I wasn't in a good mood for the bible banger that just knocked on my door.
Posted on: March 17, 2007 - 2:17pm
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I wasn't in a good mood for the bible banger that just knocked on my door.
I was just explaining to our Spanish friend why some of us feel so besieged in this country, when a fourteen-year-old kid knocked on my door with a picture of a bloody Jesus. I was not in the best of moods.
"No...no...NO...NO!," I said. "Religion needs to be got rid of. It's destroying this whole world."
The kid looked at me like I had sprouted horns.
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Probably there's a better way to handle this, but the kid caught me already fuming over religion.
Usually, I just say, "No, thank you" and send the person away.
Has anyone tried passing out atheist tracts? :D
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No.
I remember a few months ago, some Jehova's Witness knocked on my door and showed me a picture of a family having a picnic and he asked me, "would you like to see your family like that?"
Me: No. (Closes door)
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I've honestly never had to deal with this. I'm glad
I've only had a Jehova's witness come to the door once and I scared her off by asking about her theology. I'm actually disappointed that I don't see more prosyletizers door-knocking for me to interrogate.
Too bad I couldn't have you pop over when I get mine.
You'd have a blast.
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As soon as they manage to stop talking, which sometimes takes up to ten minutes, I just tell them I'm not interested and they usually go away.
I still like the idea of answering the door naked or dressed as the devil.
Just hold a kitchen knife, breath rapidly and have an annoying sinister laughter that bursts out a little bit every time they say "utopia" or "heaven everlasting".
I've wanted to breathe like Vader, declare my allegiance to the dark side of the force, and start spouting Sith philosophy. But they have never knocked on the door when I'm home.
Enlightened Atheist, Gaming God.
They don't come around my house since I posted a sign that says:
No Soliciting
of
Products,
Services,
or
Deities
Thank you.
Okay, this is kind of funny. But just so you know, Christians feel besieged in this country to. I think we are all feeling that. I think we need to fire all the politicians (R's and D's, maybe keep the Independents) and start over with new elections. It seems like none of them can focus on any one thing (at least, nothing important). It's like watching a bunch of seventh grade girls in a fight.
Okay, this is kind of funny. But just so you know, Christians feel besieged in this country to.
Oh please.
http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/the_rational_response_squad_radio_show/general_conversation_introductions_and_humor/5195
"Physical reality” isn’t some arbitrary demarcation. It is defined in terms of what we can systematically investigate, directly or not, by means of our senses. It is preposterous to assert that the process of systematic scientific reasoning arbitrarily excludes “non-physical explanations” because the very notion of “non-physical explanation” is contradictory.
-Me
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We don't have any power in this country. Dems and Pubs are bought and paid for by corporations. And I have a sneaking suspicion that elections are also bought and paid for.
I have to take exception with your idea that Christians are besieged. Check out this link: Life in Our Anti-Christian America
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Yeah, but you don't see Atheists out knocking on the doors of complete strangers and trying to convert them. Atheists don't bang on your door on Saturday morning and wake you up. Atheists don't try to scare you into believing their way by threatening you will eternal damnation. Atheists don't leave Atheist literature under your windshield wiper.
Etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.......
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"Atheists don't leave Atheist literature under your windshield wiper."
You know, that's not a bad idea.
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I have been so tempted as of late... just a little leaflet about Bible contradictions...
-Triften
umm, dont hurt me...
once on a hot sunday morning, when everyone was at church and had their car windows cracked....
I dropped (in the back seat if possible) a bunch of little cards with a question and a couple atheist links....
(runs and hides)
We must favor verifiable evidence over private feeling. Otherwise we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who would obscure the truth.
~ Richard Dawkins
The reason I don't want to go door to door or put leaflets under windshield wipers is those things annoy me. For me it's standard policy to not patronize whatever is advertised under my windshield wiper. At the same time I have been tempted to put FFRF leaflets under certain windshield wipers. Because of my hatred of that particular little ploy, I don't do it.
Maybe we can think of ways to engage theists that are less annoying and more productive. The Blasphemy Challenge worked well. The only reason it seems "in your face" is because it's very rare for anyone to challenge religious beliefs. It created a ton of publicity for this site and didn't disturb people's privacy.
I think that's what the issue is for me. A telemarketer, a JW, some asshole with leaflets to stick under windshield wipers: these all somehow violate a person's sense of privacy. I'd rather not use such methods.
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Many years ago, when I was still married, my ex had a wonderful time with JWs who came to the door. He had graduated with a philosophy degree, and although his family was quite Lutheran, he was a skeptic, and like to debate with them. I didn't. One day, when he was out, they stopped by. I brought my borzoi to the door with me, being all alone out in the country. (note ~ a borzoi is also known as a Russian wolfhound, and is the dog in my little picture). The people asked me if they could ask me three questions. I hesitantly said yes. When they got to about the 5th question I was getting fed up. The coolest thing is that my borzoi apparently sensed that I was getting upset/angry, and she started growling at them. This dog had NEVER growled at anyone before!!! They very quickly left!!! And I praised her well for protecting me. I was never more proud of her.
Karen and her hounds
creating art ~ creating a new life
Even dogs can only stand them for so long.
Enlightened Atheist, Gaming God.
I was visiting my mom and JWs came to the door. My mother grabbed my arm and pulled me down behind the couch! I couldn't stop giggling and my mom was whispering 'shut up, or they'll hear you and then I'll have to talk to them'. It was quite funny.
I also had a friend who response to the question 'Are you ready to have god in your life?' was
'No, I already have Satan in my life and I think he'd be mad.'
If god takes life he's an indian giver
If you don't want them to call, you can tell them not to, and by law they have to write your address down and not call on you again (they'll mark you down on their records as a DNC - Do Not Call). They may try their luck a few years later, but for the most part you won't have anywhere near as many calls.
As for Jehovah's Witnesses, you can tell them you are "disfellowshipped" (which means you used to be a JW and are no longer).
They are required to shun you.
A little lie for the greater good.
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That's a good idea.
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I'm wary about this approach- the shunning is to make you realise you've lost friends, and their hope it to get you back that way, but without the rebelliousness that was disruptive to the rest of the congregation in the first place. JWs will go to the place of worship in their catchment area, and the catchment area is where they preach too, so there could be questions of which place you went to before. If it works, sure, say you're disfellowshipped, but there could be more questions if they think they hooked you once.
I really can't see it because they are not allowed to speak or have anything to do with someone who has been "disfellowshipped". Hence, they cannot ask the person questions and try to re-convert them.
I worked with a gentleman who was brought up JW and ultimately left the church. His mother would not go into his home. (His father was not JW) His mother would not speak to him.
When his father fell ill, my friend moved across the country to help care for his father. I never did hear how that turned out, but I'll bet it was pretty strained and awkward.
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You may be right about questioning the person. Alot of the time it depends on the individual and what their conscience tells them. I've known of people who would still talk to their disfellowshipped family members, and there's the risk then you will be asked if they can talk to someone else who lives at the home with you, or they may leave literature in your mailbox or through your door. As I said, if it works, cool, I just wanted to show the other side of what could happen. It may be easier to just be blunt and say 'look, don't call again'.
You should have said, "Ahhhhh, Ahhhhhh, Apostate!! He said no graven images! Ahhhhh!".
Then proceeded to shut the door.
I'm surprised at a lot of the answers here. I've never had anyone come to my door peddling their religion. If they did I would be more than happy to invite them in and have a discusion about it. I'm sure after it happened a few times though I might start to get annoyed with it.
"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan
I agree, I invite conversations like that quite often. But it would also be very funny to do some of the things suggested here from time to time. If they come during dinner that might be another story, I think I would just slam the door and go back to eating.
I recall John Safran went around door konocking for atheism in Salt Lake City in John Safran versus God; it was absolutely hilarious
Years ago, my ex-father-in-law answered the door to a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses. He happily invited them in to discuss their message.
He was quite the chatter and discusser.
They were pleased because doors are usually slamed in their faces. The probably thought, "Oh boy! We have the posibility of a convert here!"
He apparently pounded them with questions (and no doubt quite a bit of sermonizing) for quite awhile. Eventually, they started making noises that they had to leave.
He ignored their protestations and continued to pound them with questions until they fled and never came back.
I think he was actually disappointed that they left.
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