What exactly is shoving religion down someone's throat?

Question

Say a Jehovah's Witness comes to the door and rings your bell.

You answer, you say you are not interested, and close the door.

Where's the problem? Is it any more annoying than the people who sell candy or magazines door to door?

dukalink6000: It takes two to argue.

redheadedtess: How does that force anything down your throat? Tell them tehy are wrong and they are going to Hell (and spend all afternoon arguing about it) or close the door and they will go away.

Kimmie: How can they not take "no" for an answer? You say "no" and close the door and go make a sandwich or take a shower or something. Do they just stand there all day?

BONE: So toss the pamphlet in the recycling bin.

Daemon: California. Maybe we are more polite here than some of you folks in other states.

classysexyrich: So why not simply tell a person like that that you are already a Christian.

marbledog: Do you want to repeal the First Amendment?

Answer 1

OH my goodness! did you just compare girl scouts and school children selling candy for a cause to J.W. and the other self righteous, holy rolling, religious fanatics? You better hope your God has a sense of humor! I know mine is laughing right now!! No girl scout EVER told me my immortal soul was doomed if I did not by a box of thin mints!!!!!

Answer 2

Shoving religion down someone's throat is returning to someone's house after they say they're not interested in what you're selling. Shoving religion down someone's throat is JWs always referring to their religious beliefs in any conversation with someone who is not a JW and trying to get you to go to their meetings or have a literature study.

If you do not want Jehovah's Witnesses coming to your door anymore, then tell the next one to put you on their "Do Not Call" list. You can even call the local Kingdom Hall and specifically request that. Make sure you contact the right congregation and speak with an Elder.

Going door to door may be legal, but if you ask them not to come back then they should respect your wishes. You could also try asking them for their address so that you can come to their house to try to convert them. That always gets some interesting responses. hehe

If you are seriously considering joining up with them, get feedback from ex-jws and from other sources. Because active members are not completely honest about JW practices, especially their shunning practices.

I could not find anything on the watchtower.org website regarding how to request them to stop coming by. I know about the do not call list bc I was raised as a JW.

If you take a look at the pages I did find on their site, (listed below) it is interesting to read how they feel about free speech. They support it when it benefits them and their preaching/selling work. But when members disagree about doctrines, then speech is not so free.

At the second link, in the 5th paragraph, it is referring to 'apostates', as 'anyone who rejects the congregation'. They are specifically referring to the JW congregation, even though that is not what the Bible says. When is mentions that apostates are those who 'promote a sect' they mean any baptized JW who starts promoting any belief or interpretation that is different from what JWs teach.

Answer 3

I don't feel that JW shove religion down any ones throat. I have had many pleasant conversations with the JWs that have come to my door. I can appreciate their love. Sometimes I will answer a question on YA with my belief or my understanding of the topic only to receive emails from the asker telling me I am wrong and that I will not be going to heaven (that's the nice way to say it) They go on to tell me all about what the right answer would be and how I need to change. I feel this is pushing their religion and their views on me.I always respond nicely and reaffirm that my beliefs are for me and that I am OK with the fact that they disagree.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 4

I enjoy it when Jehovah's Witnesses come by the house:

I had a few visit my home not long ago. Right away I asked them, "Is it true what I hear about JW belief that Jesus Christ is actually Michael the Archangel and not God, the Son?"

The facial expressions indicated discomfort. They did not like the question but eventually confirmed that, YES, that is their belief.

I then reminded then of what John wrote in his Gospel. It opens with, In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD. A few verses later John tells us the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.

OK...the WORD Was God and then the WORD became flesh...Jesus. So using logic directly from John's Gospel in these opening verses...Jesus must be God.

They could not respond and it was time for them to leave. One said they would like to come back another time. I agreed and invited them back anytime. I have not seen or heard from any of them since.

They were very nice and polite people that I would like to come back. They may be exposed to truth and come away from that cult they're trapped in.

They...or anyone who is following a lost cultish group, are always welcome at my door. I love the opportunity to share with them the truth of Jesus Christ and maybe help someone.

Answer 5

What if they put their foot in the door? Or (and this one really did happen) what if they purposefully stand at the bottom of a wheelchair ramp, not moving until he says, "I said I'm not interested. Now are you going to move, or should I just head down the ramp and crash into you?"

I also do find it more annoying, because if you don't want to buy someone's candy/magazines, they say, "OK, thanks anyway" and keep on going. If I say no thank you to the person forcing religion at me, they tell me I'm going to hell. And I do find this annoying, as I dislike interacting with those who make snap judgements.

Answer 6

I think it's a legitimate question. I mean any solicitation of any kind is annoying, right? I mean, we have government lists to stop telemarketers. Aren't they doing the same thing?

Maybe they should find a better way to spread their religion than door to door.

By the way, whatever a Jehovah's Witness may say, they ARE NOT Christians.

Answer 7

No offense, but take a deep breath.

Admittedly it's a crude and disrespectful word/term/feeling, but I'd like to offer an observation,,,and you could allow it for the rest of your diatribe.

The act of attempting to convert, persuade, disuade, is selfish, arrogant, assuming, imposing, illogical, and disrespectful.

It suggests that OUR personal choices are wrong, at the very least, and in general anyone attempting to convert us is acting in a self serving way.

I don't answer my door, usually, even if I see a publishers clearing house van out at the curb, I'd be suspect. I do however act with respect to anyone who comes to my door in my choice to acknowledge them. So in that sense I agree, It really is a minor issue.

Again, the problem I personally have in someone trying to "SHOVE" beliefs,,,etc. down my throat, is that they seem to not take into consideration, that I may be OK with MY choices, and very often will not allow me ONCE to say NO THANKS, but continue to try to impress on me how THEY have a BETTER option.

With regard to something as personal as religious beliefs, or politics, certainly education is valid, and should be explored. We should do that if for no other reason than to understand anothers views,,, or in the case of a sales person, their need for income, in a job they very likely are unhappy with, but need.

BTW,,, and with no offense, or perversion meant,,, I buy all the Chocolate Mint Cookies I can get my hands on from Girl Scouts.

I've also bought things my kids were conscripted to sell through school, even if I didn't wish to.

Rev. Steven

Answer 8

Shoving religion down somebody's throat is when atheists go to a Religion and Spirituality site where they KNOW Christians gather and they spew their nonsense and won't go away.

I find their religion boorish, droll and unintelligent.

If atheists like religion so much, why do they complain about prayers at graduations, the decalogue in courthouses and nativity scenes on the lawn at City Hall?

Judging by the overwhelming numbers of atheists gathered here, one would fast form the opinion atheists LOVE RELIGION!

Answer 9

Shoving religion down someone's throat is when you intrude on someone's private time in their personal space and try to force your religious beliefs upon them. You try to convince that your way of thinking is THE only way. You refuse to consider that this person may already have religious views and has no interest in yours. You want them to read your literature but have no interest in theirs. You want a donation but you don't offer to give them one. You invite them to come to your house of worship but you wouldn't step foot in theirs. Shoving is pushing and shoving religion down someone's throat is when a person tries to push their religion off on someone who neither wants and asked to hear about it.
By the way, Jehovah's Witnesses are no more annoying than people selling candy or magazines door to door. I don't like strangers at my door regardless of their reason for being there.

Answer 10

Not a problem. They are free to express their opinion and I am free to not let them in my home if I don't want to hear it.

The federal courts have actually ruled that the Witnesses have the right to do what they do. Many communities have attempted to force door-to-door evangelists to obtain licenses or have outright banned the practice. The courts have consistently struck down these restrictions on first amendment challanges.

Answer 11

you're right. But i have a perfect example and definition of that. My best friend and I went to the mall of America back in high school for an Orchestra trip....oh my gosh...this guy ran up to us with like 5 other of our friends with us and we all sat down on the bench while he lectured us about our sins, and that we were all going to hell because we didn't read the bible everyday, and that we should all repent and he made us pray with him and everything. We were all sophomores, and all of us really nice kids so we didn't want to offend him and say get lost loser...plus the odd part was that we were ALL christian...he just assumed because ONE of us had on a mini skirt (the trend back then and now) that we were sinners. now THAT is a bible pusher my friend.