How do you feel about the people who come and knock on your door trying to get you to go to their church or go with their religion?

Personally i get annoyed by it rather fast, down here it seems to be a daily thing. i'll go where i want to go if i want to go, pray who i want to pray to if i want to, and believe what i want to believe in without you coming to my door, nothing you say is going to change my mind either.

I can't stand it!

Um... I like the ones that bring me free coffee. :giggle

Okay, the other day a small dweeby white guy in khakis and a Polo rang the door bell and no one was home, so I didn't answer. He rang the door bell several more times and then proceeded to KNOCK. I thought it was SO rude, and he left a religious pamphlet on our porch.

The nerve!

Um... I like the ones that bring me free coffee. :giggle

If they brought me coffee I wouldn't mind so much :rofl

I don't appreciate people who try to convert or save me.:jerkit I usually them I love my atheist ways then slam the door on them.

I dont like it and I usually dont answer. If I do answer I tell em that I have religion and dont need any of theirs

can't stand it! I think Jehovah Witnesses are the only ones I encountered....they don't even ask do you already have a religion they just bust through the door reciting scriptures....well the ones in my small town in North Carolina did.

We use to hide in the stairwell and call the neighbors to warn them of the walkers when I was growing up.

Usually if I tell them I am Agnostic they pretty much RUN in the other direction anyway. I also have a little sign that says "No Soliciting, Religious or Otherwise" that I hang outside if I start to get annoying peeps at my door.

I don't mind much..

can't stand it! I think Jehovah Witnesses are the only ones I encountered....they don't even ask do you already have a religion they just bust through the door reciting scriptures....well the ones in my small town in North Carolina did.

They do that here too.

I even told these two women who come about twice a week that my father was a pastor and I already attend church (semi-regularly but they didn't need to know that) and they STILL come around all the time.

I cannot stand for people to try to push their religion on me, at my own doorstep or anywhere. DH actually had to drag me away from arguing with this Baptist at the fair who was trying to "save" me, we sorta got into a religious argument and neither of us would back down. God help anyone who tries to save me, no pun intended :lmao

When I get a knock on the door it's normally Mormon missionaries. I tell them straight off that I'm Agnostic but I always offer a cold soda or some water.

Lets be careful about what we post regarding certain denominations..

We have a wonderous variety of religion on SOS...

We had a Jehovah's Witness try to convert us when we pulled up to our apartment THE DAY DH GOT BACK FROM IRAQ. He was in uniform carrying tons of duffels, very obvious and I keep telling her "Not today" very firmly. I thought it was incredibly obnoxious of her to intrude like that.

Lets be careful about what we post regarding certain denominations..

We have a wonderous variety of religion on SOS...

I'm sorry, I should've noted in my post about the Baptist that I am Lutheran and we don't believe in being "saved" and I don't like it when I tell that to people and they still try to save me. I didn't mean to offend any Baptists, I have Baptist friends and they are really cool :thumbsup

I can't stand people coming to my door. I used to get them almost everyday in VA. I don't care what religion you are... have fun with it... but leave me alone.

I'm sorry, I should've noted in my post about the Baptist that I am Lutheran and we don't believe in being "saved" and I don't like it when I tell that to people and they still try to save me. I didn't mean to offend any Baptists, I have Baptist friends and they are really cool :thumbsup


There's other people too.. My feelings aren't hurt or anything, but there are other people who's might be..

It aggrevates me to an extent. But I dont like solicetors in general. So thats my main thing. Plus I can't stand the shocked and look of pure shock and disgust when I tell someone I don't believe in a god persay

In my younger years, I used to invite them inside when they came knocking. They sat down, we got em a drink (Kris and I were REALLY newlyweds) and they proceeded to tell me how to reach the gates of heaven.

They asked their questions, and I answered them as truthfully as I could. Then I got to ask my questions.

Judging from their demeanor and conversation we overheard as they left, I think I would make a good religion salesman.

I tell them to go away, and not come back.

I just tell them that I am Lutheran, I have my church and shut the door in their face.

i don't have experience with other denominations coming to my door, but my view on mormon missionaries is that they're young kids, doing an unpaid service for their community and--most importantly--are away from their family and friends. my childhood mormon friends all found their missions to be particularly challenging times.

if i don't have time for a polite conversation i just don't answer the door.

Even if it was a religion I was interested in or if it was my own church coming to my door, I wouldn't answer the door-because I don't believe in selling religion, and I definetly don't believe in forcing(or persuading) my religion on others. My religion is my religion and my religion only. Their religion is their religion. Recruiting, to me, is very strange. I understand why they do it though, I would just rather not talk to them.

I dont like anyone coming to my door trying to sale me on something wether it be religion or anything else, I think its rude if I am shopping for something I will go looking for it you dont have to come to me. I always look out my peep hole or windows If I dont know the person I dont answer.

It doesn't really bother me. It's what they feel they need to do even though I don't agree with it. The only time that I'm ever bothered is even after I tell them I'm not interested that they still continue or say negative things.

It personally pisses me off...if I wanted anything to do with that religion, then I would go in search of it myself. However, I am not religious, so it bothers me even more when people try to solicite or push religion on me.

Even if it was a religion I was interested in or if it was my own church coming to my door, I wouldn't answer the door-because I don't believe in selling religion, and I definetly don't believe in forcing(or persuading) my religion on others. My religion is my religion and my religion only. Their religion is their religion. Recruiting, to me, is very strange. I understand why they do it though, I would just rather not talk to them.


I agree...I am very content with my faith and if someone had questions or came to my church looking for guidance then yes, that's one thing. But going door to door "selling" religion like people sell Kirby vaccums in the midwest is jsut weird to me....

I hate it honestly, I do not think that is how Christians especially are supposed to minister to people. Shoving something down someone's throat doesn't win over anyone.

We get very few of those visits out here because we live so far out in the middle of nowhere. There are two sets of dedicated missionaries/visitors that occasionally make the rounds of the roads out here, though. Our house sets far enough back from the main road that I can see them coming and I just don't answer the door :dunno

I love learning about other religions. When people of other faiths/denominations come by, I will stand there and talk to them as politely as any neighbor. (I don't invite strangers into my home, no matter who they are)

I ask a lot of questions, and will make comparisons with them between my faith and theirs a lot of the time. I usually learn something every time they stop by, and some of them even read to Tandis from the Watchtower.

I've even gotten a couple of children's books from them that are unrelated to religion (I'm very friendly with the Jehovah's Witnesses that stop by now and then, they're a sweet family.) for him since he loves when they read to him.

I do not care for people going door to door selling their religion. I am big girl and I can decide on my own about church.

I hate people who do that... it's turns me off the their religion more than it makes me want to convert to it. I live in a place where they cant do that so I am lucky. But when I was at Troublemakers house two guys came to the door doing just that. I just told them that no matter what they say I will never join their religion. Then of course they ask me questions about what I believe and crap. It's just so annoying but at the same time fun to just tell them.. nope nope nope nope not gonna change my mind nope nope. :lol

Many religions mandate that preach the words of God to EVERYONE. By not doing so, the followers who knew the word of God, knew the glory of salvation and did NOT inform others are just as guilty as the heathens. THIS is why people will knock on your door incessantly - it's a REQUIREMENT to reach the gates of heaven.

The thing that irks me is when we tell them that we are very strong believers and religion is a very important part of our lives and they still push us which makes me feel they are telling me that their denomination/religion is the ONLY one and mine is just bogus.

The thing that irks me is when we tell them that we are very strong believers and religion is a very important part of our lives and they still push us which makes me feel they are telling me that their denomination/religion is the ONLY one and mine is just bogus.

I think this is why I have trouble getting into church in new areas. I truly believe that no religion is actually "the true church". I do believe in God but I do not believe he has actually ever mandated we all go to one church. If that were true there would only be one church. JMO

The thing that irks me is when we tell them that we are very strong believers and religion is a very important part of our lives and they still push us which makes me feel they are telling me that their denomination/religion is the ONLY one and mine is just bogus.

Then your response should be this, verbatim:

"As an American, I respect your choice of religion. As a (insert your church here) believer, I'll pray for your soul, too."

I show them my Mezuzah on my door frame say that I am Jewish and very happy in my faith. If they come back again I am less polite about it though.

I understand that they want to spread their views and all, but when someone is CLEARLY not interested, jeeze! And somehow waiting until my one day off and knocking at 8am doesn't shed a good light on them in my eyes. Sleep is good, getting woken up to be asked if I believe in God like THEY believe in God just makes me mad. I'll go to church if I want to, and frankly, I DON'T, because organized religion is just not for me. I believe in God, but I don't force it down peoples throats, which is totally different!

I used to be Mormon, so I can tell you a few things about the Mormon missionaries. First thing, they are always young kids between the ages of 19 and 21. Second, even if you tell them you aren't interested, you can turn right around and ask them to help you mow your lawn or pull weeds and they will totally help. Third, you can always ask them to put your address on their do not tract list and most of them will do it so you won't be bothered again.

:shrug I don't mind them but they rarely come around here. In fact, I get more people trying to get me to sign up for magazines or to clean my carpet. I just tell them I'm not interested and they leave.

I used to be Mormon, so I can tell you a few things about the Mormon missionaries. First thing, they are always young kids between the ages of 19 and 21. Second, even if you tell them you aren't interested, you can turn right around and ask them to help you mow your lawn or pull weeds and they will totally help. Third, you can always ask them to put your address on their do not tract list and most of them will do it so you won't be bothered again.

I don't think of the Mormon missionaries as soliciting religion. They don't push their religion, they're always extremely polite, and they do a lot of good things in the local area regardless of what religion others are.

As for people who do solicit, they annoy the hell out of me! I normally tell them that I'm buddhist and then invite them to worship with me - that gets rid of them pretty fast...

I think it's rude. A person's religion is like a relationship, one with their god or whoever. You don't go barging in and challenging someone's personal relationship. It's also in bad taste for someone to come out of the blue and start telling YOU all about THEIR relationship if you haven't asked.

Umm, I don't like it. I don't answer the door, or if I'm stupid enough to not check first I cut them off and tell them I already have a religion. We used to live down the road for a Witness church when I was in high school, so we got them ALL the time. I knew a few of them from school, so finally they stopped coming to our door. :lol

I used to be Mormon, so I can tell you a few things about the Mormon missionaries. First thing, they are always young kids between the ages of 19 and 21. Second, even if you tell them you aren't interested, you can turn right around and ask them to help you mow your lawn or pull weeds and they will totally help. Third, you can always ask them to put your address on their do not tract list and most of them will do it so you won't be bothered again.

I don't think of the Mormon missionaries as soliciting religion. They don't push their religion, they're always extremely polite, and they do a lot of good things in the local area regardless of what religion others are.

As for people who do solicit, they annoy the hell out of me! I normally tell them that I'm buddhist and then invite them to worship with me - that gets rid of them pretty fast...

I wanted to agree with both of these. I am Mormon, and I have done some missionary work. I would NEVER force my religion on someone else, but if they want to learn about it, that's awesome.
And I hate freaking solicitors. Esp. ones who will not leave you alone...

I don't mind if I get just the paperwork in my door but I don't answer for others. I am glad I live on base and we don't get it!

Our church will for VBS put an announcement thing on the doors in the neighborhood to let them know it is going on. Kinda an invite, kinda a warning.

I would rather be an example of my faith to others then try to push it down their necks.

I find it funny.
My dad just says " i am a recovering catholic, no thanks" and they leave.

the other day i was walking back from across the street and a woman and her daughter (who was like 4) were in my yard, the girl came up to me, handed me the paper and said "i just am giving out invitations to church"

that didnt bother me at all, she was adorable and they didnt force anything on me. I found it to be quite nice

i hate it. if i wanted to join your religion i'd do it myself

I despise it. I don't go around selling or pushing my religion on to others, and would appreciate it if people would respect the sanctity of my home and not come and try to convert me.
Usually, if I happen to be unlucky enough to open the door, I immediately fetch DH and have him deal with them. He loves to debate religion, and usually after he gets a hold of them they don't dare come back.

I'm thinking of making a sign to hang on the door..."unless you're here to give me chocolate...go away".

They do that all the time here..I wouldn't really make a BIG deal about it, but they don't do it an okay time (like they did when I lived in VA, they came in the morning/afternoon) they come banging on the door after 8pm.. I told DH if they do that after the baby is born I am going to do some serious complaining.

I thought this was funny for this thread...I'm not Mormon or for this Minister..Just sharing this funny clip regarding to Soliciting Religion LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YPyvJacwUI

I wanted to agree with both of these. I am Mormon, and I have done some missionary work. I would NEVER force my religion on someone else, but if they want to learn about it, that's awesome.
And I hate freaking solicitors. Esp. ones who will not leave you alone...

I had a feeling you were Mormon!! You know how you can always tell who the Mormon people are? LOL. I had that feeling about you! (L) I am not Mormon anymore but if I ever did decide for some reason to go back to religion, I would be Mormon again in a heartbeat. I think that Mormon people are some of the best people in the world!

I don't think of the Mormon missionaries as soliciting religion. They don't push their religion, they're always extremely polite, and they do a lot of good things in the local area regardless of what religion others are.

As for people who do solicit, they annoy the hell out of me! I normally tell them that I'm buddhist and then invite them to worship with me - that gets rid of them pretty fast...

I don't consider Mormon missionaries solicitors either since they pretty much did away with the random door knocking and usually just follow leads, but I know some people do so I thought I would throw it out there. I totally agree with you. Even after I left the church, the missionaries that lived on my block would come around and hang out with me when I was sitting outside smoking and ask me if there was anything they could do for me. They came over and helped re-shingle my grandparents house. They have helped more people that I know move than I can even count. They used to show up at my house after my grandparents died and mow the lawn for us without anyone even asking them. We would just hear the mower and walk outside and see our lawn being mowed. LOL. And it was always different missionaries that did all of this stuff over the years. I think Mormon missionaries are great!

I am mormon and have to say that while I"m open to our missionaries coming, I don't like it when people just "appear" on my doorstep...

This thread make me think of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdKpzWk_kIc

These guys are hilarious and have some really great video's

They only ever come to my door once. I like to debate religion, unfortunately (or fortunately for me), most of those "door knockers" do not want to debate, they only want to convert.

We have a Mormon church in town and I've never had a Mormon solicitor. Just random religions (fairly new ones-not large, well known sects) or Jehovah Witnesses (who have always been very nice).

when we lived in housing two KIDS came around with pamphlets asking me if i knew jesus christ was my savior and stuff and would not leave...i told them i was jewish. i am soooo going to hell for that one.

I don't particularly mind it- and the only two bad experiences I have ever had were with a Baptist explaining to me how terrible my Catholic faith is and how awful the Church is, etc, and one extremely fanatical Jehovah's Witness who made it her personal mission to corner me all over my apartment complex, even after I politely told her I was happy in my faith and did not want to convert. That being said, I have been to a wonderful Baptist church with a friend of mine and have had some great Jehovah's Witnesses speak with me. And I always enjoyed speaking with the Mormons who would come to my door. Even if we didn't share the exact same faith, we could always talk about how we see God's work in our lives and in our community, and I used to sit and have coffee with them. It was great! That being said, some missionaries go too far, and that makes me really sad because they give the nice ones a bad name.

I definitely don't have a problem with the Mormon Missionaries. They are always polite, and they never push.

The ones I can't stand are the ones (not Mormons) who try to shove their religion in your face and tell you that you're going to hell if you don't convert to their religion...or the ones who force the little kids to start in on you as soon as you open the door (thinking you won't slam the door in the face of a little kid).

When we first moved to VA in 2000, they wouldn't leave us alone even being told that we are Agnostic/Atheist. Finally, on our trip to England in 2001 we found a nice little sign at one of the Air Museums outside of London. It's worked for the last 6 years, now only if that stupid Avon lady would learn to read!

For your viewing pleasure:

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