What do you do when people try to "witness" to you? How do you feel?

Question

Regardless of time or location, many Christians try to proselytize or "witness" to you, what do you say or do? How does it make you feel when you are treated as "unsaved", "evil", "in need of guidance", or "need to find God"? How does it make you feel when you tell them that they are soliciting and their presence is unwarranted and not wanted and they say something like, "Okay. Well, have a blessed day."? Please give an example of what you would say. I have too many JW's knocking down my door.

Answer 1

I'm a nudist, they usually leave before I can invite them in.

Answer 2

I have it pretty easy - I simply tell them the truth, that I'm a Roman Catholic theologian. That usually makes people blink. Then I "kill them with kindness" - ask how their day has been going, if they're going to be able to get back to whereever they are staying before the rain comes, etc. I finally politely wish them well and excuse myself.

As for anyone who gets pushy and/or rude, I just say "thank you, I'm not interested" and walk away or shut the door or whatever.

Answer 3

When people "witness" to me, I feel like a pimp is talking to me who desperately wants to unload his ugliest whore and make some money off her.

If they come to my door, I say I'm delighted to take their literature --and-- I have something for THEM, a paperback ("What Anglicans Believe in the 21st Century"). They recoil in horror, like a vampire being sprinkled with holy water. I haven't had to give away my paperback yet.

As a last resort, I'll wear them out with a long, technical, theological discussion. Usually I work in a question about whether simultaneity exists or not.

I deeply approve of your first answerer, who farts explosively when they speak to them. Alas, though my own farts smell like they came out of a corpse, I save to "save" my farts to do it on command and typically cannot ad lib an explosive eruption of intestinal gas, unfortunately.

Answer 4

I used to ask them " who needs religion when you are God?" After all according to the bible, god made us in his own image and likeness, God lives within each of us, ergo that makes US god. But any true christian would understand the rights of others to have their own beliefs or non beliefs as the case may be, and their faith should be a guide only for religious debate. It should not be used as a denunciation of other faiths. For anyone to browbeat you in the name of their Christ is guilty of the sin of hypocracy.

Answer 5

I thank them and politely but firmly tell them I am happy in my own religion. So many times people are not used to being treated nicely that I normally have no problem accepting that and leaving.

Answer 6

I smile and say "Thank you. I have my own beliefs but thanks for caring..." Then I smile some more and wave at them in a friendly manner as I close my door in their faces.

This also works when people are rude to you on the road. If you see someone giving you the finger, just smile a really blank smile and wave at them as though they've just done you a favor.

Answer 7

If they insist on having a theological discussion, I'm always happy to oblige; but I reserve the right to poke holes in their mythology. A very effective tool is to say "it's all because of UFOs: prove it isn't." Every time they say "prove it is", just tell them you've decided to argue on their terms for a while.

Answer 8

JW's knocked Saturday - lucky for them moms answered - she just took their paper and closed door - anybody else in house would have kicked them square in nuts

Answer 9

Tell them you're making me uncomfortable and I would like you to leave me along.

Answer 10

If they're at my door, I say no thanks and close the door. Either way I ignore them when I can, or at least avoid them.