Is this unethical evangelism?

Question

Two ladies knocked on my door with the stated intention of discussing "these times we're living in."

"I am quite satisfied with my present religious status, ma'am," I responded, "and perhaps you didn't notice that this entire complex has a big NO SOLICITING sign."

"We're not soliciting anything," one responded. "We're giving it away."

"Ma'am, you are soliciting my attention for your own purposes," I replied. "Good day."

I then closed the door.

Do you consider door-to-door evangelism despite a NO SOLICITING sign to be unethical? As far as I'm concerned, it's trespassing.

Is anyone so iffy on their choice of religion that they'll convert based on a door-knock? I don't get it.

Answer 1

You were much more accurate in your definition of solicitation than your visitors. Merriam-Webster agrees:

transitive verb
1 a : to make petition to : ENTREAT b : to approach with a request or plea
2 : to urge (as one's cause) strongly
3 a : to entice or lure especially into evil b : to proposition (someone) especially as or in the character of a prostitute
4 : to try to obtain by usually urgent requests or pleas

The creative loophole in ignoring "No Soliciting" signs, that the visitors aren't "selling" anything but giving it away, is transparently disingenuous. It does still amount to soliciting. The posted sign clearly means that those who live in your complex wish to not be "solicited" for anything from Girl Scout cookies to political canvassing ... to a "free gift" of a tract.

Bottom line: If someone has gone to the trouble to post such a sign, it should be respected by anyone whose cause -- religious or not -- involves knocking on doors.

Answer 2

Door-to-door evangelizing is based on the Scripture that says, "Go ye out into the highways and hedges and COMPEL them to come in...." What those ladies said to you HOPEFULLY were said with the best of intentions. Solicitation only involves the sale of something requiring money in exchange. Salvation doesn't require money. They're not trying to convert you, only lead you to where you might be converted. The Scripture I quoted above has the word "compel" highlighted for that very purpose. They cannot convert you unless YOU CHOOSE to be converted. They're only spreading the Word, if they're doing it with Christ and your soul in mind, so don't be too hard on them. If you're satisfied with where you are spiritually, then you indeed have the right to turn them away, but don't call it solicitation. It is merely a witness.

Answer 3

You were quite polite. Luckily the last time the JW's came to our door my husband was asleep or they would have got an earful... I just told them we weren't Christian and to have a nice day. They also talked about the terrible moral decline in our society... I agreed with them but I knew we were talking about two different things. My take on moral decline is how much more forceful the push is nowadays to force people into believing, whereas in the past it has not been as in-your-face as it is now. I'm sure that's not what they had in mind ;-)

Answer 4

I consider it to be trepassing also. I just don't answer the door when people I don't know come up. I think in Texas you can shoot trespassers if you have a No Trespassing sign.

Answer 5

Well, I consider evangelists to be low-rent salespeople and unethical at their core--I mean, look at what they're selling! The question is not is this unethical, but is this illegal, which it is.