me pissed off it's to wake me up early for nothing on a saturday morning.

they haven't come to my door for the last 5 years or so.

it would be kinda interesting if they did. i would now ask them simple, but awkward questions about god and religion. :)

any of you have funny anecdotes of your encounters with jehova's witnesses?

[Overman]

I have a routine that works pretty well. When I see them coming I quickly get a giant coffee mug and fill it with Pine Sol, which is a heavy scented industrial strength cleaner. Then I put on a pair of Groucho Marx glasses and answer the door holding the mug of Pine Sol. I then engage them in serious philosophical discussion while I intermittantly blow on the mug of Pine Sol as if it is a hot drink. The key to this technique is to keep a straight face while wearing the Groucho Marx glasses and if they are not completely freaked out by my appearance they certainly get a whiff of the heavy pine scented cleaner. If they persist I offer them a drink and then tell them that I have been disfellowshipped. Usually it doesnt get that far. The Pine Sol is usually enough to "blow" them away. They walk away in a state of confusion with the scent still lingering in their nasal passages. Works like a charm.

[anders]

They're sitting ducks. In 1957 to ca. 1963, my GF and I were rather intense Christians, and well read up on the JW scriptures. So, when they visit me now, I start by pointing out that they aren't Christians as they don't believe in the Bible and have a very contorted translation, using mainly the Resurrection as an example, and they soon realize that they are out of arguments. Last time, however, there were two guys, one of which was really intelligent and well read in the scriptures. We had a rather long and interesting discussion on a number of questions, but departed as friends, despite the mutual understanding that we wouldn't be able to change the views of the other party.

[Lucretius]

I used to get JW's coming to my house and I used to enjoy arguing/discussing politely their beliefs with them (from a atheistic standpoint obviously), as I had read quite a lot about JW's I was able to counter most of their assertions and at least cause them some confusion ,which to be honest I found quite funny.
I should add I have a collection of JW books etc that i have picked up,over the years , even though I was never a member of their church/cult/organization.
However they were in my area recently and I even saw them going to the house next door,so I was looking forward to some fun when they came to my house.
Two of them (young women) were walking down my driveway when I saw an "Elder? " literally run after them and physically pull them away :)
So I guess I am on some sort of JW blacklist now ,by a funny coincidence the Mormons don't come here anymore either I sometimes wonder if they share information on who is worth trying to convert :)

[Dark Knight Bob]

I once had some latter day saints people come around our house once.

It was quite interesting. Expecially considering that me and 3 other of my housemates consisted of physicists.

They didn't really seem to mind us questioning their beliefs. It was more of a 'agree to disagree' in the end which was kind of cool really. But i'm not one to openly question people much so I just sort of stood back and let my two militant atheist freinds go out of their way to overturn their arguements.

It wasn't really that hard though. Most of the arguements involved 'look around at the world. How can you not see God. A flower is so perfect etc. etc. etc.'
It got interesting when we started talking about the big bang theory. If anything we educated them about how the theory worked and they seemed interested to listen.

kind of interesting but that's the only time i've ever encounted the door-to-door evangelists.

[Z500]

Just once. I wish they'd come by more often

[fr0sty]

I had three visits from the same duo one summer. I think it was two years ago. I was watching my kids and a whole group of neighborhood kids were running around my yard as well.

They started their routine and I explained that I was an atheist and my wife is Lutheran. They asked a few questions about what I believed and I politely answered them. I don't get into debating with them. The first question I had for them was "how has everyone been treating you" as they go from house to house. As you can imagine, he was surprised by my question.

He stated that everyone for the most part was kind to them. They came back several times and we spoke for several minutes each time. I think he was also surprised to hear my admit that my beliefs could be wrong and they could be right. Eventually they stopped coming.

I could tell he changed what he believed about atheists from those conversations.

[jafosei]

I had a couple of JW's at my door a few months back (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=98573) that I spent time talking with. Normally, I sent any sales-types on their way with a "not interested", but that day I decided to chat (which probably means I'd spent too much time reading IIDB).

Two hours of back-and-forth on a number of religious topics, and they gave up and went on their way. It was civil and polite, though ultimately pointless. They kept wanting to discuss the Bible, which I can do since I studied at a religious private school from grades 7 to 12 and was heavily involved in church for many years. I kept bringing the discussion back to the existence of God, though; if that question isn't satisfactorily answered, the rest is trivial. They had nothing for that except the "grandeur and majesty of the world".

[BigBlue2]

They're not exactly thick on the ground here, so they usually catch me by surprise. When that happens I tell them that I'm not interested and close the door in their face.

However, one time I saw them coming. I was still a student living at my parents house, and was doing some work in the front yard, when I saw them coming up the street. I put on a white T-shirt, splashed some red food colouring on it, and smeared some more on the sides of my mouth and down my chin and waited for the knock on the door. The knock duly occured, I opened the door, and said in the most evil voice I could muster: "Hello, nice of you to drop by. I'm just having lunch. Won't you...?" That's as far as I got - the next thing I saw was them scrambling over the wall that separated the front yard from the footpath and running off in different directions.

[Manitoumulegirl]

Oh man, don't get me going! I think I posted elsewhere on this board about my encounter with a neighbor family who were JW's and how the husband ended up calling all my friends on Christmas morning a year ago and informing them all that I was posessed by the devil! Then there was the man I was actually engaged to at one point who was an ex-JW. Even though he didn't believe in that faith anymore, his upbringing in it had left him so emotionally scarred that I could no longer deal with him. His story is such a tragedy, too, because he is a bright, witty, creative person, but in some dark recess of his mind he feels damned by god. The result in his life is one of emotional chaos.

Anyhow, when JW's come to my door, I thank them for their concern. I tell them that I am a Buddhist and I explain about the Buddhist Bodisattva Vow where one promises to return to this life time after time to help all beings become enlightened and free from suffering at last. I say to them, "You, in your own way, are just like Bodisattva's. It is so kind of you to be concerned for my soul. I would like to say to you "Namaste'" which means the Buddha within me salutes the Buddha within you."

This has never failed. Each time I inspire JW's with the thought that they might actually be re-incarnations of the Buddha or something called a "Bodisattva," they flee in terror! And I've been nice and polite the entire time! :D

[MrDarwin]

I have generally found that they are quite polite. As with any door-to-door salesman tell them "Thanks, but I'm not interested" and if they persist, say it again and close the door. They generally leave.

[LeeBuhrul]

if so, what did you do?

they used to come to my door and really irritate the shit out of me. i was still a theist back then, but i was a muslim and a pretty young kid. i was 15 years old or something, so i didn't engage in any discussions, because i did kinda believe in god and i didn't really know anything about their religion. so i just listened to what they had to say and that was that. it was over pretty quick. but the last time they came (a long time ago), i just took the pamphlet they gave me and slammed the door in their face.

the worst thing about it was that they used to come early in the morning on a saturday. and if there's one way to get me pissed off it's to wake me up early for nothing on a saturday morning.

they haven't come to my door for the last 5 years or so.

it would be kinda interesting if they did. i would now ask them simple, but awkward questions about god and religion. :)

any of you have funny anecdotes of your encounters with jehova's witnesses?

I put on my best fundamentalist impression, pick up my phone as i raise my voice pitch a few decibels and shout:

OH YOU POOR LOST SINFUL SOULS DON'T YOU MOVE,YOU WAIT RIGHT THERE I"LL HAVE MY PREACHER HERE IN NO TIME We'LL SAVE YOUR SOULS YET... meanwhile strip to the waist and take your shoes off...

They don't seem to want to wait...

[renegadebabe]

I actually have more experiences with Mormons than with Jehovah's Witnesses--but I'm pretty confident they each have the same basic routine. They travel in pairs (so if one is stumped for a response in an argument the other one can pick up the slack--though usually their beliefs are so ridiculous that you can easily stump both of them). I would love to debate with them--but since I'm not as learned on Mormonism and Jehovah's Witness(ism?) as more conventional branches of Christianity I don't even bother. My best experience was with these two Mormons--this is when I was still half a Christian--well, not really a Christian--but at least a theist--maybe--I don't know--it was a strange time in my life. Anyway, I even remember one of their names--Elder Scott. I remember joking with them about that whole "elder" bit and they both laughed. We got on friendly--so they gave me their pseudo-bible thing--the Book of Mormon--and we set another date for them to come back. No, this was not because I had any interest at all in being a Mormon. I wanted to try to seduce them--at least one of them. I know this sounds sick--but I was 14 and immature (now I'm 16 and soooo much more mature :)). I wanted to see if I could lure them away from God. I had it all planned out to wear a boob-busting shirt and have the thermostat on really low so my nipples would poke out. Anyway, they never came back. Maybe God spoke to them and told them I was bad news? Oh, well. Life's a cookie.

[Agemegos]

if so, what did you do?

Yes, in fact a pair of then called by on Sunday. I cut of their spiel with a firm "Thanks you, I'm not interested". The woman asked "In the Bible?!" and I said "Absolutely not. Better luck elsewhere."

[Eldarion Lathria]

When the JWs come I am polite. I ask them to sit down. I hear their first statement politely, but then I answer in a way they do not expect. I pick apart their arguments (mostly circular arguments, straw men, and appeals to emotion. And the Hell threat) I break out the four pillars and Fewmet's three laws. By the time they are ready to leave, They are totally confused. If they offer me Awake! or the Watchtower! I offer them Breaking the Chains of Imperialism, Overthrow! or if they speak Spanish El gobierno y la religión son el mismo timo, Government and Religion are the same Swindle. All good Anarcho-syndicalist tracts.

Eldarion Lathria

[Stacey Melissa]

There's a "No Solicitation" sign at the entrace of my apartment complex. So no, I don't have any problems with JWs or Mormons.

[MediocrityInAction]

The area I live in has a reasonable population of Mormons, and it happened that I shared a house with one, which was interesting. As a result of some form of schedule, every fortnight or so would be the turn of this mormon to host their after-church getogether in our living-room. Some of the conversations I overheard were quite interesting, especially when they were discussing the 'missionaries' sent over from the USA. I can spot one from a mile off as a result of this. They are unfailingly White, in their early 20s, dressed immaculately in a black suit, and have a certain mixture of fatalistic zeal brushing with resignation. They remind me of Secret Service agents. I once saw one who had the Book of Mormon in a shoulder-holster.
I discovered that the majority of British Mormons see the practice of throwing their children out into the world to proselytyse like this as being more than slightly cruel, and was unsuprised to learn that the amount who deconvert as a result of these missions is quite high.

[nobby]

that by calling on you they have just damned you to hell (or whatever their equivalent is). JW's believe that any person who has never heard their preaching will be judged by God fairly at their death. However if you have heard the preaching and choose to ignore it you are damned. That will give them a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
Also tell them that the 144,000 tickets for their paradise are already oversubscribed to the millions of JW's that have already died since the late 19th century so there's no point joining up. Shame their prediction of the end of the world in 1914 was a bit off the mark.

[LSHAFC2004]

In LA we used to get some knocking at our door every week. They are like us though in a way. They may belive in God, but I think they belive in eternal dreamless sleep as death like us. I jus tell them to get lost. Not my problem what they want to preach. :)

[Capn_Danger]

any of you have funny anecdotes of your encounters with jehova's witnesses?

Y'know, I used to be a strict mormon, and did the whole missionary thing. I remember this one day we stopped and talked to this guy working on his truck, he was a JW, and wasn't really interested in talking to us. Three days later, we get a knock at the door, and it was the exact same guy doing his rounds! I just smiled and say "Hey, how, you changed your mind already! You even went to the trouble of tracking us down!". It was rather amusing.

I've always had pleasant convo's with JW's, though, maybe because I used to hate arguing over religion, and loved to hear about other people's beliefs. I suppose I made an odd missionary because of that. Going door to door like the JW's do, the only bad experiences I had were with cranky people who assumed we just wanted to stuff our religion down their throats (which is an understandable assumption), and other fundy christians who wanted to save us from the devil...

[kciredor reprah]

I had a few that use to come by a couple of years ago. I talked to them every chance I got. I actually enjoyed the conversations, however, I don't think they did. I challenged the on almost every topic the brought up. Then they just stopped coming by. I don't know what happened. :huh:

Peace

[Atheos]

I was "polite but firm" the last few times I was solicited by them. I haven't had one at my door in years. :huh:

-Atheos

[FirstOffClub]

that by calling on you they have just damned you to hell (or whatever their equivalent is). JW's believe that any person who has never heard their preaching will be judged by God fairly at their death. However if you have heard the preaching and choose to ignore it you are damned. That will give them a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
Also tell them that the 144,000 tickets for their paradise are already oversubscribed to the millions of JW's that have already died since the late 19th century so there's no point joining up. Shame their prediction of the end of the world in 1914 was a bit off the mark.
:rolling: Pithy post! Gotta remember this! :rolling:

[dcm]

My goodness. A firm atheist here. I've had maybe 20 encounters in perhaps 30 years with them and in every case I've politely turned them down without the slightest problem: "Hi, how are you. I admire your determination but I'm not interested" I tell them. They smile, attempt to give me some pamplets which I'll take in the interest of civility, and walk away. I don't look down on them. It's all a matter of getting along with people in a world of people. However, they may be more persistent in your area in which case I would differ.

DC

[I_pity_the_fool]

that by calling on you they have just damned you to hell (or whatever their equivalent is). JW's believe that any person who has never heard their preaching will be judged by God fairly at their death. However if you have heard the preaching and choose to ignore it you are damned. That will give them a nice warm fuzzy feeling.

I'm fairly certain that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that non-JWs merely cease to exist after they die, and that people who haven't heard the gospel will be given the chance to serve God forever in paradise or will be obliterated. The 144,000 will be in heaven itself, ruling with God, and the rest will be on Earth, filling up their time with meaningful work and whatever the JW equivalent of fun is (I read the pamphlet they gave me).

I remember when I spoke to some witnesses I tried to get them to understand how long eternity is. JWs seem to think that ""interesting work, singing the praises of God, reaping bountiful harvests and community events" will be able to fill up eternity. I pointed out to them that eternity is, well, eternal. I gave them the old David Lodge quote: "Imagine a fly landing on a ball of iron the size of the Earth every million years. When the ball has been worn away to nothingness, eternity will not even have begun". I suggested that after a while, the faithful will begin to envy the damned. Naturally the Witnesses were rather unsettled by this line of reasoning. I can only hope some shard of common sense penetrated the layers of indoctrination. Those guys are going to die. And when they die it will be forever. They have no time to waste going from door to door telling people about fairy-tales.

[PoodleLovinPessimist]

I had a couple stop by Friday. Unfortunately, I was actually (gasp!) working, otherwise I'd've had them in for a chat. :D

[San Bernardino]

Never had any bother me in Florida but while living in Japan they'd show up at the door once in a while. Japanese JWs, by the way, not missionaries. Anyway, I'd just tell them, "Boku, Amerikajin-ne. Jesus-wa hatsumei shita." [I'm an Amercan, right? We invented Jesus. ] and then send them on their way.

OK, so I wasn't a great Amabassador for my country, but JWs are such a pain.

[Astreja]

I have a unique way of scaring off JW's...

http://members.shaw.ca/astreja/george.jpg

Ever since George showed up, I've been able to sleep in on Saturday mornings. :cool:

[Seeker630]

I discovered that the majority of British Mormons see the practice of throwing their children out into the world to proselytyse like this as being more than slightly cruel, and was unsuprised to learn that the amount who deconvert as a result of these missions is quite high.[/QUOTE]


Really ? I find this interesting. I have often wondered just what the percentage is of people leaving a particular denomination, as compared to those converted into it (or even born into it for that matter). Does anyone in here know of any reference material on deconversions from any religion/denomination? I mean churches are always bragging about how many members/converts they have, but I don't think I've ever seen any of them publish their losses. (not that it should surprise anyone)

[Mickie]

Its been about 20 years since I've had JW's knocking on my door. The place where I lived at the time seemed to be crawling with them and I'd get them every fucking weekend. At first I was polite, telling them my brother-in-law was a JW and I didn't need their visits but one day they caught me out in the garden in not a very good mood. I saw them coming and met them at the sidewalk with a garden rake and told them to NEVER stop at my home again.

I'm sure I was marked as "dangerous" because they never came by again. I wish I'd have known it was just that easy.

[Lucretius]

Also tell them that the 144,000 tickets for their paradise are already oversubscribed to the millions of JW's that have already died since the late 19th century so there's no point joining up. Shame their prediction of the end of the world in 1914 was a bit off the mark.
The latest JW thinking is that the list of the 144,000 was filled in 1935 so anyone born after that date has no chance,from this they appear to be saying that 2005 is the date of the end of the world (70 years being a generation after 1935 ,the whole 3 score years and 10 thing)
As far as the failed 1914 date goes they have also said that everything would end in
1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994,2000 and now 2005

10 put of 10 for persistence I guess :)


http://www.religioustolerance.org/witness8.htm

[tangiellis]

Whenever Mormons and JWs come by, I invite them inside, sit them down and have an engaging discussion with them, unless I am on my way out.

In my living room, there is a table that holds books on religion and philosophies from all around the world. Their literature is there among texts on Buddhism, Taosim, Mythology, Paganism, Philosophy, Atheism and so on. It either outrages them or intrigues them, in any case, it is a very good conversation starter.

My husband asks me sometimes why I bother. I speak with them because often they hold views that makes people that do not agree with them either evil or inhuman. By meeting and conversing with me, they realize that although we may not see eye to eye on religion, I am no different from them. We are all human.

I suppose it works. A few of them call me and ask about my son and keep me informed on their lives and children.

My two cents,
Tangie

[Jobar]

I wanted to try to seduce them--at least one of them. I know this sounds sick--but I was 14 and immature (now I'm 16 and soooo much more mature ). I wanted to see if I could lure them away from God. I had it all planned out to wear a boob-busting shirt and have the thermostat on really low so my nipples would poke out. Anyway, they never came back. Maybe God spoke to them and told them I was bad news? Oh, well. Life's a cookie.
:rolling: :rolling:

"Heyyy, elder- wanna piece'a caaaaandy?"

:rolling: :rolling: