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  | rachelsea   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 16 February 2008
 Location: Lower Hutt
 Points: 3797
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: Religious Door Knockers Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:06pm
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   Well I've just had some religious people knock on my door talking to me about how God promises a world without violence, complete with references to the bible, and they managed to get me to agree to come back next week to sit down and talk more about it with me    they got me with: "I see you have a baby. Do you want your baby growing up with violence?" to which I of course answered no (and fell nicely into the trap!!).
  I know they mean well and are only doing what they believe in, so I didn't want to hurt their feelings by telling them to go away, but I don't think it's right when people try to force their beliefs onto other people.
 I'm not trying to start a religious debate lol, just wondering what other people do/say to people who knock on their door trying to "convert" them? Is anyone else a wussypants like me and just goes along with it to "keep the peace" so to speak?
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  | kebakat   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Palmy North
 Points: 10980
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:16pm | 
 
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   I personally hate them, I don't mind they are religious but hate having it in my face. Basically I just say to them in a nice way that they are wasting their time with me. It won't change my beliefs and I won't read what they want me to. So they leave. I try and say that before they have a chance to babble on.
 One of my friends is a little more blunt and says so them that shes catholic raised and is a lesbian and would love it if they left so she could go back to having sex lol.
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  | Turtle   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 20 March 2008
 Location: NZ
 Points: 484
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:19pm | 
 
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   I'm a confirmed Catholic, so I've already made my decision on God     and I hate people coming to my door to sell their Church to me.  Once they start their speech and I reaslise what it is I interupt and tell them I am not interested.  
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  | Hopes   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 06 August 2008
 Location: Waikato
 Points: 4495
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:23pm | 
 
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   I'd just politely tell them that you're really not interested, and that no, you don't want to meet them again. Do you have a number - could you give them a call and cancel the 'meeting'?
 I usually just tell door-knockers that I'm confident in my own religeous beliefs, but if they've got any brochures etc, they're welcome to leave them. I actually do read them - but while I enjoy discussing beliefs with people, I don't enjoy the kind of discussion where the whole aim is to convert me to whatever they believe rather than a genuine chat, so I tend to avoid that.
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  | Babe   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 21 May 2007
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 2936
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:24pm | 
 
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   ROFPMSL love your friends response Stace!!
 Rachel I hate it too. I believe sharing your beliefs should be more about living it than talking about it. I especially hate it when I mention I'm already a believer and they try and tell me that God only saves their particular religion    Anyway I'm far too busy to stand at the door while they go on so I just open the door and say sorry I'm busy have a nice day, smile and begin to close the door slowly (before they get a chance to talk). If I get the odd one that pushes the conversation I'll just stay firm and not engage at all. 
 Just for the record God never promised that this world would be without violence - in fact he warns us to be ready for it    | 
 
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  | GuestGuest   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 21 April 2008
 Points: 3600
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:26pm | 
 
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   I just interrupt them in mid-sentence, smile and say "No thank you" and shut the door in their face. They are preying on the lonely, directionless people, I think it should be outlawed.
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  | Treen   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 06 July 2008
 Location: Clevedon, Auckland
 Points: 832
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:31pm | 
 
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   Ooh, I've never had any door knockers.  However if someone came to my door and told me that God promises a world without violence, I'd tell them that perhaps they'd better go inform the folk in the Middle East.
 
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  | Paws   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location:  Auckland
 Points: 5860
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:33pm | 
 
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   Oh sounds like you got the JW's!! 
 I just politely tell them I'm a Baptist and which church I'm with. That particular denomination does annoy me though as they do tend to still push it even when I've pointed out I'm already a Christian so you kinda have to be firm....add a "k thnx bye" on the end of the sentence as you close the door!
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  | angel4   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 06 May 2008
 Points: 1101
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:43pm | 
 
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   we had door knockers over the weekend. It really annoys me that they would come to my house and try and tell me that what i believe is wrong. I went through a phase of telling them that i wasnt allowed to talk to strangers without my husband present    they generally left pretty quick. I also went through the phase of telling mall people that my husband controls our money so no i cant buy stuff off them. Im such a pushover when it comes to people selling me stuff its easier to say that my husband won't let me that way they cant argue. I dont think it is a very effective way to convert people and i think it is very invasive coming to my home. 
 now i just try and tell them no thanks i already have a church and my own beliefs (as i didnt think it was right to lie to them)  
 Edited by angel4
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  | first   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 17 January 2008
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 1357
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:46pm | 
 
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   We get them here at least once a month and they drive me crazy as they always come when I am most busy. I just tell them that I am not interested. Thanks. And then I shut the door.
 I will never forget when they came to the door while I was in labour! I saw them walking up the drive and I told Dave to get rid of them while I went to have some privacy during my next contraction. I hear my DH say my wife is in labour I can't talk now and they just went on and on. Finally I walk down the hall way out to the front door and said to dh I need you just as another massive contraction hit. They got the idea and finally left.
 I wasn't impressed!
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  | Hopes   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 06 August 2008
 Location: Waikato
 Points: 4495
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:50pm | 
 
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|  angel4 wrote: 
 I dont think it is a very effective way to convert people and i think it is very invasive coming to my home.
 
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 The funny thing is, it seems to work. I mean, JW's and mormon's seem to have fairly good-sized churchs... but like you say, I'm not entirely sure I understand how. 
 My beliefs are important to me, and for that reason I am keen to share them with anyone who's interested. However, it just strikes me as rude (and, erm, counterproductive!) to push your beliefs on someone who's not interested. That's the way our Church runs - making sure people are aware of us, so they can find us easily in case they are interested in exploring religeon, but not door-knocking and stuff like that - and I like that much better!
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  | kellie   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 02 February 2009
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 1229
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:53pm | 
 
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   We got a really sneaky one once.  He came to the door and I told him that I was not interested.  My nana is a JW so believe me I have heard the spiel many times.
 He then asked if we wanted to sell the boat trailer that was sitting in the driveway.  It is a total piece of junk so I was abit surprised he wanted it, but said okay give my my husband a call later and gave our phone number.
 He then rings up later, says he has changed his mind about the trailer and tries to preach to hubby!
 
 
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  | Paws   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location:  Auckland
 Points: 5860
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 12:54pm | 
 
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|  Hopes wrote: 
 
 My beliefs are important to me, and for that reason I am keen to share them with anyone who's interested. However, it just strikes me as rude (and, erm, counterproductive!) to push your beliefs on someone who's not interested. That's the way our Church runs - making sure people are aware of us, so they can find us easily in case they are interested in exploring religeon, but not door-knocking and stuff like that - and I like that much better!
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 yeah that's how our church is also. it's a lot nicer.  and I agree, it seems very counter productive to keep pushing it especially when I'm already a Christian!!!    | 
 
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  | clover   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 21 July 2008
 Points: 2090
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:11pm | 
 
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   But paws, you're not the "right" type of christian    | 
 
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  | NovemberMum   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 16 March 2007
 Location: Hamilton
 Points: 2574
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:12pm | 
 
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   I just politly say "sorry no interested" and they always leave
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  | Paws   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location:  Auckland
 Points: 5860
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:14pm | 
 
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  | HippyMama   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 15 January 2008
 Points: 1655
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:20pm | 
 
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   I just get straight to the point and say that I'm not interested, and wish them a good day on their way out. If they have been persistent / not gotten the message the first time and come back, I offer to exchange some reading material with them in the form of a tresspass notice    | 
 
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     Mama to two earth walkers & two angels.
 Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz
 
 Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !!
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  | jano1   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 27 December 2008
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 889
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:35pm | 
 
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   I can spot them a mile off so always let them know I'm not interested when I open the door. They seem to get the message pretty quick.
 Now how do I get rid of all the telemarketers calling me at dinner time (or anytime for that matter)? I find them much more invasive and they often get rude when I say it's not a good time    | 
 
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  | caliandjack   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 10 March 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 12487
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:52pm | 
 
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   We get them all the time I'm usually tell them to 'bugger off' and close the door. They don't come back. | 
 
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  | Maya   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 16 September 2003
 Location: Sydney
 Points: 23297
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 16 November 2009 at 1:52pm | 
 
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