# Re: Jehovah's witnesses at the door **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394 "2011-04-22T19:30:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/161 "2011-06-07T01:25:19Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > Let me ask you, are you an atheist? Although you’ve dodged all my questions, my answer is the same as last time: yes. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/162 "2011-06-07T02:13:15Z")
Cue 2 Corinthians, and…scene. One would figure that a person of strong faith would have no problem fielding questions about religious beliefs and practices, but I was warned earlier that there is another directive somewhere in Corinthians which compels Witnesses to avoid associating with non-believers. (I half-heartedly looked for evidence of that directive, but I’ve had enough of this discussion.) **raindog** , Though I’m disappointed that you declined to address questions and complaints posed by a few of us, thank you for appearing in this discussion; I realize you probably did so with great reluctance and at risk of violating your religious principles. I have not enjoyed this discussion, either, as I feel strongly that yours is a practice of intolerance and exclusion, and I’m guessing you feel that I have forfeited the resurrection and that I’m intolerant of your mandated Witnessing. Shrug it off, as I will. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/163 "2011-06-07T06:59:42Z")
> [@](#): > > , even if you have asked them not to come back, because they think they will be able to catch you in a moment of weakness. They say your life circumstances change all the time and even if you didn’t want to hear their message previously, you may need them now I got rid of mine by e-mailing them and threatening a restraining order. They kept coming by despite the fact that I had not expressed ANY interest whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/164 "2011-06-07T07:19:09Z")
Some of the posts I’ve read this evening leave me in something of a quandary; I’m wondering whether the Witnesses should be automatically clairvoyant to the point that they can tell ahead of time who will be receptive to them and who won’t. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/165 "2011-06-07T07:27:56Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Some of the posts I’ve read this evening leave me in something of a quandary; I’m wondering whether the Witnesses should be automatically clairvoyant to the point that they can tell ahead of time who will be receptive to them and who won’t. :rolleyes: How about this? If they really want your “services”, they know where to find you. Have patience. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/166 "2011-06-07T12:11:53Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Some of the posts I’ve read this evening leave me in something of a quandary; I’m wondering whether the Witnesses should be automatically clairvoyant to the point that they can tell ahead of time who will be receptive to them and who won’t. :rolleyes: How about you just heed the obvious signs - like “no solicitors” - ? ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/167 "2011-06-08T01:32:09Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Cue 2 Corinthians, and…scene. One would figure that a person of strong faith would have no problem fielding questions about religious beliefs and practices, but I was warned earlier that there is another directive somewhere in Corinthians which compels Witnesses to avoid associating with non-believers. (I half-heartedly looked for evidence of that directive, but I’ve had enough of this discussion.) > > **raindog** , Though I’m disappointed that you declined to address questions and complaints posed by a few of us, thank you for appearing in this discussion; I realize you probably did so with great reluctance and at risk of violating your religious principles. I have not enjoyed this discussion, either, as I feel strongly that yours is a practice of intolerance and exclusion, and I’m guessing you feel that I have forfeited the resurrection and that I’m intolerant of your mandated Witnessing. Shrug it off, as I will. surely you’re kidding… ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/168 "2011-06-08T08:04:50Z")
> [@simster](#): > > How about you just heed the obvious signs - like “no solicitors” - ? You know, in all my time of going door-to-door I have never seen _one_ “No Soliciting” sign. I encountered quite a few unreceptive householders, and one man who curtly said “I’m an atheist and I don’t want to argue,” but no such signs. \*\*Originally posted by Runner Pat \*\*\*How about this? If they really want your “services”, they know where to find you. Have patience. \* :Sigh: I’ve heard that line so many times before. Do like all the other churches do. Don’t rock the boat; conform, conform, conform. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/169 "2011-06-08T14:06:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, in all my time of going door-to-door I have never seen _one_ “No Soliciting” sign. I encountered quite a few unreceptive householders, and one man who curtly said “I’m an atheist and I don’t want to argue,” but no such signs. > > \*\*Originally posted by Runner Pat > \*\*\*How about this? If they really want your “services”, they know where to find you. > Have patience. \* > :Sigh: I’ve heard that line so many times before. Do like all the other churches do. Don’t rock the boat; conform, conform, conform. :rolleyes: WHile I think you’re being decietful here, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt - more likely, you have seen “No Solicitors” signs, but not “no soliciting” signs and that keeps you “honest” but not truthful, since you know exactly what is being stated here. To be honest, all you would really have to say is: “The beliefs and teachings of my faith require me to go door to door in service of our God Jehovah, spreading the good news of the kingdom. We are not solicitors in this regard, and will ignore those signs as we believe our message is critical to your surviving the upcoming great tribulation” see, wasn’t that easy? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/170 "2011-06-09T06:46:41Z")
> [@simster](#): > > WHile I think you’re being decietful here, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt - more likely, you have seen “No Solicitors” signs, but not “no soliciting” signs and that keeps you “honest” but not truthful, since you know exactly what is being stated here. > > To be honest, all you would really have to say is: > > “The beliefs and teachings of my faith require me to go door to door in service of our God Jehovah, spreading the good news of the kingdom. We are not solicitors in this regard, and will ignore those signs as we believe our message is critical to your surviving the upcoming great tribulation” > > see, wasn’t that easy? Oh, sure–like splashing a bucket of water at the front of a car is an “easy” kind of car wash. Calling a cat’s tail a leg doesn’t make it one. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/171 "2011-06-09T12:18:53Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Oh, sure–like splashing a bucket of water at the front of a car is an “easy” kind of car wash. Calling a cat’s tail a leg doesn’t make it one. :rolleyes: there aren’t enough rolleyes in the world - what the heck are you saying? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/172 "2011-06-09T12:54:24Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Some of the posts I’ve read this evening leave me in something of a quandary; I’m wondering whether the Witnesses should be automatically clairvoyant to the point that they can tell ahead of time who will be receptive to them and who won’t. :rolleyes: Well, just assume that no one is interested and you’ll be 99% right. Those are pretty good odds. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/173 "2011-06-09T12:57:19Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Well, just assume that no one is interested and you’ll be 99% right. Those are pretty good odds. You forgot the .99999 ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/174 "2011-06-11T07:14:39Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Well, just assume that no one is interested and you’ll be 99% right. Those are pretty good odds. See Matthew 7:14. And when you assume, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” To answer Sinister’s question, the mainstream churches–that don’t send people door-to-door–do a slapdash job of bringing the Bible’s message to their laity (the Witnesses don’t have a clergy-laity division). --Isaiah 28:8. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/175 "2011-06-11T12:29:32Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > See Matthew 7:14. > And when you assume, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” > > To answer Sinister’s question, the mainstream churches–that don’t send people door-to-door–do a slapdash job of bringing the Bible’s message to their laity (the Witnesses don’t have a clergy-laity division). --Isaiah 28:8. another bullshit statement - what does what the other churches do/have/don’t do have to do with the statements here? We’re not talking about them, we’re talking about the JW. That didn’t answer my question at all - You have the “Governing Body”, Circuit Overseers, the Elders, the Ministerial Servants, and finally the “Publishers” - baptized and unbaptized - you even have divisions in the publishers of “pioneers” and others based upon the amount of hours they put in. Everything the members believe,learn is pushed down from the governing body. While it is certainly not the same type of division that some other religions have (you can’t tell just by looking inside the building who is in what role) , it is certainly division, and the only ones that bring the “message” to the “publishers” is the governing body - also called the "faithful and discreet slave’ in your nomenclature. [QUOTE=Isaiah 28:8] All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth. [/QUOTE] Pot - meet the kettle. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/176 "2011-06-11T13:58:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Isaiah 28:8 > 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. You should have quoted the KJV. Because any JW can tell you that’s the version Jesus used. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/177 "2011-06-11T14:04:19Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > You should have quoted the KJV. > > Because any JW can tell you that’s the version Jesus used. I know you’re trying desperately to be ‘cute’, but you’re really just showing your own backside here - and it isn’t cute. Good Day, Sir. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/178 "2011-06-11T14:08:41Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I know you’re trying desperately to be ‘cute’, but you’re really just showing your own backside here - and it isn’t cute. > > That is the KJV - and you bring nothing new to the conversation. > > Good Day, Sir. You can’t be whooshed twice it appears. Kudos to you, Sir. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/179 "2011-06-11T14:18:12Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > You can’t be whooshed twice it appears. > > Kudos to you, Sir. I wasn’t wooshed the first time - you injected an idiotic statement into a relatively serious discussion and I questioned it with as much seriousness as it deserved. That you think it was a woosh speaks volumes to your own arrogance. Have a good day. (shouldn;t you be out knocking on doors? or do you count this as service time?) ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394/180 "2011-06-11T15:04:11Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I wasn’t wooshed the first time - you injected an idiotic statement into a relatively serious discussion and I questioned it with as much seriousness as it deserved. That you think it was a woosh speaks volumes to your own arrogance. > > Have a good day. (shouldn;t you be out knocking on doors? or do you count this as service time?) Sure you weren’t. And I’m playing shortstop for the Mets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-jehovahs-witnesses-at-the-door/579394.md?page=10)