Wow.
I just wanted to chime in and say that, after four or more visits a week, a sign on my door that simply states “No witnessing, please” has worked quite well.
But I really like the idea of having them do free yard work…
JWs believe that the meetings (2 in particular) and the public ministry serve to make one a better public speaker, and to be more effective in the ministry.
Certainly that has some residual benefits outside of their faith, and some have had some success in their jobs, I’m sure. But this is not Dale Carnegie.
In 35 years of association, I have never had an experience where someone went into sales by virtue of this training. I’ve never heard directly, indirectly or by inference. In other words, it is true that this training makes for a better employee. This includes not only the ability to talk to people, but the qualitiy of honesty, fidelity etc. But I know of no one who had the the outlook that this training will serve me if I go into a sales career. Moreover, I don’t believe this type of exposure will make a non-sales person into a sales person. IOW, those who benefit–to the nominal amount they do—are those who are already in sales, or whose personality (and skills) would have taken them into sales already. Lastly, the most commom career path–to use the term-- for those most skilled in the ministry is to increase their time in the ministry; to effectively make it a semi-full time endeavor. (with a commensurate decrease in secular endeavors)
Like posting crummy arguments on message boards, you mean?
One thing that has always made my head spin: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe there is only one God, and his name is Jehovah. Jesus is a god, but there’s only one God and his name is Jehovah. But Jesus is a god. But there’ s only one God, Jehovah.
If Jehovah is God, and Jesus is a god, doesn’t that make two gods? But there’s only one God, Jehovah.
I can’t figure it out. And now my head hurts.
Funny you should mention that. In post 116 of this thread, I put forth an example of how Jehovah’s Witnesses get around that. I did so in response to the raindog challenging me to “show him” where the Jehovah’s Witness scriptures are incorrectly translated in order to shore up JW beliefs. I did so, and he now seems to be ignoring it.
That’s right the raindog after almost 30 years since that incident and having lost a lot of my memory for a while, I can’t remember what passages they brought up. At the time I did know that they didn’t match the bible verses we had to read all through 9 years of parochial school. I won’t be replying to further posts here by you, because it’s a waste of my time. It does work to know your bible and be able to discuss why your and their interpetations don’t match.
Does that mean that there’s no escape, then? Will I be targeted for conversion whether I want it or not?
You make it sound like you feel it’s such a good and edifying thing. Almost like you feel that the world owes something to JWs. Well, it doesn’t. JWs have at least the right to be listened to, but once I have listened to their message once or twice, and I know I don’t agree, I’ll tell them I’m not interested. And if they piss me off (but that never happened to me, in all honesty), then I’ll do something silly like saying I’m a druid or a satanist. That’s because I don’t want to convert. Pointing out the magnitude of their ministry does not move me, it makes me feel like JWs lack respect for other people’s religious opinions. Do they seriously believe that good non-JWs are automatically damned anyway? Just because they have the wrong label?
I dunno, guys.
We had one pair of Mormon girls who kept looking for my roommate at the time. Apparently she was an ex-Mormon they were trying to bring back into the fold.
I actually haven’t had anyone show up to my door to witness to me. I would, especially for the Mormons, smile and shake my head and say “Thank you very much, but I already go to church regularly and I feel very fulfilled there. Ministering is hard work, though, and I would like to invite you to come in and have some water or milk or orange juice, soak up a little air conditioning before you go back out.”
I wouldn’t even threaten them with a sword. They might get rubbed to death by cats, though.
And this would’ve been my answer when I was a pagan, too. Whether or not I agree with their politics, their religion, or their methods, they are doing a hard and thankless job and they’re doing it in the hot sun. It won’t hurt me to give them a glass of water and friendly company.
Firstly you dont have to be polite to them (though as a Brit I always am)they are not there to save YOUR soul but there to save their own .
They believe that there are only a limited number of places in heaven and to get theirs they must do so much missionary work.
Though to be fair some of them used to call on my old mum regulary when she was on her own to give her a bit of human contact and company.
DONT whatever you do pretend to be a Buddhist,Satanist or the follower of any other unusual faith because they consider that if you think exotically then you could well be ripe for conversion to their own unusual faith.
This is speaking from experience ,I was gob smacked when they carried on talking to me after Id told them I was a practising Satanist.
By accident once I said “I mean! jesus christ !” as an exclamation during a very enjoyable argument and they went off down the street like a shot.
IIRC, from what I’ve read Jehovah’s Witnesses believe (or at least, are told) that the limited slots in heaven are already taken, and they will end up in a paradise on Earth with other good, saved people. Oh, here’s a cite - check out references 77 and 78, which are taken from their publication Watchtower.
Actually, that makes only one God and one god.
[Official Moderator Warning]Last warning to :
- Keep it civil, and
- Stick to the OP, answer the question asked, and move on.
If the sniping continues, I’m moving this to The BBQ Pit, and if the witnessing continues(either pro or con) I’m moving this to Great Debates.[/Official Moderator Warning]
Sorry, I get a little pissy when someone comes in and dumps on my post, then contradicts themselves, and then won’t defend their attack on what I said. Not to name any names, of course.
AFAIC, the question’s been pretty well answered, and the thread is ripe enough for the Pit, so I can piss back a little more. But it’s not my thread, so… whatever.
I would politely say “Get the fuck off my property before I set the dog on you.” I would then close the door. I would be sporting and not slam it, so that they have a chance to get their toes and fingers out of the way.
But would you be sporting enough to give them 30 seconds before releasing the hounds? Hope not. 
Which roughly translates to “Stop being yourselves or I will pass this turd to another mod to make his night miserable”.
So, you’re outlawing (1) snark; and (2) hijacks? Eek. 
Just have the hubby lay down in the driveway early Saturday morning and draw a chalk outline around him. Toss a couple of Watchtower pamplets around the scene. Add an empty shotgun shell casing complete with marker card, crime scene tape and some fake blood if you have access to those kinds of things and are feeling adventurous.
Hell, get one of the kids to lay down in a couple of spots near hubby and make a family of chalk outlines.
How about a sign that says “No Solicters, this includes the religious persuasion.”?