# How often do people try to convert you to their religion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176 "2023-04-25T19:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/161 "2023-12-21T07:11:05Z")
Are they still together, or do you know? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/162 "2023-12-21T09:36:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > The reception was the saddest I’ve ever been to. And not because of the lack of booze. It was just listless and the opposite of joyful. Huh. Did you think that was a Mormon thing, or just that event? (I’ve been to lots of joyful parties that were dry. Even some joyful weddings that were dry.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/163 "2023-12-21T09:39:49Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > In any thread about atheism on this board, many people will complain about being constantly put upon by people aggressively proselytizing to them. Yes, and so far, mostly atheists on this board and Mormons door to door, but the Mormons are more polite about it. They at least admit what they are doing. > [@snowthx](#): > > I have a sign at my front door indicating: > > _Don’t Knock on the Door_ > _Don’t ring the Bell_ > _Don’t make it Weird_ > > “_No Soliciting, No Proselytizing, No Canvassing. No Exceptions._” I had to do some work for the City, and I had some very bad thoughts about people with that sign. I will buy GS cookies and even listen to the solar sale pitch, and I am polite to the Mormons, too. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Have you been reading this thread? Yeah, I have and other than Mormons once a year and the proselytizing here , It just doesnt happen. I call once a year very very rare. And I have seen those "elders’ actually pitch in and help people more than once. > [@CairoCarol](#): > > So when proselytizers come to my door, I greet them cheerfully and tell them how much I respect their efforts. Right. Be polite. That doesnt mean I have a respect for their church, mind you, but for them. > [@kayaker](#): > > We do not get JW or Mormons coming to our door. They know our road is private and we or our neighbors will call the police. The Police are not going to come out for that. Missionaries have a 1st Ad right. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve seen people insult atheists by claiming they wear fedoras before. Or, um, insult the sort of atheist who wear fedoras? The thing about fedoras being bad came from one woman going thru a dating site, and deciding that dudes who wear trilbies (she didnt know shit about hats) were all pathetic losers- without actually you know- meeting them. 🙄 > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Hey, lay off people wearing fedoras. Right! 😀 > [@Czarcasm](#): > > It is the term “militant atheists” that trips my trigger. We have them, right here in River City. Like it or no. Any religion has militant members. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > This tired old canard. It never dies. What are mainstream and progressive Christians, who are just as horrified as anyone else at what uses fascism puts “Christianity” to, supposed to do exactly? Protest? Get out the vote? Preach from the pulpit? March? Lobby? Write op-eds? We are doing those things. You simply haven’t noticed. Because it’s side by side with Jews, atheists, people of color, trans folks, gay people, and you don’t see us because we don’t go around blaring our faith, just the way you want us to not do. You can’t have it both ways. Exactly. > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’ve had a few militant atheists try to convince me that I’m stupid for being a Christian. People like that don’t seem to realize that insulting others’ beliefs is never a good way to turn someone on to your ideas. Yep. Not just the ones that have no faith. That’s their choice. But the ones that find a need to proselytize by insulting other faiths and religions. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Boiled down, isn’t that proselytizing? In a way, it is. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve been to lots of joyful parties that were dry. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/164 "2023-12-21T09:41:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We have them, right here in River City. Like it or no. Any religion has militant members. It what way are they “militant”? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/165 "2023-12-21T09:46:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@snowthx](#): > > > > I have a sign at my front door indicating: > > > > _Don’t Knock on the Door_ > > _Don’t ring the Bell_ > > _Don’t make it Weird_ > > > > “_No Soliciting, No Proselytizing, No Canvassing. No Exceptions._” > > I had to do some work for the City, and I had some very bad thoughts about people with that sign. Seems clear and polite to me. I sometimes do political canvassing door to door. I wouldn’t ring that bell. Why waste our time, theirs and mine both. > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > We do not get JW or Mormons coming to our door. They know our road is private and we or our neighbors will call the police. > > The Police are not going to come out for that. Missionaries have a 1st Ad right. No one has a first amendment right to trespass. What a weird claim. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/166 "2023-12-21T09:56:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It what way are they “militant”? By insulting and denigrating other people faiths, calling them “stupid” and so forth. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > No one has a first amendment right to trespass. What a weird claim. [https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/door-to-door-solicitation/#:~:text=Court%20often%20upholds%20religious%20solicitation,those%20of%20a%20religious%20nature](https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/door-to-door-solicitation/#:~:text=Court%20often%20upholds%20religious%20solicitation,those%20of%20a%20religious%20nature). ## Court often upholds religious solicitation _Moreover, in many instances the Court has upheld the right of individuals to engage in door-to-door solicitations for noncommercial causes, especially those of a religious nature._ And there are levels of “trespassing”. Knocking on a “no soliciting” door, or walking up a driveway is one thing, and we have had SDMB lawyers say that sort of trespass is civil, not criminal. My driveway is just as much a "private road’ as some dirt track somewhere, maintained by the residents , but if I called the police on Missionaries for trespassing, the cops would get a big yuck down at the station. Cops are not gonna risk a big fat 1st Ad lawsuit over something as harmless as walking up a private road. Do the private road owners allow delivery trucks, fire trucks, visitors, etc? Then they pretty much have to allow missionaries. Climbing over a fence? That would be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/167 "2023-12-21T09:57:57Z")
Never. Some occasionally try, but I’m either asleep or at work during the daylight hours. And the old “I’m a practicing Catholic” always works as well when some prosletyzers slip through the gates. Pull the medallions from out of my A-shirt undershirt, and explain what they are, including the crucifix, and start citing things in Latin. They don’t like Latin, much, it seems. Worst case? Nab a rosary from the car or a pocket and start “praying” the rosary in Latin, including the Salve Regina…all the way to the end. It doesn’t matter that I happen to be a non-believer, although a practicing Catholic who doesn’t receive the eucharist during mass. They get bored pretty easily and beat cheeks stat. Some of those people who knock on the door (a long time ago…I think I must be on a “don’t bother” list), though…they were game when I grabbed my print copy of (a) Vulgate New Testament…it took a good twenty minutes of me being pretty drunk and just looking up their verses. It amused me, and they were pretty nice. LDS, I suppose. That was a long time ago, though, still at my own place, however. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/168 "2023-12-21T10:10:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > By insulting and denigrating other people faiths, calling them “stupid” and so forth. Then you have no idea whatsoever as to the definition of “militant”. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/169 "2023-12-21T10:19:00Z")
Yeah, I’d go more with ‘contemptuous and insulting’ than ‘militant’. Far more obnoxious than any sincere evangelist, to me. I find evangelizing somewhat pitiable, but self-righteous atheists give me a stomach ache. Why can’t they leave us non-proselytizing Christians alone? We leave them alone. Why do they have to try to make us see the error of our ways, try to convince us how stupid we are? Doesn’t that sound exactly like what they complain of themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/170 "2023-12-21T10:30:31Z")
In what possible way do atheists bother you? They don’t go door to door, they don’t go into churches and interrupt services, they don’t hold humungous rallies to incite people to physically harm religionists. It seems that proselytizing religionists are more threatening than atheists could possibly be, so in what possible way do atheists actually bother you? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/171 "2023-12-21T11:40:18Z")
On this board, mostly. And many other online places. It’s pretty commonplace for stupid- ass things fundamentalist Christians say or do to be targeted by atheists for mockery, which is fine, except that they usually include everyone who believes in anything that atheists do not, in their sneering. It’s not ‘threatening’ (nor have I ever felt even slightly threatened by religious proselytizers). Just tiresomely insulting. Imagine, for example, someone who took every opportunity to sneer about your family, or your culture, or the work you do which you love. They say they can’t understand how anyone could possibly participate in, much less identify with or take joy in, the things which are so important to you. Only an idiot would … blah blah blah. How would you feel about them? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/172 "2023-12-21T12:14:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Police are not going to come out for that. Missionaries have a 1st Ad right. Wrong! Our road is a private drive with signage. Anyone coming to one of the 3 homes on the road uninvited is trespassing. For salespeople there is also a permit required to go door to door, so they get ticketed for noncompliance with that as well. The last time a jw/mormon/whatever came to our door was 18 years ago and the police told them they could not trespass. The last salesman on our road was this summer. Our neighbor called the police while he was at their house. His car wound up being towed because along with no permit and trespassing he did not have insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/173 "2023-12-21T12:23:10Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Maybe it’s because I live in a big liberal city? I think you have something there. I would consider Chicagoland to be “big and liberal”, and I’m totally unsolicited by any religious groups. In fact, it’s been years since I’ve even seen any Jehovah Witnesses much less been approached by one. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/174 "2023-12-21T12:33:11Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Imagine, for example, someone who took every opportunity to sneer about your family, or your culture, or the work you do which you love. T Imagine living in a country where the currency proclaimed your belief in some utter nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/175 "2023-12-21T13:58:48Z")
I have only once felt slightly threatened by a conversion attempt, and that was by members of a cult. And in fact, they made no efforts to restrain me, and at the end of their meeting i was free to go. Both atheist and religious proselytizing can be annoying. There are enormously more dangerous religious nuts than there are people who are dangerous in any way related to atheism. But every religion I’m aware of has lots of low-key practitioners who are perfectly sane and constructive members of society. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/176 "2023-12-21T14:12:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Imagine living in a country where the currency proclaimed your belief in some utter nonsense. Yeah, I can imagine it but can’t seem to drum up an emotion about it. I am constantly bombarded with broad statements that make no sense to me, I tune them out. Personal attacks are different, for me. I know that’s peculiar. Also, thanks for thoughtfully using my imagination exercise to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/177 "2023-12-21T14:13:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > Have you been reading this thread? > > Yeah, I have and other than Mormons once a year and the proselytizing here , It just doesnt happen. I call once a year very very rare. Are you saying it just doesn’t happen to you? If so, that wasn’t clear. And if you’re saying it just doesn’t happen to anybody, you’re wrong. > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > It is the term “militant atheists” that trips my trigger. > > We have them, right here in River City. Like it or no. Any religion has militant members. There are such things as militant atheists, for certain definitions of “militant”. But atheism is not a religion. > [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > I’ve been to lots of joyful parties that were dry. > > Same here. Hey, a point of agreement! So have I. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/178 "2023-12-21T14:27:31Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > (I’ve been to lots of joyful parties that were dry. Even some joyful weddings that were dry.) I guess it depends on the crowd you run with. As an adult I’ve never been to a dry wedding or party, including kid’s birthday parties where the parents had beer/wine/cocktails. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/179 "2023-12-21T14:40:20Z")
Yeah, my MIL was an alcoholic, and I have a couple of friends with alcoholic parents – I go to a lot of dry events. But also, most of my friends don’t drink much, so there’s not a lot drunk even at parties where there is booze. I often host New Year’s Eve. I serve champagne and sparkling cider at midnight. I serve a LOT more sparkling cider than champagne. Sometimes I also serve whiskey during the main party, or someone brings some beer or wine (which I’ll put out with the other drinks.) I poured a lot of wine down the sink after my daughter’s bat mitzvah, because the bartenders ignored my request that they open one bottle at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176/180 "2023-12-21T15:51:05Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I, for one, do not say that to people. I’m glad, but it is not uncommon. One day a couple of Baptists came to my door. I figured that saying that thanks, I’m Jewish would be a polite way of getting rid of them. Instead they told me how I had to be saved. I responded with my patented rant about 2,000 years of oppression of my people by Christians. I’m quite good at it. They vanished, never to be seen again. Plus the standard response of a Creationist who has lost on the facts is to tell me I’ll find out my errors when I die, with the implication this involves me going to hell. So the behavior of the minister is not that rare. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-people-try-to-convert-you-to-their-religion/983176.md?page=10)