Jehovah's Witnesses.....A new approach?
Posted by: Chillkram on 01 November 2006
The doorbell rang this evening and so I answered the door (as I usually do in such circumstances). As I gazed upon the two serenely smiling individuals standing there I recognised a familiar situation and my heart sank a little. I was either going to have to tell them to f**k off (a bit rude, really) or engage in a debate I could not particularly be bothered with, as there was champions league football on the telly at the time (in retrospect the debate would have been preferable!).
As I looked at them my face must have betrayed my thought....'Oh, no!'
One of them handed me a leaflet and said "Thank you for opening your door. We are in the area tonight handing out leaflets for you to read in your spare time". Then they turned around and walked back up my garden path. I just stood there for a while watching them go, slightly taken aback, before going back inside to watch the football.
My question is; is this a new soft sell approach that has been adopted by the Jehovah's Witnesses in an attempt to change the widely held view that they are a doorstep nuisance rather than an organisation with a serious message? Or........
Were these two just a little less committed to the cause than they should be?
Mark
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by MichaelC
Mark
I think this is their new approach. I opened the door to a Jehovah's Witness last week and they simply offered the leaflet for me to read in my time. No attempt to elaborate any further.
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by Big Brother
Happened to me. Guy showed up, left me a pamphlet, said he'd be back later to discuss it with me, and never returned.
The dog who lives on my property and barks at all manner of things, real and imagined. Does not make a peep when it's Jehovah's Witness.
BB
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by Bob McC
They interrupted your football and you accepted their propaganda.
Score 1 to the evangelists.
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by Chillkram
Good point Bob, I was so surprised I just meekly took it from them and went indoors with it. Quite a good read actually......
.....bugger, they got me!
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
Quite a good read actually......
So it wasn't (in the words of the (immortal?) Blackadder) soft, strong and thoroughly absorbent?
Posted on: 01 November 2006 by JohanR
I am what you can call "non religious", I simply don't understand the concept. It's fine with me though if other people like to indulge themselves in those activities. But I strongly detest the missionary part where one has to force ones beliefs on others.
JohanR
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by JoeH
quote:
Originally posted by JohanR:
I am what you can call "non religious", I simply don't understand the concept. It's fine with me though if other people like to indulge themselves in those activities. But I strongly detest the missionary part where one has to force ones beliefs on others.
JohanR
I'm kinda sorta of the same view, but I suppose if you're religious you worry about other people going to Hell for eternity and thus feel the need to persuade them of the error of their ways.
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Sir Crispin Cupcake
A few years back a couple of Jehova's witnesses knocked on my front door and one of them had the nastiest looking black eye I've ever seen. Maybe this explains their new approach?
Rich
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Steve Toy
The look of disdain and how dare you at this time in the morning you ignorant fuckers before slamming the door usually helps.
Can they not see the taxi parked outside my house?
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by JonR
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
Good point Bob, I was so surprised I just meekly took it from them and went indoors with it. Quite a good read actually......
.....bugger, they got me!
Quadruple detention for you, Mark ;-)
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Blueknowz
Last time they called at my house I was in the garden working offered me the pamphlet I said
" Sorry but I'm A born again Agnostic " they left without saying a word !
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by acad tsunami
Oh I just love it when the JWs knock on my door - its like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I invite them in my mud hut and debate with them until they leave screaming for mercy. Sometimes they call on reinforcements but mostly I never hear from them again. Sometimes if Im bored I phone them up and request they send someone. Even as a schoolboy I did this and my mother would say 'have you been tormenting the JWs again Acad?'
If they knocked on my door and ran off having left some of their moronic bumph I would run after them and drag them inside!
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Rasher
I inwardly groan when I see them at the door, and you can tell immediately can't you, but it is important to remember that believe what they are doing and going door to door is part of the whole JW thing for them. It isn't a big deal to just politely tell them that you're batting for the other side and show them the 666 tattoo on your forehead.
Then you can put them on the BBQ
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by JonR:
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
Good point Bob, I was so surprised I just meekly took it from them and went indoors with it. Quite a good read actually......
.....bugger, they got me!
Quadruple detention for you, Mark ;-)
This is just stalking now.....ADAM!
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Andrew Randle
Mark,
They will come later and see if you've read the leaflet.
Happened to me. They came back every Monday for 5 weeks to have a debate (which fair enough I encouraged).
Although they claim to be Christian, they do not think that Jesus is a part of God. They think he's the Archangel Michael and that he should not be worshipped (even though the Greek indicates otherwise).
Andrew
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by acad tsunami:
Oh I just love it when the JWs knock on my door - its like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I invite them in my mud hut and debate with them until they leave screaming for mercy. Sometimes they call on reinforcements but mostly I never hear from them again. Sometimes if Im bored I phone them up and request they send someone. Even as a schoolboy I did this and my mother would say 'have you been tormenting the JWs again Acad?'
If they knocked on my door and ran off having left some of their moronic bumph I would run after them and drag them inside!
This sounds like fun Acad, but I have to say there is a lot to be said for Berlin Fritz's approach as well,
"Fritz Von First ever Jehovas Witness bird knocked on my door in 1982 (here) I'd just left the shower opened the door,let my towel drop and invited her in...."
Mark
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
Mark,
They will come later and see if you've read the leaflet.
Happened to me. They came back every Monday for 5 weeks to have a debate (which fair enough I encouraged).
Andrew
Do they ask for their leaflet back if you don't convert, Andrew?
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Malky
If you slam the door in their face it just confirms to them that you will not be one of the lucky 144,000 that will live on Earthly paradise after the final battle with the beast. If you accept their literature, they've gained an ear. Bit of a win-win situation for them.
If you can be arsed, you can ask them to explain the many inconsistencies and condoning of oppression and violence to be found in the bible, I can't.
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Beano
Sorry must dash, "gotta give blood" always gets the response I want. "Ohh' we're sorry to have troubled you"!
Beano
Posted on: 02 November 2006 by Bruce Woodhouse
Why is everyone so irritated by two smart polite people knocking on the door who are quite willing to go on their way if, equally politely, asked to do so?
Move to the country if it irks. Anyone who makes it to our door usually needs resuscitating or is very, very lost. Fell rescue are still looking for the pair I directed home last week....
Bruce
Posted on: 03 November 2006 by JoeH
quote:
Originally posted by Malky:
If you slam the door in their face it just confirms to them that you will not be one of the lucky 144,000 that will live on Earthly paradise after the final battle with the beast.
More to the point, if (as I suspect) there are more than 144,000 JWs, what's the point of joining now? All the seats on the earthly paradise are already spoken for!
Posted on: 03 November 2006 by JoeH
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Why is everyone so irritated by two smart polite people knocking on the door who are quite willing to go on their way if, equally politely, asked to do so?
It doesn't bother me at all. My brother, a devout RC, usually invites them in for a cup of tea and an intense theological discussion. I just smile politely, tell them I'm a confirmed agnostic and send them on their way. Rather them than double-glazing salesmen!
Posted on: 03 November 2006 by Rasher
..or hoodies on parole selling dusters.
I don't really have a problem with them, and if it is part of their religion to do doorsteps, then that's fine. From their perspective on doorsteps, they must think the world is full of angry Eastenders characters. A bit of respect doesn't cost anything.
Posted on: 03 November 2006 by Malky
quote:
Originally posted by JoeH:
More to the point, if (as I suspect) there are more than 144,000 JWs, what's the point of joining now? All the seats on the earthly paradise are already spoken for!
Good point. I must ask them next time they come a-knocking.
Posted on: 03 November 2006 by Chillkram
Perhaps if there are enough applicants they might consider building an extension and scheduling extra transport.
