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How do you deal with Door-knockers?

Whether they be Witnesses, Mormons, or another proselytizing religion, how do you deal with people coming to your door to spread their religion?
I just had my first experience since getting a place of my own and had a decent conversation through the crack in my door. After I told him I was an atheist he tried to use apologetics; when I told him I was familiar with his arguments and didn't find them convincing further explaining that I take a scientific route of belief and chose not to believe until there is evidence for a god. He understood and thanked me for explaining and listening to him and he left with a handshake. I was surprised at myself for how civil I was to him but how does everyone else usually respond?

Nicsnort 6 Oct 14
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779 comments (526 - 550)

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1

We have a glass door, so I can see if its an adult or a child/adult. If its the latter, I open the door and politely but firmly say no. I don't care to hear your spiel. If its an adult, then I'm more.. brusk.. open the door and if I see a bible/religious item, its a very firm NO and the door closes. if its salesperson (cable tv), you've got .005 seconds before the NO comes out. I look at uniform/logos, etc.

5

I tell door-knockers that my husband doesn't allow me to talk to people at the door. I am not married and I am the master of my domain, but this always gets the religious solicitors to leave quietly, since they approve of women's subjugation to men.

2

Tell them I am an atheist and tell them about websites they should follow such as the Atheist experience, Science Today, etc.

1

Depending on how I'm feeling and how early it is.

  1. Look through the peep whole and don't answer.
  2. Answer with sword behind back.
  3. Always wanted to answer naked just to see their reaction.
  4. If I answer and they go off about going to hell I tell them go sell hate banter someplace else.
Tess Level 3 Dec 14, 2017
2

Bloody butchers apron......lol

1

I have a video doorbell, was able to communicate from work and the most recent was a pair from the witness watchtower nonsense. I enthusiastically told them through the doorbell that atheists live here and wished them luck in their recruiting.

1

I answer the door In a towel, and I tell them I'm in a hurry, and if they want to talk, they'll have to come in and take a bath with me.

17

Apparently I'm not as nice as you. I tell them that I worship god by having sex. Then I ask them to come into the bedroom to pray. They usually reach their car before their own shadow.

I wish I had thought of this reply! Mind if I use it? Lol

haha

Hahaha good one!

1

Generally I'm pretty kind. I politely decline their offer. Once in a great while, if I'm bored, I let them in and either a) act like I'm totally in to what they are offering "I'm a convert! Hallelujah!" or b) totally debunk their ridiculous arguments (I'm a seminary grad and know the bible pretty well). But I have to be in the mood, and usually they are not impressed. I'm sure they get it all and are only doing it, not because they believe it themselves, but because it's "what you do" if you are a _____ (fill in the blank).

1

I tell them what I believe is none of their business.

1

I tell them, I do not believe, they ask, "what do you believe in, I reply, "privacy', as I slam the door

1

Kindly, but I tell them to not waste either of our time... true I usually have to repeat more firmly ????

2

Answer the door with a smile and tell them I am an athesist and to have a great gosh darn day... Also I tell them that if they are looking for jesus I hear you can find him in prison.

1

I'd say, Hello, I am a long-time bible student and I have studied seriously and discovered that Jesus isn't real.

1

I usually chase them out of my neighborhood. I don't want those assholes anywhere near my kids.

1

I invite them in and ask questions until they stop having answers.

1

I meet them at the door with Roger Penrose's excellent book on M theory and the multiverse titled " The road to Reality" and challenge them to a comparison of their book to mine.....They usually take one look at the math involved in understanding M theory and leave without further comment! If that doesn't work I ask them to explain cancer in the light of an all loving god and introduce them to my wife, a 8 year survivor of Pancreatic cancer who was cured not by prayer but by cutting edge science! I then show them the paper we wrote on her treatment that was published in 2016 and ask them to explain why if god was so protective of his followers, my atheist wife survived while several others we knew who were devout and prayed for survival right to the end simply died! The knockers cannot effectively do their task.....people who don't believe because they have thought it out, cannot be swayed by their superficial intellect so they are wasting their time and ours in the pursuit of making themselves feel holy. I think they are the ones that begin conversion with their visit but I don't seek them out they subject themselves to my assault on their superstition and I try to be fully effective! I wonder how many of them actually think about the disquieting things they found at my door?

great story about your wife's survival. awful disease

Yep but she is tough and beat it!

1

I have always really enjoyed sharing my experience strength and hope with the Mormons. I live in Idaho so there are plenty of opportunities to do that. I never let them in I will always meet with them outside my front door.
Since my beliefs are very personal to me it is easy for me to share them with others. I don't try to change Minds. And I never ever ever get into philosophical discussions about their religion and the differences we have. I just share my experience strength and hope. Not having an agenda and having pure motives really help as well. As far as the Jehovah's Witnesses that show up they don't really have a desire to talk to me they just want to share the good news. They're going to heaven and I'm going to hell...

emjai Level 3 Dec 10, 2017
1

I give them about 10 seconds to make sure it is not the Post....then I just shut the door in their face and give them no reaction in a bad or good way. I have been known to say that I just feel sorry for them and once or twice I have asked them if they believe in the Bible and if they say yes I challenge them in a bible quoting contest from memory and I have yet to lose.
Peace to everyone here.

1

I tell them I am not interested, thank them for coming by & door.

1

If I'm in a contrary mood, I answer the door naked. They never return. Problem solved. I have enough interruptions without useless conversations.

1

I have a note on my door strongly discouraging salesman, and bible thumpers. This is my home, and I find it incredibly rude for either of those pests to come knocking on my door. If they read the sign and proceed to knock, then they get cursed out in full force. I do not feel like I have to feel guilty for my behavior as they are the ones being rude and presumptuous.

3

If possible, I invite them in and offer something to drink. I always invite them to speak and I listen. I appreciate their passion and we always have a good discussion. I don't hold with either Jehovah's Witnesses or Latter Church of Saints... but I always have questions. I'm not the be all and end all.

Great attitude... I am an atheist and not interested in changing people's minds but it's really awesome talking to others about their beliefs... our discussions usually last at the most 10 minutes... knowing what the Mormon religion philosophy and beliefs are and how incredibly psychedelic it is... I always find them friendly... I mean come on when they die they get their own planet and get to have Celestial sex how much better does it get then that.

@emjai lol

1

My wife was of the same opinion as myself, however having been raised a Catholic she was closeted. When she died she still was in agreement for the most part, although hopeful more was waiting. When the door knockers showed up she would tell me to sick em. I invited them in and served them refreshments and let them rave for a few minutes. After about 15 minutes of listening I would begin challenging there "FACTS" within another 5 minutes they fled usually reassuring each other .. they always bring backup ... After 3 visits ... 1 mormon, 1 Witness and one Christian Evangelic they would return to the sanctuary and advise everyone the Devil lived at my address and nobody bother to knock at my door again!

2

I have a sign on my door that says, unless you have a hot pizza go away.

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