JW - Door knocking - how does it work?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

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?

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?

[Mummato2]

No offense taken and I truly appreciate your reply

I am one that has taken the train of thought that if I live my life a good person, worship my god in my way, Baptise my children etc then I have done what I need to.

I remember having a conversation with a girl that told me that if I didn't become a JW and worship their way, door knock etc then I wouldn't be resurrected the day Jesus returns....apparently he will only resurrect the JW's.....I had a real problem with this because to me it seems that unless I throw myself into the JW life, including donations etc - I am putting myself and my family at risk of not being accepted by God when we die....

To me, it's scare tactics that prey on those that are fearful of death and dying....

It's such a personal thing spiritual worship - I'd hate to do it just because I was weak enough to believe that this was the only way I would be saved.....

Anyway, thank you again for being a doll and explaining it to me

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

When I was younger that's how I understood it Mumma - the whole 'you have to be a JW or you're going to die' idea. As I get older I start to realise there are many shades of grey. For instance, what if someone has never heard of JW's? What if someone's only experience with JW's is horrible? What if someone stops being a JW because of something done by another JW? As I said - so many shades of grey.

At the end of the day, Jehovah will look at heart conditions. Nobody on this earth can tell you the state of your heart condition, most would struggle to truly know their own. I'm glad it's Jehovah making the decisions, not me

[HotI]

I came back to delete my comment, but was too slow.

My question was genuine as someone previously said "all the good work JWs do", and i haven't heard of any charitable stuff (like the salvos or Smith Family) and so that's why i asked.

I have issue with a number of religions, not just the JWs, so nothing personal against you. I shouldn't have posted anyway, it was out of line in this thread.

[Mummato2]

That's a lovely way to look at it Berenice. I would truly think not many people walking this Earth can honestly look into themselves and say they've lived the perfect life according to God/Jesus/Jehovah/Allah etc - not even holy figures such as priests.......

[diannescruffy]

I honestly believe when the time comes God will look at our hearts, not which religion we are practicing. We are ALL children of God. Berenice, bless you hun for answering all these questions, I didn't mean to make you work so hard .

Regards,
Dianne

[Indadhanu]

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.

[Sopdet]

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.

[diannescruffy]

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

[Indadhanu]

OT i know, but the devil isn't 'the devil' if you don't believe in a devil Dianne.

[LimeSlice]

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.

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.

OT i know, but the devil isn't 'the devil' if you don't believe in a devil Dianne.

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

[Sopdet]

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

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.

[Bathsheba]

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-phrasing I 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 Gods And 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.

[meow]

Because I have a non god believing religion, a lot of god based religions do push their beliefs on me.

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.

[MusicLover83]

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.

[Sopdet]

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-phrasing I also intuit that the JWs come with love and compassion in their hearts.

I don't have an issue with any religion. I respect the JWs for what they do, their conviction to door knock. Same as I respect the Mormons, Salvation Army, Masons, Christians etc for their faith. I just have issues when I'm told that mine is wrong because I don't believe in God and I'm insulted at my own door because of my faith.

I have friends who are atheists, geeze we have some interesting discussions, especially with those that are scientists (one of my girlfriends has a PhD in Physics and a PhD in Religion).

Yeh but how do you phrase that the devil isn't a pagan concept, that we do have evil and good but we don't have a devil per se?

There are some pagan paths that believe that Lucifer is the brother of Diana and Lucifer as a god-form is worshipped.

[Bathsheba]

This thread's purpose was to ask about JW door knocking not about broader faith issues. I think a little bit of consideration for our BB JW members should be offered here. BB guidelines are such that questions are welcome in the Religion and Spirituality sections but challenging another person's faith or faith practises is not ok. Maybe consider opening up another thread about those broader faith issues Not sure this is the right place.

[skybie]

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