How do you handle unwanted evangelists who knock at your door?

[ranchhand]

I can be plenty fiesty, when called for. But when someone comes here, doing what they feel is their calling, I answer the door and listen long enough to determine why they are there. Then I say I'm not interested and best wishes on your personal quest. I do usually have 2 big dogs behind me- and they wag non-stop.

But they LOOK scary.....

Our place is so hard to get into that EMS and Fire need directions- so I'm not going to be rude to someone who worked so hard to find the door. I do nicely remind some that they need to be careful about going on to private property that is posted, as ours is. Most of the younger ones don't realize or haven't been taught that.

 

[welsummerchicks]

Do you handle it any different if they are permanent residents in your neighborhood, you're new (in an area where everyone else has lived there for at least 30-40 years), and they dropped off food when you were too sick to cook for yourself?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I just ask them why they think the no trespassing sign doesn't apply to them, then tell them to read it again on their way out.

Steve

 

[Saltysteele]

some really nice people here.

i've never gone door to door.

if someone was drowning, would you throw them a life preserver, or just let them drown? if they were about shoot themselves in the head and you could stop them, would you let them proceed, or stop them?

i can't make you believe, i can only throw the seed out there, God takes care of the rest. not everyone will be saved, i know that, and some people's hearts are hardened past the point of return.

i like how people that preach tolerance, make fun of those with religion; it's ironic. this world is but a blink of the eye, compared to eternity. if you don't accept God, you will remember each person who tried to help you every day for all of eternity as you suffer.

am i wrong? we'll see. if i am, i just don't wake up when i die, and i've lived a good and decent life, not lacking in pleasure or happiness.

what if you're wrong?

there will be no second chances. I don't argue with anyone, there is no sense in it. just by writing this, i am throwing the seed out there. you may read it, dislike it and write some well-thought-out reply, but don't do it on my account, because i won't read it. i don't often revisit threads like this, as i've said, i've done all i can. it's unlikely i will have much, if any affect, but that's on your head, not mine.

if you don't believe, i truly hope you do enjoy yourself here on earth. any suffering here will be like a drop of water on a burning sore.

 

[KenK]

Quote:
Assuming that you took their food and that they are your neighbors; I think good manners dictate that you listen to them as long as they want to talk. Even then I would balk at odd rituals or going to church with them. Tell them you believe in whatever you believe in and don't have any plans on changing.

 

[sourland]

If I have time, I debate them. If I don't have time, I tell them so and ask them to please leave. Back in the mid 60's when we first moved here, we had a very large long haired GSD. He would allow people to approach the front door and was very polite with women and children. Men or boys he would hold by their pants leg as they knocked on the door. He was a fearsome looking creature and one encounter with Rondy was generally enough to cure their religious fervor. I think I've been put on a "do not save" list because they no longer stop by.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
well since you're going to post then run so as not to deal with the opinions or responses of other people, here we go.

your religion is not the only one that believes you will suffer in the afterlife for not believing what so and so believes, so if you're wrong your're still in trouble any way.

also you say that people preach tolerance but then scold other beliefs. it isn't the case, what they have problems with is when people are pushy and rude by trying to change one's own beliefs.


I will not go into why I am not christian, since it would cause an argument, much like your above post may very well do.

So what seed are you throwing? Scolding people, causing anger and hurt feelings then running? that's awful nice of you.

 

[un-named]

Off-topic, but a related joke:

A woman answered her door to find two young, well dressed men standing with pamphlets, asking if she would like to hear The Word.
"No!" she muttered, and slammed the door.
to her surprise, it pushed back open. She glared at the men again and angrily slammed it shut. Again it bounced back open.
Now she was really angry, thinking how rude of the men to actually put a foot in her door and drew in a deep breath to yell at them.
Before she could let loose on them, one man said, "Maam, before you do that again, please take the cat out of the door."

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Quote:
Omg hahaha. Yikes!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Best approach I have found is to start telling them about my church and invite them to attend. That usually sends them off promptly, but politely.

Now if I could just find a way to discourage the folks who come by selling magzine subscriptions "to employ kids who are at risk for gang or drug involvement" yeah--make them into scam artists! grrrr.