Earlier today I was preparing my bath water when the doorbell rang. I went to see who was there and there they were! Normally I will listen but I was water running and wanted to relax. So for about 1 minute I listened to them talk about today’s events and I flat out told them "look I am a political science major and I am quite sure I know more about what’s going on then you, now if you don’t mind I have a bath to take" I then accepted their little brochure and said good bye.
How should I have acted differently?
2006-12-20 07:50:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Jehovah's Witnesses" thank you
2006-12-20 07:58:00 · update #1
As one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I feel there is nothing wrong with how you handled it. You were just being honest. It was an inconvenient time. I doubt the brother or sister at the door took any offense at all. The fact that you are worried about it shows what a good hearted person you are.
2006-12-20 20:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I probably would have left out the bit about being better educated than they. There's no way you could know what level of education they have achieved; I've known university professors who were religious. I'd have simply said, "I'm afraid I'm busy just now and don't have time. I know you're doing this as part of your faith, but I'm really not interested. I really have to go. I have water running in the bath."
I'm a Humanist, but I believe in religious freedom and freedom of expression. As long as Jehovah's Witnesses and other proselytizers don't call too early or too late, and have the decency to accept it when I say "Now is not a good time" or I'm really not interested," then I have no problem with them.
2006-12-20 15:59:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are busy, and then tell them it is not a convenient time, they will call again later if you wish. I'm sure they wish to apologize.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not force their message on anyone. If you choose to listen: fine. If not, that is your decison. There is no obligation. I hope you will take a look at their little brochure.
The worldwide work of Jehovah's Witnesses is supported by voluntary donations.
Jesus foretold for our day this work: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” He also instructed his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20.
When Jesus sent out his early disciples, he directed them to go to the homes of the people. (Matthew 10:7, 11-13.) The apostle Paul said regarding his ministry: “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.”—Acts 20:20, 21; see also Acts 5:42.
The message that the Witnesses proclaim involves the lives of people; they want to be careful to miss no one. (Zephaniah 2:2, 3.) Their calls are motivated by love—first for God, also for their neighbor.
A conference of religious leaders in Spain noted this: “Perhaps (the churches) are excessively neglectful about that which precisely constitutes the greatest preoccupation of the Witnesses—the home visit, which comes within the apostolic methodology of the primitive church. While the churches, on not a few occasions, limit themselves to constructing their temples, ringing their bells to attract the people and to preaching inside their places of worship, [the Witnesses] follow the apostolic tactic of going from house to house and of taking advantage of every occasion to witness.”—El Catolicismo, Bogotá, Colombia, September 14, 1975, p. 14.
If you would like further information or a free home Bible study at a time convenient for you, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org
2006-12-20 18:47:00 · answer #3 · answered by Jeremy Callahan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This questioner behaved better than many who had manifested impatience with Jehovah's Witnesses. However, there seems to have been little evidence upon which he might have justifiably supposed himself better informed about current events than his visitors.
Many of Jehovah's Witnesses make it a point to keep up with current events specifically so that they can discuss these matters intelligently during their house to house ministry.
Jehovah's Witnesses also prefer to leave their literature only with those who will read them (but of course there is no real obligation for a householder to do so).
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm
2006-12-20 17:55:52 · answer #4 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you were not mean at all. Say it was the pizza guy and you ordered a pizza, but he just kept jabbering on, wouldn't you nip it in the butt? Rule of thumb- when someone knocks on your door unexpectedly, which they always do, they are the ones that should have consideration to the fact that they, at that time, are interupting YOUR routine and day. So they technically have to just deal with it! Heck, I ask who it is, and sometimes I just walk away from the door and don;t even open it! If I am busy, I am busy.Now take that bath and relax!
2006-12-20 15:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by big mommasweeta 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that sounded good.
lets be honest. you had something more important to consider rather than listening to a bunch of losers try to sell you something you dont need. the bath water was running and leaving it alone isnt exactly a good idea, you ended the conversation honestly...so....
i say that was a great way to do it. now what i do is cruel...you? that? that was perfectly fine.
2006-12-20 15:54:18 · answer #6 · answered by johnny_zondo 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I put a blood donor sticker on my door. They don't bother me anymore. What you said, was a little curt and rude, but so is bothering people in their private homes, I also believe that 2 wrongs don't make a right. You can try better next time. Blessings to you!
2006-12-20 15:55:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You handled it fine. I don't think you were rude at all.You are nicer to them than I am, but I was one of them in 1975 when they was telling everyone that the world was going to end that year.
2006-12-20 16:23:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you said it just fine. You were a lot LESS abrupt then 99% of the people they try to lecture to on a daily basis. These are religious fanatics. They decided to come and interrupt YOUR day, you didn't invite them.
2006-12-20 15:56:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Not at all differently. When a stranger comes knocking at your door they NEED to understand the inconvenience on your personal time.
besides they're not concerned about your soul...just about how many numbers they can get in an hour.
2006-12-20 15:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋