What do you do when religious missionaries come to your door

[Nazgul Girl]

   We saw two 18 y.o. Mormon missionaries resting for a minute by the side of the road with their bikes while we were driving.   DH had no idea who or what they were, but I told him that you can always recognize them because they're young, always male ( around here anyway ), ride bikes (black), look earnest, and wear identical black bike helmets, white short-sleeved dress shirts, black dress pants, and have mailbags or express bags, probably filled with literature.  

   When they were in my neighborhood and I saw them coming, I was outside.   I just went inside and put down the garage door.   We also have missionaries from some local churches of at least 3 denominations.   They travel in pairs as well, but are older, or one older and one younger, drive, and are armed with thick Bibles, etc.   They usually show up after church on Saturdays ( Seventh Day Adventists or Jehovah's Witnesses ), or Sundays ( average Protestant denominations ), dressed up in their Sunday best.  I won't answer the door.

  My ex ( remember he is my ex ) used to invite them in, flinging open the door with an exclamation that " the Black Mass is just starting ! "   They always refused to come in, and would just get in their cars and driving away.

   I secretly want to mess with them, especially the 18 y.o.'s,  but it would be somewhat contrary to the tenets of my religion, so I leave them alone.  

  This post has nothing to do with one's religion, just house-to-house missionary types.  

  What do you all do when they come by ?

[msventoux]

I don't answer the door. But then again, unless I'm expecting someone, I never answer my door. Sometimes I'll look to see if it's someone I know. My friends know to call or text before stopping by if they want to make sure I'm home and will answer the door if they show up.

[Shooby]

I do one of two things. Sometimes I just don't answer the door. They will eventually leave so no biggie. The other is just open the door and say Thanks but no thanks. They are always very polite and are young so I don't feel I need to be rude to them. I appreciate that at least nowadays there are some young folks seeking to do godly things even if I don't agree with their particular brand.

[Nazgul Girl]

   One (unusual) lady has been sending occasional letters to our address to my deceased ex-sister-in-law who was an atheist, or at best ( as she herself said many times ) a StarTrekkian.   The letters regarding "an important meeting about world government " and are from a Jehovah's Witness church address.   I have no idea how those got started, or where she got the address.   It's weird.   At first, we sent them back, but she keeps writing, so we just pitch them now.

[haapai]

I talk to them.  It makes me feel good that I'm helping them fulfill their mandate to evangelize.  I also run interference between them and the ferocious atheist. 

When I was growing up, one of the smartest girls in the class was a witness and she absolutely hated being dragged around witnessing.  I figure that wasting their time is better than sending them on their way for more rejection. 

But sooner or later, the atheist answers the door while I am asleep or I burp beer fumes at them at 10 AM.  Then they stop coming. 

[JustLurkin]

Jul 20, 2014 7:33:09 GMT -5 msventoux said:

I don't answer the door. But then again, unless I'm expecting someone, I never answer my door. Sometimes I'll look to see if it's someone I know. My friends know to call or text before stopping by if they want to make sure I'm home and will answer the door if they show up.

[busymom]

Even though I no longer live in the city, I still act like a "city girl". Which means, I don't answer the door, unless I'm expecting someone, or waiting for a package to arrive.

[violagirl]

As one of those religious missionary types, I'd say remember we are people too. Be friendly. I know this concept is difficult for some. 

At the very least a polite but firm I'm not interested is generally enough for us to say ok have a good one and go on our way.

Or you could engage in conversation. I happen to enjoy talking to atheists and if you only knew the things we have seen and heard you can't really shock us. I know we come across as mild mannered innocents but many of us have not always been religious.

so when someone comes to my door I generally invite them in. Come to think of it I even have conversations with people who call the wrong phone number. I an curious about people and how they think.

[zibazinski]

This only happened when we lived in Clearwater. Whoever saw them first alerted everyone else and all the garage doors went down and the doors didnt get answered. Eventually, they left.

[Sharon]

I just politely tell them I have my own church that I attend and to have a good day and then I shut the door.

[resolution]

We don't have a doorbell and I can't hear people knock when I am upstairs, so if any of them show up I generally miss them. People that I am expecting will just walk in and yell up the stairs to me.

I doubt our road is populated enough to attract many missionaries anyway.

I get flyers in my mailbox once a month from the local Mennonite church, which go right into the trash. The first flyer they sent to me was all about how a woman needs to submit to her husband and obey all of his decisions. I am not sure who they thought would be picking up the mail, but it sure wasn't my husband.

[wvugurl26]

I came home Wednesday night to find a world government pamphlet stuck in the door. Apparently the Jehovah's Witnesses are having some big three day meeting at FedEx Field. Wonder how much it costs to rent a professional football stadium for three days.

This summer a middle aged couple in dress clothes showed up at my grandma's house. I had to tell them three times I was not interested in a Bible message. I was still in my pajamas so go away! Should have known not to answer the door. Most people we'd want to see have a key. 

[raeoflyte]

Jul 20, 2014 8:24:19 GMT -5 violagirl said:

As one of those religious missionary types, I'd say remember we are people too. Be friendly. I know this concept is difficult for some. 

At the very least a polite but firm I'm not interested is generally enough for us to say ok have a good one and go on our way.

Or you could engage in conversation. I happen to enjoy talking to atheists and if you only knew the things we have seen and heard you can't really shock us. I know we come across as mild mannered innocents but many of us have not always been religious.

so when someone comes to my door I generally invite them in. Come to think of it I even have conversations with people who call the wrong phone number. I an curious about people and how they think.

I agree with this, its just when the firm no thank you doesn't detract them that things get difficult. I feel bad closing the door when people are still talking but there have been times I had to.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards

[Nazgul Girl]

Jul 20, 2014 8:24:19 GMT -5 violagirl said:

As one of those religious missionary types, I'd say remember we are people too. Be friendly. I know this concept is difficult for some. 

At the very least a polite but firm I'm not interested is generally enough for us to say ok have a good one and go on our way.

Or you could engage in conversation. I happen to enjoy talking to atheists and if you only knew the things we have seen and heard you can't really shock us. I know we come across as mild mannered innocents but many of us have not always been religious.

so when someone comes to my door I generally invite them in. Come to think of it I even have conversations with people who call the wrong phone number. I an curious about people and how they think.

    If I open up the door, I just say no thanks and have a good.   Personally, I'm not rude to them, but I don't want to debate religion, either.   I don't ever make the door missionaries feel bad if I have contact with them.  

[Nazgul Girl]

Jul 20, 2014 9:08:40 GMT -5 resolution said:

We don't have a doorbell and I can't hear people knock when I am upstairs, so if any of them show up I generally miss them. People that I am expecting will just walk in and yell up the stairs to me.

I doubt our road is populated enough to attract many missionaries anyway.

I get flyers in my mailbox once a month from the local Mennonite church, which go right into the trash. The first flyer they sent to me was all about how a woman needs to submit to her husband and obey all of his decisions. I am not sure who they thought would be picking up the mail, but it sure wasn't my husband.

   Wow, that's one amazing pamphlet !   

[greenstone]

I just had the Saturday after-church pairs come by yesterday. If I'm inside, I won't answer the door. If I'm outside doing yard work, I will sometimes go in the backyard behind the privacy fence or other times I will just keep working. Usually they say hello but keep going, I've only had one lady approach me while I was working in the front yard to try and hand me pamphlets. I told her none too politely to "Go away". I can guarantee if I'm filthy and dripping sweat in the 90 degree sun while clearly engaged in some task I will be a touch rude when interrupted to have someone else's agenda pushed on me.
I know it sounds anti-social but I don't want any uninvited and unannounced stranger approaching me at home. I think it is highly rude of them to just appear and expect you to interact with them on their schedule while interrupting yours. I don't mind flyers in the mailbox because I can choose whether or not to respond at my convenience. I see my home as my sanctuary from the world and any stranger trying to sell me a product or political or religious idea is an unwelcome invasion of my privacy.
I think it's great if some people want to invite them in and chat for awhile, I just don't want them at my house.

[Deleted]

Jul 20, 2014 8:20:32 GMT -5 busymom said:

Even though I no longer live in the city, I still act like a "city girl". Which means, I don't answer the door, unless I'm expecting someone, or waiting for a package to arrive.

Living my life here in the country, there was a time when I'd answer our door, without looking, to anyone. Not any longer. With more caution and a gun nearby is the only way I will now answer it.

[Deleted]

the benefits of an HOA and a PUD - no soliciting so never have this problem.  once in a while some group will slip through but they don't last long as calls are made to the community office or the security company.

[sesfw]

 One time ..... and one time only did we invite a couple of JWs into our apt.  Just after we were married in 1961 and we were trying to be polite.  Being good Baptists I couldn't believe the drivel they were spreading around.

Now I say 'no thank you' and close the door.

When DD was 15-16 she got home from school before we got home from work.  One day she told me about a lady that was talking to all the teens in the neighborhood about religion and giving out books ..... not pamphlets.  DD was very uncomfortable.  I read the book and immediately tossed it in the fireplace.  I was home next time the lady called and told her we were not interested.  She wanted the book back and I told her it was in the fireplace.  She was not a happy camper.  I'm sure she wanted a contribution for the book and when she didn't get it, she had to pay.

Never did see her in the neighborhood again.

[Deleted]

Being newly married, young, very impressionable and having had no experience with religious solicitors, I once found myself engaging in a conversation with one.
She scared the crap out of me, insisting and convincing me that the world was coming to an end. I hid under the bed for weeks after that. 
Apparently, she spread the word through her group that I had taken the bait and they just kept coming, every week, one after the other. It wasn't until I forced myself to start getting rude did they stop coming. 

[Tennesseer]

I begin taking off my clothes once I know their intent.

[daisy]

We live out in the boonies and I keep trying to convince DH that we need a gate but he refuses.  Sigh.  I never answer the door anyway.  

Sometimes on Sunday we get a car with elderly Christians dropping by and DH nicely tells them we are not interested.  

This topic brings to mind a funny story.  I used to live in town with the ex and we got EVERY denomination knocking all days of the week.  My girls learned to recognize the one group's van and they would announce, "time to go hide, they're selling religion again today". 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We live out in the semi boonies, but occasionally get them.  I usually tell them that I am not interested in talking to them, and close the door.

[wvugurl26]

I forgot the group of 3 women I run into at least once a week at Dunkin Donuts. They harass people in the parking lot. I won't park near them now. I'm on my way to work so I'm in a hurry and second of all I'm not discussing religion with anyone before I've had my coffee. 

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jul 20, 2014 10:56:57 GMT -5 sesfw said:

 One time ..... and one time only did we invite a couple of JWs into our apt.  Just after we were married in 1961 and we were trying to be polite.  Being good Baptists I couldn't believe the drivel they were spreading around.

Now I say 'no thank you' and close the door.

When DD was 15-16 she got home from school before we got home from work.  One day she told me about a lady that was talking to all the teens in the neighborhood about religion and giving out books ..... not pamphlets.  DD was very uncomfortable.  I read the book and immediately tossed it in the fireplace.  I was home next time the lady called and told her we were not interested.  She wanted the book back and I told her it was in the fireplace.  She was not a happy camper.  I'm sure she wanted a contribution for the book and when she didn't get it, she had to pay.

Never did see her in the neighborhood again.

Uggghhh... this!

Something similar happened to us when we were kids.  One summer, a group stopped by to convert people.  Us kids were at home alone (we were ages 8-14) and my stepsister answered the door.  She was polite and told them her name.  They gave her a book and then left.  Then they came back, over and over again.  They knew her name so they kept asking for her.  She would start hiding from them   and eventually sent me out to deal with them (I had just learned about evolution and decided I didn't believe in god).  They were incredibly rude and disrespectful.  I ended up yelling at them and even that didn't make them go away.

They mentioned the book they gave her (I didn't know about it) and how she "owed for it".  I told them to get lost or I was callling the cops.  After they left, I found it in our house and threw it in the street (how rude and harassing they had been really made me angry).  They came back later that day and put it back on one of our cars.  

My disabled grandmother experienced something similar (they would drive up to her house in the boonies-her house is on a 1 lane private gravel road that you have to drive 1/4 mile through the woods).  They would come to "talk to her" and refuse to leave, just wanting to argue with her about religion.

I thought then (and still think) it was extremely unethical of them to harass people to "spread the word". When they won't go away when you politely say you aren't interested, that's harassment.  Doing it to children and the disabled is really over the top as far as I'm concerned.  It seems to happen more with Jehovah's Witnesses, in my experience.

The Mormans are usually polite so you can just say "no, thank you" and they go on their way.  I have no issues with that.  One mormon friend of mine offered to give me a copy of their book to "trade" with Jehovah's witnesses (I had some that wouldn't stop coming by).  He said they are generally scared of the Mormans so if you say you are morman and will "take their book if they take yours", they will flee like drowning rats and never come back.  I didn't end up needing to do this but I appreciated his willingness to help me.  

[Malarky]

I'm curious about whether or not they ever actually manage to convert anyone this way.  

I did once engage a Jehovah's Witness in a circular conversation that lasted about an hour when I was in college.  I'm pretty sure that he didn't understand that I was drunk.   He started it.  

These days we don't ever answer our front door.  Folks who know us come through the side door.  Everyone else is looking to sell something.  

You can see us sitting in the living room choosing not to answer the door.  When you knock while looking at us and we're shaking our heads "no" it should be clear that no one is getting up to open the door.  

[ArchietheDragon]

Jul 20, 2014 10:56:57 GMT -5 sesfw said:

 One time ..... and one time only did we invite a couple of JWs into our apt.  Just after we were married in 1961 and we were trying to be polite.  Being good Baptists I couldn't believe the drivel they were spreading around.

Now I say 'no thank you' and close the door.

When DD was 15-16 she got home from school before we got home from work.  One day she told me about a lady that was talking to all the teens in the neighborhood about religion and giving out books ..... not pamphlets.  DD was very uncomfortable.  I read the book and immediately tossed it in the fireplace.  I was home next time the lady called and told her we were not interested.  She wanted the book back and I told her it was in the fireplace.  She was not a happy camper.  I'm sure she wanted a contribution for the book and when she didn't get it, she had to pay.

Never did see her in the neighborhood again.

i also enjoy throwing religious texts into fires.

[souldoubt]

Answering the door in a satan costume usually cuts them off at the knees. 

[Shooby]

LOL!!!

[mamasita99]

I was totally flirting with one of the Mormon kids that came to our house when I was 19 or 20. He had to give his speech, blushing and stuttering the whole time.