the one and only time I had them come to my door, I was on the treadmill in the bedroom, and I could clearly see them, and they could clearly see me too, I just kept walking on the treadmill, looking at them, they finally left, pretty boring story, but I have a friend who happened to be moving some heavy furniture into his apartment, he asked them to help him carry everything up the stairs and they did, he said they were real nice guys!

Incredibly politely and graciously and swiftly. "Thank you, I'm not a believer but have a wonderful day!"

I think they gave up coming here ! But I used to be always polite and smiling, and told them I was glad they have found a belief system that works for them - however that it is very different than mine. End of discussion.

Depends on who it is. I actually like the mormons, I've had some some really interesting intelligent conversations with them, and always invite them in for coffee. The jehovahs witnesses on the other hand, irk me beyond patience. Those are the ones I deliberately frighten or offend in the most creative and amusing way I can think of at the moment. An ex brother in law had one that came to his door every morning at breakfast time, one day he just answered the door nude, and she never came back.

I have a small notice on my front door that reads "No soliciting". The JW's get it after the second complaint, as they communicate w/ their others. The only other bracket happened to be the Bernie Sanders folk - those people shared they felt entitled to knock because of who they represented. "We're not soliciting - we are sharing wonderful news !" I shared they should tell Jesus, and to please leave and do not return. (I wanted Bernie to be on the ballot, BTW).

witnesses, tell them no , I am atheist and eat babies but only with catsup.

Door knockers soon disappear. I spend most of my day when at home without clothes so when I answer the door in a hastily fastened dressing gown..... they just meekly accept my general unwelcoming stance.

I don’t have many as I live far out in the country, but the last time I had some Christian ladies stop by and invite me to their church, I was very polite. I told them thanks for the invite, but I’m an atheist. They looked at me like I had just said I eat babies, so I shut the door in their horrified faces and that was that.

I once made a Jehovah witness cry. It wasn't intentional, I wasn't even being mean. I was rational and never lost my temper. I think he simply believed that his arguments would be so compelling that I would change. I'd also like to believe that he found my arguments more compelling than he liked, but who knows.

If you are educated at all in apologetics arguing with a door-to-door missionary isn't difficult at all. It's actually depressingly simple. Hell, the Mormons send their kids out.

I welcome them in and talk with them as long as they can stomach it. I used to be a Mormon missionary, and so i have a bit of a soft heart for them. I try not to bash them, but I do make a point of leaving them with one or two new nuggets of information to think about. I try to also talk about other shared interests that are not rooted in foundational claims of their religion. If you find the right balance, they will come back (which might be cool, if you are interested in sharing with them a few more things). I am not into totally bashing another's religion, and trying to convince the fallacies of their faith in one visit. I take that back. I am more inclined to do so when confronted with dogmatic extremism... particularly with evangelical Christians.

My son will be serving a mission soon. Despite my disbelief, i would hope that folks would be gentle while informative and friendly to him.

Avoidance.

I tell them no soliciting. Then, I usually have to explain that they are trying to sell me a fairy tale. If they are still talking, then I'll tell them to have a nice day while I close the door.

I'm polite. I say that my household has exactly the right number of gods required and wish them a good day.

I'm always extremely polite. I live in a small town and being rude to one's fellow citizens isn't something that goes over well here nor does it go along with what I think is proper.

On one of the hottest days of the year I stepped out of my house and there were two well dressed,middle aged, black women on my doorstep. They were Jehovah's witnesses.

I invited them to come in out of the heat and they said they weren't allowed to go into anyone's house. I offered them ice water and they politely declined.

I told them that I've studied a bit of theology and my views are complicated. They respected that and didn't bother trying to get me to buy into their ideas.

They told me that people in my neighborhood are very nice. My neighbor across the street had also invited them in and offered refreshment. I live in a redneck rural area and they were prepared to be treated badly because of their color. They were very happy be on our road which is populated by nice people.

I shut them down by saying I don't believe in any gods,therefore there is nothing for us to discuss. Bye.

I tell them "no thank you, I'm a practicing Witch and a feminist. Blessed be." And nicely shut the door.

First and for most the respect for another human being. then i tell them that if there was any god, they wouldn't be at my door to tell me about it. That i do respect their right to belief, but i do not respect their ideas...

I try to be polite, but firm. I tell them I am not a believer, and I'm not interested in discussing it. I actually had a woman ask, "Do you mind telling me what happened to you to make you not believe in God?" Believers truly are convinced that non-believers are somehow damaged.

Politely, but firmly.

I talk through the door and tell them to get off my property ASAP. or I'll call the police, and don't come back.

I like to invite them in, as they generally are nice people. I promise to read all the pamphlets and books they want to give me, if they promise to read the books I give them and we have equal time for discussion. I am just as nice to them, but don't even invite me to bible study and they never come back.

It's been a while since I had a door knocker. Probably 10 yrs +. I used to enjoy inviting them in. Give them a cup of tea , and discuss God. I'm still not a believer but I suspect some of them are having a few doubts as well.

If I have time, I sometime will invite them (it seems always more than one) in for coffee and tea and have a little discussion. If I feel like being mischievious, invite them for a gay orgy next weekend, that usually will ensure their quick exit. Hahaha!

I ask door knockers "what exactly do the churches do with the cash donations they receive? because people are still homeless and children are still starving"

When they ask if I can spare a minute to talk about their Lord and savior Jesus Christ, I invite them in and say, "Sure, I'm happy to help. What is it you'd like to know?"