This morning I was woken up by a woman with the WatchTower magazine wanting to talk to me about Jesus. I don't have a problem with religion - each to their own, but what I detest is people trying to ram it down your throat! Does anyone actually know somebody who has been enlightened on their doorstep?? What is everybody elses take on Jehovah's Witnesses?
2006-12-01 23:24:13 · 43 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dee this time I did politely and firmly tell them 'Not interested' - only because I'd just been woken up and wasn't in the mood for debate. Other times they have been to the door I have been literally stuck for half an hour explaining that yes I am spiritual but I don't believe in organised religion........... I'd be as well talking to the wall! Someone with faith will not be swayed - they are convinced they are right and if you do not share their views then you are wrong.
2006-12-01 23:43:50 · update #1
i think Jehovah witnesses are mainly the only religion that does that type of thing.they are a bit pushy with their beliefs.i would never go up to a stranger or knock on a strangers door and share what i believe in ~its personal......between me and God.
2006-12-02 05:08:12 · answer #1 · answered by bluerose123 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A common misconception is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door-to-door because they feel it is their religious duty to "ram it down your throat". They knock, they mention an interesting question, they hope to read a Scripture and maybe continue a conversation or leave some literature.
That's "ramming"?
The fact is that Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!
That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.
(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.
Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
2006-12-02 08:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was once a christian, and would have gone door to door 'witnessing' if it was done in my church. I am now an atheist. I would probably not be an atheist if I did go door to door and non believers were always very rude and abusive towards me. It would probably just make me all the more commited and convinced that christians are right.
I dont even debate these people. I would love too, but I realize debate wont work at those times. I simply be nice and polite, and let them know I am not interested. I dont know if you have ever been a believer b4, but when someone who does not believe in your religion is so much nicer and polite than anyone you have met before, and they are not even interested in bocoming religous, that really sux. Religous people dont like their religion (Their heart and soul beliefs) being dismissed so casually.
I dont think I have ever found the mormons or Jehovah witnesses trying to 'ram it down my throat'. If you are going to debate them at your door then of course they are going to debate you back and it may look like they are 'ramming it down your throat'.
Many religous people are of the opinion that they are offering eternal bliss. Imagine how often people are rude and abusive to them. Some of these religous nuts are potential serial killers, so lets not help tip them over the edge.
2006-12-02 09:32:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I went out this morning, though I never got the chance to actually speaak to anyone.
We are not really "ramming it down your throat". We are giving you the opportunity to say yes or no to what we are offering. If you don't want it, fair enough. Whoever is speaking to you at the time should just leave it at that. Our neighbours' opinions and feelings are paramount and mustn't be abused in any way. We, like everyone else, are imperfect and will say, from time to time, things that upset people. For that, let me apologise on the behalf of any Witness you have spoken to who has upset you.
Having said all that, Jehovah's Witnesses are offering you the chance to live forever in a paradise on Earth. Where else can you get an offer like that?
I appreciate you will be busy and there may be other factors that might close your ears to what Jehovah's Witnesses say, but take a few minutes to listen to them, or to read what they give you, or even look up this web site. If it still doesn't make any sense, fair enough, at least you will have given it a chance.
2006-12-02 00:03:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I normally avoid questions on religion, but this is an interesting one. I was so bored one time, I actually invited them in purely to see for myself what was so brill. They showed me a picture where everyone was young, fit and smiling. I pointed that out and asked what happens to all the old, ill and maimed people and apparently they all become young and well again. But there were little children there, so why didn't they get older, so everyone was the same age? Anyway! it didn't make sense to me. But I was glad I'd taken the trouble to listen, even if it was only the once!
I have to admit, that I have to admire their dogged determination to recruit folks. Their faith must be rock solid to 'cold call' and have the door slammed in their faces so often.
2006-12-02 01:35:15 · answer #5 · answered by Val G 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would never go round to a strangers door and preach my own beliefs to them.
I would only answer questions asked of me, since a question is an open invitation.
A person must find their own path, no one can give you salvation nor enlightenment.
Some people do pretty well without the belief in God whilst others need the support of faith groups, its a personal choice.
2006-12-02 03:19:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Noah preached to people as well as building the Ark. He warned them of the consequences of not listening to God's warning. He invited them to come on the Ark.
Did they listen?
Obviously not.
The rest is history.
That's why Jehovah's Witnesses go around preaching to people - to warn them of what is to come. We are now living in the last days of this system (2 Timothy 3:1-5 & Matthew chapter 24)
They do this because they love God & people, they want them to be saved when Armageddon comes.
Matthew 24:36-39
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/3/1/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/t19/survive.htm
.
2006-12-02 12:01:22 · answer #7 · answered by New ♥ System ♥ Lady 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most professed Christians don't. Instead, they pay a clergyman or a preacher to do the preaching for them. However, Jesus commanded all of his true followers to "go and make disciples of all the nations,...teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." I can imagine many people in Jesus' day felt the same way you do when Jesus' early disciples came knocking on their doors "trying to ram religion down their throats." Since they didn't listen, they had to pay the consequences.
The truth is, Jesus' disciples didn't force their message on anyone. If someone didn't want to hear what they had to say, he wasn't compelled to listen anyway. The same goes with Jehovah's Witnesses. They don't make anyone listen to their Bible-based presentation. If you are not interested in listening to what they have to say, just tell them, and they will leave. It's just as simple as that.
2006-12-01 23:28:28 · answer #8 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are nice people like you and I who strongly believe in their beliefs, that's it! They think they are out here to save us, and they feel desperate about it.
I dated a Jehovah's Witness once and he was like a big, sweet teddy bear in a 290lb and 6'5"lb frame. Even though they don't celebrate certain occassions, he still had the heart to get me a birthday present because he knew nobody else cared about it!
I am ashamed to this day for how I treated him in our break-up. It was mean and heartless and prideful how I did it.
Yes, they can be very persistent, but they are REAL PEOPLE like you and I!
The last time I went proseletyzing (spelling) was in July 99 - December '00. I loved it all. It was incredibly hard work, but I did it out of love for all others and love for my religion and my God. I paid for the entire thing out of my own pocket, learned another religion all on my own, and made many, many friends.
Through this experience I taught and watched over 40 or 50 people convert to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized, all from me knocking on doors!!
When it's true, and the people have open hearts and minds, they will feel the impression of the Holy Spirit telling them that it is true, and it will humble them and they will seek after it.
I hope you are more open to listening to anybody who knocks on your door to share something so special to them that they'd sacrifice their time, money, energy, LIFE, to their very cause!
2006-12-01 23:31:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Personally i don't like them turning up on my door step but then again i don't like sales people turning up either.
just cause it is a cult/religion doesn't make it any more worse, does it. I don't think that someone politely trying to tell you about jesus is ramming it down your throat. Just politely tell them you are not interested. You have a choice, we don't live in a country controlled by religion like an Islamic state.
2006-12-01 23:35:59 · answer #10 · answered by Abdul 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First, about 3 years ago a Jehovah's Witness came to my door....I was Wiccan and had a cute little sticker on my front door that was given to me by another of my friends that read "protected by witchcraft".....when the lady saw that, she kinda stopped what she was saying in her tracks and just more or less excused herself nicely.....I said nothing the whole time she was "babbling" (sorry to be sarcastic) about this and that....then my cat, which is solid black came to the door ....she really got those feet going then.....and that's the last time I have been "pestered" by those type of people......like you, I have nothing against someone talking about their beliefs....I love to share my beliefs with others too, but to those who believe what I do......NOT to someone who has totally different opinions and views....so I know where you are coming from....I often wondered if the lady thought I was into something evil....lol.....and I am not.....Wicca is like any other religion.....good and bad in all of em!....good question there!!
2006-12-01 23:41:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋