Strangers at the door

I wasn't at all scared. I was disgusted that they ignored signs on my door and knocked anyway but mostly because they were dragging a baby around with them. As someone said - why aren't they at work - they were all of working age.

I've been plagued with them for the last few months despite being nice about it and telling them that I wasn't interested . They still come . I've rudely seen them coming up the path and refused to answer the door . I told a JW at work what was happening and he said he would have a word with them at his next meeting and tell them to stop visiting me - it didn't work ! It's now making me exasperated ,angry and anxious, they parked outside my house sitting in their car for an hour last week .
I'm frightened that I'll blow my top and be rude to them but surely they are the ones who are being rude ? I now have a sign on the door ( from Amazon) .

I agree with Maggie. There is no need to avoid or be rude to anyone who comes to the door unless they are unpleasant. From some of what I've read here I feel quite sorry for them.

In all my years of answering the door to whomever is there I have only once had a small issue. It was one of those young men selling tea towels etc and I told him I didn't buy anything at the door. He told me he was an ex-offender, homeless etc because he came from Peterlee (hundreds of miles away) but couldn't explain why he was in my town. He did get a bit cross but it only took up 5 minutes of my time and perhaps showed him how patient someone can be in such a situation.

It costs nothing to be nice.

Someone posted "why do they [Jehovah's Witnesses} feel they have to go around ‘converting’ people?" Actually, that is what ALL committed Christians ought to be doing - giving others the chance to go to heaven, as they hope they themselves will when they die.

It was part of the faith from the very beginning, and all denominations sent missionaries to the "heathens" to try to convert them. If you can be bothered to read the books of the New Testament, there are lots of Letters to the Corinthians, Letters to the Thessalonians etc etc where St Paul writes to keep the missionary groups up to date and encourage them in their work. They were pretty successful too, converting a good chunk of the world's populations.

The JWs are only carrying out what they see as Jesus' instructions. They also do good work looking out for old and ill neighbours, and chatting to lonelt pensioners. If they don't want to join their congregation, that is OK, but they see visiting them as pastoral work. They don't deserve rudeness or curses, Just say you have your own denomination (or none) and don't want to discuss it with them,

Incidentally, how often does the vicar/minister of your local parish church visit non-members in the parish and chat to them - have you ever met them? Or even visit signed-up members of his/her congregation?

I had a man at the door the other day - we live on a bungalow and he put his hand up into the gutter and said he would like to offer his services to clean out the gutters as they were in a bad state. I said "That's funny, they were only done two days ago!" - he had the grace to look embarrassed as he scuttled away!

My response to the JWs is usually that I 'have my own beliefs' and politely say I'm not interested in theirs. I'm not surprised that there was a woman with a push chair, as they often have children with them when door-knocking.

I live 100 yards from a lovely church Elegran and know exactly where to go if I want to go to heaven!

If it’s any consolation I feel the same way about councillors/candidates knocking during elections. I could never be swayed by a brief doorstep chat trying to sell me something.

I always thank JWs for calling but say that I do not wish to subscribe to their religion. They usually smile and go on their way - another candidate for hell!

If it was Jehovah witnesses then that is their work isn’t it
Why were they ‘dragging’ a baby round well if she was asleep in a pushchair it was hardly being dragged around
As I said before perhaps they had come to tell you you d won a prize !
Never any harm in answering the door and then if it’s nothing you re interested in you say thank you but I m not interested and then you shut the door with a smile
I m like you lucky no harm in being polite and nothing to get angry about

They must have a strong belief as they are willing to knock on doors or stand in the town centre with their wares.
In my home town they built a new meeting place, all the work was done by their own members, freely donating their time.
I would never be rude to them at the door, but say I attend my local church and also am a blood donor, as I cannot understand their views on the latter.
As regards work, I know that many local JW’s certainly have jobs, and must do all their visiting etc. in their own time.

Jehovah's witnesses work to live, not live to work.
They do what they need to in order to get by, but their main focus is Jehovah.

We have a Jehovah's Witnesses temple(chapel? Church?) in the village. A condition of the planning consent was that village residents only got visited once a year. Thankfully, we have usually not been around when they called.

My response is always that I am a catholic (which is true). That is very effective in getting rid of all such people, we are considered beyond redemption. DH who describes himself as an agnostic has been heard to answer the door and say 'We are a catholic family'

We always talk to teh JW's and Mormons who visit ,my husband is inclined to invite them in and they never pass us by in the street always friendly .Theres no need to be rude to them even though I dont believe in their or any god .They know they wnt convert anyone who lives here .

we get JW's round here every couple of weeks, There's usually at least 4 of them, and sometimes they do have children with them, I feel desperately sorry for them, they must come across some very rude and ignorant people, If I see them doing the rounds I don't answer the door, or I just say 'No thanks, am not interested' We haven't had any Mormons round for a good few years

We have Jehovah's Witnesses visiting us here in France as well. They are always pleasant and understand we don't want to convert. We have a short conversation then they are on their way. I don't see any need to be rude to them.

I have had in the past JW or other religious converters call. Quietly and politely explained that I have my own private thoughts on faith. And that I was not going to have any discussion with them.
I then pointed out that I would respect their stance and expected the same courtesy in return.
We parted in peace and I have never been visited by them again.

I've been stopped twice by some very polite young American Mormons in the street lately, fizzers. Oddly, they haven't tried to convert me, they've just asked where the best supermarkets are in the neighbourhood and where I bought my (Cath Kidston) bag!

I ve just realised I haven’t had Jehovahs or Mormons knocking on the door for years

Young Mormons have an obligation to do a spell of missionary work. For those who come here from America, it is often the first time they have left home. They find it very exciting - and I suspect they learn a great deal of new stuff about how people live in other countries!

I have learned that they would rather be called Witnesses - they are telling their witnessed evidence of the gospels, and there is only one Jehovah!

We have a Kingdom Hall (Jehovahs church) at the end of our road and they regularly do the rounds, they are easily recognisable and I usually notice they are around and either don’t bother answering or just say I’m not interested. Each to their own but why drag their suited and booted children around with them and why do the women always wear skirts/dresses and heels? Never trousers even in the snow.

My brother, being an Anglican priest, would always invite the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses in, as he loved a good argument!

Witnesses believe that Armageddon is imminent and that the only survivors will be Witnesses, although only 144k of them will actually ascend to heaven. The remainder will be resurrected. Therefore they take it upon themselves to convert (and thus save) as many people as they can.

All Witnesses are expected to do some form of missionary work. Going door to door is considered to be such work.

I just politely tell them that I am not interested and close the door without any fuss. Although they often continue to talk even though the door is closing! They don't upset or offend me, so I see no reason to be rude.

Oh yes, I used to say we are Catholic, partly true, as DH was a very lapsed Catholic!

I am never rude to JWs or, i hope, anybody else who comes to my door. I always meet them where they hope to meet me. I tell them that I as a Christian, have deeply held personal beliefs of my own on this subject. I point out that they have come to my door, therefore entering my personal space uninvited to give me a witness to their beliefs. I ask them, with a smile, whether, since they are here, they would like to hear my beliefs. Funnily enough they don't stay long.