I think it does cross the line. And i believe religious door knockers prey on those who are vulnerable.
Out of interest, what good work do the JWs do?
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I think it does cross the line. And i believe religious door knockers prey on those who are vulnerable.
Out of interest, what good work do the JWs do?
At the top of our street is a JW church so they quite regularly do the lap of our street. As DF is religious but Im not they know us and remember the names of our childrenetc. They seem to be very nice people but not my cup of tea. Im respectful to them and they respect my lack of faith and dont expect DF to take the LOs to church with him (he has gone there before)
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Sorry... my head added more to that post but my fingers must not have been listening!
Yeah, like certain areas that you witness in. So you generally have the same person come to your door, so you can ask them to come back at a different time.
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Is there a way of getting on a "do not visit" list because I have asked time and time again for them not to come to my door (yes I even have a sign up), that I'm pagan (oh how I love the "spawn of the devil" comments & they just don't get when I say that the devil is one of their's, not one of ours), that I'm not interested, that I don't want their literature etc.
I respect other religions, I just have an issue with religions that don't respect my beliefs.
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Sorry Sopdet but that is a bit harsh. The devil is the devil. In what way do they not respect your belief. Even though I am not interested they have NEVER ever pushed their beliefs on me, they do come in love. In God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
Regards,
Dianne
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
OT i know, but the devil isn't 'the devil' if you don't believe in a devil Dianne.
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Exactly my issue with our local JWs.
I think I posted in another thread about doorknockers about how wonderful my old JWs were, and how rude our new ones are. I cannot abide people disrespecting my beliefs on my own doorstep.
Again, this is where the notion of "The Devil" not existing, and being a figment of Christianity, that Christians cannot seem to grasp. He does not exist in my world, only in that of Christians. Nor am I a sister of Christ any further than we both happened to be humans.
I understand why JWs witness and I think it is as admirable pursuit as any religious offering, but I do expect to respect the sanctity of my house and my beliefs by not calling again if I ask them not to. And until we moved here, I have never had cause to be disappointed they didn't
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Sopdet: yep, bit harsh darl. I personally understand your comment about the Fallen Angel but it probably was a bit of a leap to expect others to. Maybe consider re-phrasingI also intuit that the JWs come with love and compassion in their hearts.
ETA: posted at the same time. I think that it's best not to justify ourselves by saying that we don't believe in other people GodsAnd that it's best to remember that we are all ambassadors for our faiths and how we speak to each other about our faiths is a reflection of our own faith values. I think Berenice has done a great job of calmly explaining her faiths practices to us in this thread despite having to read some pretty challenging comments. She isn't personally responsible for pushing her "God-based" faiths onto anyone.
Last edited by Bathsheba; August 9th, 2010 at 08:38 PM.
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I have respect for the religious beliefs of others. I respect JWs who go door-knocking. They feel they are doing the right thing. I have had some great conversations with a few pairs who have knocked on my door over the years. I have taken their pamphlets etc and read them. I have now come to a place here I feel I have been exposed to enough of the literature etc to make a decision to no longer engage in dialogue with JWs about religion. I've had friends who are JWs or who used to be. We're all people.I now avoid answering the door when they knock. DP answered the door once and told them to come back later when I was home as I might be interested in talking to them, lol. He put up a general sign, not just for JWs but for sales people etc, which wasn't very polite or respectful so he has now put up a more diplomatic one at my request, lol. I hope I've made sense.
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Yeh but I don't believe in your god, or any god (ok there are a few gods and goddesses that have a place in my practising of my religion but not an "all encompassing" god) and as for the devil, yeh we have gods and goddesses that are darker than others but we don't have a "devil".
Because I have a non god believing religion, a lot of god based religions do push their beliefs on me.
I respect the belief systems others have in place, I don't question their reasoning of following that particular path.
And to throw a total spanner in the works, I am born of a Jewish mother and have Heathen (Asatru) on my father's side.
I grew up with friends who were JWs, I have been to "church" with them, same as I had friends growing up who were Mormons, Budhists, Muslems, Christians, Jew, Bahai etc I would attend their worship to find out more about their religion, I would ask questions etc. I'm open about my faith, so that people will ask questions. I go to midnight mass with some of my family, I respect their beliefs, just like they respect mine, they celebrate Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mid-Summers with me (they're not too sure on the whole being 6 months out from everybody else thing), still to get them to celebrate Samhain and Beltane with me but they're more "in your face" celebrations.
Last edited by Sopdet; August 9th, 2010 at 08:34 PM.
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Try being an atheist!I just get treated with pity and a feverent need to educate me about religion as though I've fallen into this choice by random selection or hurt from a religion. No, I've pondered the options and come up with the answer already thanks.
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i open my door to JW's, i let them tell me what they have come to tell me, i answer their questions and just plain old talk to them.
I am not religious and follow no faith, but i do find the JW's very interesting and i like to learn.
unfortunately i grew up thinking u had to hide from the "bible bashers" and im glad that i have taken the time to speak to the JW's who often visit.
i had a young boy about 13 or 14 by the looks at my door the other weekend. he told me that god had an actual name and did i know what it was? he was VERY suprised when i answered his question correctly
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This thread is interesting to me as my daughter has just become a JW after marrying into the faith. I'm not really happy about it to be honest - the traditional gender roles, the opting out of public life (not voting, for instance), and the fact that she is being encouraged to go door knocking rather than earning a living... Yeah, not happy. But she's happy with it, and that's what I have to respect I guess.
(Oh, the "not happy" might also have something to do with the fact that my dh is an Anglican minister LOL.)
FWIW, we get JW's knocking at OUR door and it quite clearly says VICARAGE and we live next to the church! No, we are not converting any time soon, thank you very much!
Mmmmm interesting & great that on the whole it's been kept respectful -
I am not a Christian either. I find the JW "bashing" figuritively) a bit much personally. I don't like the jokes or the way some people ae just rude. Slamming doors etc. I have only met pretty kind JW's. I have always been interested in religion and as such I guess I attract the conversation. My own mother was a "born again" Christian & I was intrigued by religion from an early age. I studied the bible out of curiosity & it intrigued me (still does!). I also studied with some JW's & Church of God, Mormans & of course other religions.
I see that the door knocking comes from a place of goodness - it's truly a belief that this is the way they are chosen to spread the news of Jesus etc etc.
I don't have an issue & I have always said thanks but no thanks. The 1 metre high Buddha at my steps is probably a give away...
If it's troubling anyone I would ask for a name as you want to make a complaint - but I would never think it's okay to turn a hose on someone or slam doors...
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i guess maybe i'm just not a nice person. if i have an unsolicited sales person (and lets face it - they are selling the word of their God just as much as the electricity/Austar person is selling a product), they are asked to leave and continue to disrespect my wishes, i DO close the door on them. it is trespass when someone is on your property against your wishes. it has nothing to do with what their religious beliefs are, it is ENTIRELY about their lack of respect for my wishes to not have them there.
i do not care about the religious beliefs of anyone - you treat me with respect, i have no reason to not do the same for you. i see the encroachment of my time and space, when i have told you i'm not interested and asked you to leave, to be disrespectful kwim?
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Wow, don't check BB for a few hours and look what happens!
Sopdet: I'm very sorry for the experiences you've had. We are always told to be polite and understanding when someone tells us they have their own belief system. You're completely right, you should not be disrespected on your own doorstep, or anywhere else for that matter, not by us! I don't know a lot about your beliefs, but I think the problem is the fundamental differences in our two beliefs - I personally would not feel comfortable delving into your own beliefs as deeply as I have others, due to my own understanding of your Gods/Goddesses. Pagan beliefs are often misinterpreted by us, for the very reason. I'll PM you
For what it's worth, the particular name of the thread doesn't bother me, I am happy to answer any and all questions - after some of the reactions I've had at the doors, nothing on BB is going to offend me
TMTM: That's interesting about your daughter, and no doubt would've been hard on your whole family. I am curious as to what makes you feel that we're not encouraged to earn a living though? As I'm sure you already know, 1 Timothy 5:8 says, 'Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.' We are under obligation to provide for ourselves and our families first, and then to 'preach the good news of the Kingdom'. Also, you'd be surprised at the amount of fathers/pastors/vicars who are regularly visited by JW's, at their own request
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See, I just don't get the point of that. What is someone trying to achieve who comes knocking on the vicarage door? I don't mean to be rude, but do you get points or something if you score a dog collar?Also, you'd be surprised at the amount of fathers/pastors/vicars who are regularly visited by JW's, at their own request
My daughter is being actively encouraged to depend on her husband for financial support, and go door knocking instead.
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Wow Kate, I'm sorry you feel so strongly about it. It is certainly not our intention to 'prey on those who are vulnerable', we are simply doing what we believe Jehovah asks of us - moreover, we also know that what we preach can help people.
I'm not sure if your question is an actual question, but I'll answer it anyway. We don't do 'good works' the way other religions do, as in it's not our main focus. We believe that teaching a person about God's Kingdom and the promises it gives us is much more effective than spending all of our time physically helping others. That being said, we have also often been secularly recognized as life savers in times of natural disasters. Many times JW's disaster assistance teams and provisions have arrived before anyone else. We have an International Construction Team, as well as smaller Quick Build Teams who build our Kingdom Halls, and are utilised in the event of natural disasters to rebuild basic shelter and homes. I hope that answers your question?
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