I used to just tell them "Thanks, but we're Catholic" as I closed the door. Now I have a big "No Soliciting" sign that I will just point to if one should darken my doorway again. I'd rather not get into an argument with someone who knows where I live! Some Christians here in the bible belt can be fairly hostile towards atheists.

Usually Jehovah's; I tell them I know all about their faith and I'm not interested, thank you.

I look them straight in the eye, tell them I'm a committed atheist and a proponent of secularism, atheism, and the dying out of religion on this planet, that I admire the New Atheists greatly, and that I am the very definition of them wasting their time, and I do it in one breath. Been practicing. These days that say in reply things like: "Do you know anyone nearby we could help?" I reply, "Why, so you can spread your religious virus to them? You must be joking." By then they've had enough and leave. All I need is a black cat to hiss at them as they turn to leave and it would be perfect. Point here: tell them straight and let them know we are non-believers in the 21st Century and we are different.

My dog can reach the gate in 2.4 seconds. Can you?

i grin like a monkey but won't say anything, few min.later they start murmuring,
then they flee

No Trespassing signs...

Iit really depends on my moid. There are times i joke atound telling them i worship satan but thanks anyway or i say " ah you're just in time for the sacrificing, come on in". Most of the time i invite them in though, listen to them for a moment and then question them on the belief system and usually by the end of it i have them either converted to my way of thinking or at the least questioning their own belief

"oh good.. you're here for the movie we're making. Get your clothes off, which of you is taking it up the a$$?"

I usually try and convert them to my religion....I haven't got one but the one I make up on the spot has as much validity as theirs has.????

I'm very polite. I tell them I'm Jewish (I'm not). For most, that's all that's necessary. Unless they are completely out of touch, they know that Jews do not welcome proselytizing. For the other, stupider people, I tell them that I am content with my beliefs and do not welcome attempts to convert me. And if that doesn't work, I call my 90 lb German Shepherd dog to the screen door through which we are speaking. He stares at them; they skedaddle.

But I haven't had anyone in a very long time comin' round.

I often get Mormons, and the ones around here try to get on your good side through their willingness to help. They usually offer to mow my lawn or rake my leaves, and I let them. I have a big yard. It takes quite a long time. By the time they finish, they usually have to call it a day and go home, and they apologize for not being able to stay and talk. No apology necessary guys!

I live in an industrial park; hence no doorknockers. When I lived in a residential area and got mormons I told them to convert my loud alcoholic neighbors.

Offer drink if they're thirsty, then say I'm atheist and not in anyway interested in their myths and legends. Smile and with them a nice day. Peace.

Welcome them in, give them a cup of tea and sit them on my sofa. And talk to them.

For some strange reason they are always trying to leave.

I smile very graciously and say no thanks, I'm Atheist. I then
watch them practically jump off the porch!

Instead of making statements just ask questions the whole time. Every theists logic is flawed and if you do nothing but ask questions they will eventually come to one they can't answer without appeals to the supernatural/magic, but it could take a while. Or just close the door in their face if you don't want to listen to them. It might feel rude but you didn't ask for them to come preach to you. Plus they tell children they deserve to be tortured forever if they don't believe in their space wizard, so they deserve it on some level even if they are unaware of the harm they cause. You should feel no obligation to give them your time.

If they are out walking in the heat in those "modest" and too formal for the weather clothes, I offer them a drink of water and a moment's respite from the heat. I'm very firm about having zero interest in what they are selling, but if they respect that I'm okay with a little polite chit chat while they cool off for a minute. I may or may not volunteer that I'm an atheist. Their religion is none of my business and visa versa is where I normally leave it. I'm seriously not interested in a debate. If they are driving door to door I feel less concern for their comfort and do not invite them in. But I make it clear there's no point in trying to preach to me. I say something like, no, I'm good. Only if they become aggressive do I drop the bombshell that I don't believe in God's and that they are truly wasting their time.

I installed an electric gate down by the road - but my friend just puts out his hand as if waiting
for money and it seem to work as long as he stays silent - these people are trained Nazi for money -whoops I mean god ,

Nice! You handled that with far more diplomacy than I do. I usually bring up something in the bible that contradicts their verses they are quoting because as we all know, they love to quote that bible as a tool to sway you to their side and as we also all well know, that bible is full of contradictions that can be used against them. Works rather well too because most CHristians do not really know the book that is the bastion of their faith.

Here in the bigot belt it is JWs and Mormons. i rather enjoy engaging with them if they agree to my conditions, which are generous considering they are invading my space with offensive proselytizing -- to wit, I'll go first for 5-10 minutes and then you can ask me questions if you wish, but your question time comes out of your matching time to preach to me. Having considered all they can offer decades ago, it is kind of sad to see their feeble attempts to convert me. i once told a pair of wet behind the ears mormons that heaven sounded interminably boring, but hell, on the other hand, while not the best climate, at least would have some cool folks to hang with. The JWs -- we could at least agree their was no hell. Not in the biblical sense anyway -- but hell exists. I walked through its gates when i visited Auschwitz.

I don't open the door. When I ask who is it, and they respond with some religious affiliation, I just say I'm not accepting visitors today but thank you anyway.

IGNORE THEM! If they leave something to read, i WILL look at it, though, i am open-minded.

I simply say that I am an Atheist and look them directly in the eyes for as long as it takes. Then I say, "but, thank you anyway".

I have also regularly met Christians who think the only difference between us Jews and them is that we're still waiting for the Messiah. I tell them Messianism is only one thread of Jewish thought and hope, and that the tumultuous historical nexus of the Roman Empire at its height was a main driver of wishes for a righteous, political savior. Overlooking that overall context led to a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Jesus's nature and role. Desperate persecution of Jews after their decimation in Judea and in their Diaspora, caused the pre-existing Messianic thread to blossom into hopes for a Jewish Savior of the Jews--largely to save them from their here-and-now oppressions, not to show the right way to an afterlife.

I tell them I'm a non-religious Jew who doesn't think Western scriptures have any privileged vantage on Ultimate Truth, so good luck with that. Except I say it more nicely.