I politely tell them I'm not interested. The new missionaries in the area usually only come once.

I wonder if they turn away the Baptist when they knock on their door? We have a local Baptist Church that places flyers and propaganda throughout the community. The pastor sometimes goes door to door. Meh. He probably knows not to knock...

I just send my husband to deal with this trash. He is not a really polite man.

I handle them gently, taking my thumb and fore finger and...Oh! Door knockers!...Never mind.

This seems to work well....[agnostic.com]

Many years ago, when I was married, a young (16-17) JW showed up at our door and wanted talk about marriage. We let him in and listened his adolescent musings for a few minutes, then politely showed him out. It was then I saw the 2 adults waiting on the sidewalk. Why hadn’t they come the door with him, I wondered? Then I realized this was not an attempt at proselytizing at all. It was deliberate alienation: they knew that everyone would reject this poor boy all day long, trying talk adults about marriage, and they were there console him and be his only friends. It’s part of creating a cult mentality: the world rejects you, but we’re here for you. The young man was sincere; the adults were predators.

You're WAY nicer than I am. I just tell them I'm too old for invisible friends.

You're WAY nicer than I am. I just tell them I'm too old for invisible friends.

NMost people just say "I have my no own religion and im fine with it. No thanks"

I feel insulted. As if .

Well Done! He is more likely to give some thought to your talking points, combining with his most certain doubts (Evryone has them, admit them or not), due to the fact that you were civil.

@Nicsnort My advice is to remove the door knocker! Look, there is no point in engaging them in conversation, as you are not going to be convinced. In my experience it is best not to engage in conversation with a door-stepper, rather say that you are busy at the moment and say goodbye.
There is no need to waste your time listening to them and they will be quite happy to move onto the next door; it's what they expect will happen.

It all depends on how I’m feeling at the time. Usually a polite “no thanks, be happy”, occasionally an invitation talk and pose them the question about why they need answers everything..... and once, just once I shouted back into an empty house “Have we got the sacrificial goat ready?”

EASY! I tell them I get equal time,,,,five minutes. When I am done they shake my hand and leave!!!

I tell them they are just in time for the orgy but they missed the human sacrifice though we are having another next week if they would like to volunteer just leave their contact info at satan.com

Hey. I open the door if they have BIG knockers. What can I say? It's the dawg in me baby.

Tell them before they come knocking to fuck off im an Atheist

I generally say I respect your beliefs, now respect mine and then I politely ask them to leave.

Tell them not interested and don't come back again without a warrant

Put a sign on the door "Cold callers will be composted

Come on in! We were about to sacrifice a chicken to the dark lord Satan!

I moved to the woods thinking the knockers wouldn't follow. Alas, two showed up.
I rolled my eyes and went back inside.
Haven't seen them since.

Honesty is just the beginning to understand and respect others differences. You handled that perfectly well. There is no reason the afraid or upset by anyone coming to spread the word they believe is putting them in a peaceful state. I actually find it very interesting to see others point of view. I had had a variety of people come to my door with their word and even witnesses and Mormons have their OWN point of view of their religion. Everyone should give everyone the opportunity to explain their peace, it's very mind opening.

I have have answered the door to various religious types sharpening one of my swords they usually get the point without me giving it to them.

I don't answer the door