People coming to your door

katiewhompus · June 2010

This is a strange question I know, but I'm curious as to what others do.
Since moving I have had groups of Mormons coming to the house 3 times. The first time I didn't answer the door, the second I talked to them for a little while and told them I would call if I wanted further guidance, and the final time Dh just told them we weren't interested and to please leave.

How do you respond when people come to your door to try to preach their faith?

JadziaDax · June 2010

I've never had this happen. I usually don't answer the door, at all, if I don't know the person or am not expecting anyone to visit.

pirategal03 · June 2010

I send FI to talk to them and he changes the subject.

My mom always took whatever literature they had, said that she would read it and consider it, and asked if they wanted a bottle of water to take with them as they continued their rounds. It usually worked and only took a minute to politely send them along.

kellyjellybelly · June 2010

I never, ever answer the door when I'm home alone. Which is, of course, always when the doorbell rings. My neighbors know to call first. It freaks me out.

We do get a lot of random solicitors. Some religious, some not. A few years ago, H (FI at the time) told them we were not interested in being saved and that we were already living in sin. I thought that would make it worse. I really need to get one of those "No solicitors" signs to put in the window.

thesuninherhead · June 2010

I usually let them talk a little, take their brochures if offered but let them know that I'm not interested if they offer to return, and hurry them out the door if they try to spend more than a couple of minutes talking.

That said, since moving to our current house, we've only had two people knock- one tree lopper and one electricity sales company. I think the area's too big to dress up in suits and walk around in.

(Funny you should say Mormons knock. We've only got JW's who do door knocks here... I guess there mustn't be many Australian Mormons).

strawberrycrz · June 2010

I used to get JW's coming to the door when I lived at my parents house. I normally would just not answer and they would leave. One time FI (BF then) and I were in the living room fighting when they came, so we didn't answer the door. The guy actually tried the doorknob before he left. It completely freaked me out.

baystateapple · June 2010

They don't come to my area, and if they do, I've never had it happen.

Although one time they came to my office. I work for a church, so that was pretty ballsy of them.

karmellah · June 2010

i had one come to the door the other day and I said that I left the baby in the bathtub and i couldnt talk. I dont have a baby

tidetravel · June 2010

"I'm sorry, we're pagan," seems to work pretty well for us. Because clearly, pagan = devil worshippers.

danieliza1127 · June 2010

I don't answer the door unless it's someone I know. I have too many horror stories in my head from real life, books, and movies. I just let them ring the doorbell and eventually they'll go away.

pooh8402 · June 2010

"not interested, please leave" is my standard response in this situation

baystateapple · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:44cdd8c3-40e2-4452-9274-b4f487eb1999">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]"I'm sorry, we're pagan," seems to work pretty well for us. Because clearly, pagan = devil worshippers.
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

One of my roommates did this once, only he phrased it as "Oh, come on in! I'll go get my boyfriend. We're pagan, but we're always interested in hearing about other religions!" The JW told him no thank you, said that "Even God has his limits with forgiveness," and left.

microkelly · June 2010

Wow you all are nice. I really don't give them the time of day. I'm not rude but I tell them bluntly "I have my own religion" and shut the door. I think it's rude to go to some else's house uninvited and start preaching.

kellyjellybelly · June 2010

I'm always surprised people at actually stand at my door and wait to see if someone answers, especially with a 90 pound bulldog barking at them like crazy through the side transom window by the front door

MissLeahM · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:162a5f65-968c-487d-8470-6b7f29e51300">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]JW's would come to the door when I lived at home. I haven't had anyone show up at mine. Maybe its a perk of being in an apartment. Sometimes I would talk to them, take their literature and thank them for their time, but most of the time I just wouldn't answer the door.
Posted by lovethebeach16[/QUOTE]

They actually called our apartment.. I didn't mind though, she was the sweetest lady to talk to. She didn't really preach, she asked a few questions some I didn't mind answering but others I told her I didn't want to answer and she left it at that.

MISSCOURTNEY20 · June 2010

When we first moved into our house, JW's always came by but I guess they got tired of being ignored because I never opened the door. I think that it is so rude to ring someone's doorbell early in the morning. You never know what kind of night the people had. Uhg!

shannonalise · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:765b61c2-f3aa-4e32-815f-df332f1ad317">People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]This is a strange question I know, but I'm curious as to what others do. Since moving I have had groups of Mormons coming to the house 3 times. The first time I didn't answer the door, the second I talked to them for a little while and told them I would call if I wanted further guidance, and the final time Dh just told them we weren't interested and to please leave. How do you respond when people come to your door to try to preach their faith?
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

If I see a bible or some other "book" in their hands, I just don't answer the door. If I get stuck answering the door, or happen to run into them, I tell them I am not interested.

SusieQ1981 · June 2010

I don't get religious people, but Hogar Crea sells flan to raise money in our neighborhood & the barking 90 pound mutt usually scares them away before I can answer the door. Last summer a guy actually opened the screen door and stepped into the house when no one answered the doorbell. Luckily the dog was in the backyard at the time or we would have been paying his hospital bills.

[Deleted User] · June 2010

i tell them i'm a devil worshipper.

fpaemp2011 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:cbd0feb4-f279-4303-98e7-0ff732651502">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: People coming to your door : One of my roommates did this once, only he phrased it as "Oh, come on in! I'll go get my boyfriend. We're pagan, but we're always interested in hearing about other religions!" <strong>The JW told him no thank you, said that "Even God has his limits with forgiveness," and left.</strong>
Posted by baystateapple[/QUOTE]

Wow...I'd like to know what verse they got that one from.
Anyways, we moved to a tiny rural county about 14 years ago, and the closest JW church is an hour away in one of the larger cities. They used to come around about once a year, and my parents would invite them in, let them share, and then they would share our faith (we're conservative Baptist). My grandparents who lived on one side of us, and my great-granparents on the other side would do the same thing. (Apparently my great-grandmother would give them some chocolate chip cookies, too) A few years ago, one of the most conservative, almost legalistic pastors in our county moved onto our road, and they got to his house before ours. When they got to our house, my brothers were coming in from hunting at the same time, in full camo with rifles. They got back in the car and left. We found out later that the Pastor down the road had basically preached an entire sermon and I guess they just wanted to go home after that. We believe that sharing our faith is just as important as they believe it is to share theirs', but we try to build relationships with people first and not shove it down their throats.

sarah0725 · June 2010

I'm not rude most of the time, but firm. I find the whole proselytizing thing pretty offensive, and I want them to know that I feel that way.

Two stories from my old apartment:

1. Once I was talking to FI on the phone at about 9:30 at night, and there was a knock on my door. That freaked me out, because I'm a single girl living alone and people shouldn't be knocking on my door last night. It was some Mormon girl, and I really let her have it, because really, she scared me, and nobody should be knocking on doors that late.

2. One Sunday morning I was enjoying lying around my apartment without pants, as one does when one is single, and I once again got the knock on the door. I threw on my bathrobe and opened it to two nicely dressed JWs. They were so embarassed at my scanty attire that they just apologized and left, and I never heard from them again.

kellyjellybelly · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:5703dcc2-e223-43b6-af49-a572d6d42118">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't get religious people, but Hogar Crea sells flan to raise money in our neighborhood & the barking 90 pound mutt usually scares them away before I can answer the door. Last summer a guy actually opened the screen door and stepped into the house when no one answered the doorbell. Luckily the dog was in the backyard at the time or we would have been paying his hospital bills.
Posted by SusieQ1981[/QUOTE]
I would have flipped out. And I'm pretty sure that would be considered trespassing or breaking and entering or something. I would have called the police.

shauni27 · June 2010

two funny stories as well--

1)apparently before i was born, the JW kept coming to my parents house even though they repeatedly were told not to come any more, my parents were not interested in having religion pushed down their throats. well, after about 3 months of constant visits from the JW, my dad answered the door naked. they never came back.

2)years ago when my fiance was living with one of his friends, two young JW guys knocked on their door. fi and his roommate were typical college guys--drinkers among other things. well, they were a little "buzzed" and let the guys in, offered them beer, sat around and talked for about 15 minutes. let the guys give them their shpeel. i think these two young guys were so used to having people shut the doors in their faces, that they really took to my fi and his roommate. they came by about twice a week after that and just came into the house and visited. they would be in their nice suits and just drink water while fi and his roommate (and the rest of their friends) would sit their drinking and smoking. i think they really just liked the interactions with other young guys.

LD1970 · June 2010

The best was when I lived with a roommate who was a witch. If I saw that it was religious types at the door, we'd grab his wooden pentacle and carry it to the door with us. That worked well.

It hasn't happened since I moved, but if it did, I'd do what I did when I lived in Brooklyn Heights, the seat of the local JWs, say, "Yeah, not interested. Bye." It's the same way I handled telemarketers before the "do not call" list.

WhatawagSBNy · June 2010

     A few years ago, I lived in a town where a new Jehovah's Witness church and center was not far, and where they were trying to build a Mormon Temple.

     Home days/ working nights, over and over, the visits. Then I noticed, every one, either group, bypassed the home of the couple across the street, so I went over and asked their secret.

     Neighbor Laurie picked up a pad and pen she had by the door.

     She said whenever they came to the door, she would invite them into the porch.
      Then she would tell them she thought that people understanding each other's faiths and being open to new things was, in her opinion, very important.
      Then she always picked up her pen and pad, and asked for their names and home addresses (and if on missions, they said, we are staying at a mission center, she said - we will find it.).
" I will listen to what you have to say today, and then one day or night this week or next, my husband and I and our whole church outreach committee will come visit each of you."

     For some reason, they scrambled to get out of there and never came back. She said they must keep some kind of contact notes and communicate through their organization. No repeat visits.

     So I got me a pad and pencil, and tried it.

     Once, each group. Later times I would see them on the street, one would turn up our walk , another would put a hand on their arm, point to some paper, and they would move on.

     It is like the Boston Bus and Subway system. If you rock back and forth a little, make slurpy sounds, and quietly talk to yourself -   people not only leave you alone, you get an empty seat on either side of you so you can put your stuff down.

katiewhompus · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:44cdd8c3-40e2-4452-9274-b4f487eb1999">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]"I'm sorry, we're pagan," seems to work pretty well for us. Because clearly, pagan = devil worshippers.
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

I used to this, because it's half truth (no I'm not a devil worshiper) along with give them pamphlets and offer a book on How To Talk to Nature. Those were back in my "I hate all Christians and they all suck" phase which I was eased out of during college.

I've used my normal line of "I have the book already from another group, I'll call you if I need guidance" works, but these guys came back 2 days later. Ugh. Hopefully Dh scared them away and I'm just going to stop answering the door. Luckily my house has many windows I can look out of and see who's there.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · June 2010

1. We had some Mormon missionaries come talk to us when I was in high school (in a religion class) and they were really cute. Then again, I went to an all-girls high school and these guys were about 20 years old.

2. My dad's aunt was sick of JWs coming to her house, so she put up a sign that said, "No Jehovah's Witnesses Allowed." I don't think I'd recommend that route. (My mom was like, "is that even legal?")

katiewhompus · June 2010

Mery, there is a huge "no soliciting" sign on the entrance to my neighborhood. I mean, technically it's on their property, so while it might get side-eyed I don't think it would be illegal.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-coming-door?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bb5776bb-2e59-44e5-87fb-cb92b5ddc1f4Post:60562c46-e6c3-489f-b41f-f851a3bbd172">Re: People coming to your door</a>:
[QUOTE]Mery, there is a huge "no soliciting" sign on the entrance to my neighborhood. I mean, technically it's on their property, so while it might get side-eyed I don't think it would be illegal.
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, that's totally fine, I'm just not sure if you can pick and choose which groups don't solicit based on religion. ;-) It's probably fine, though, consider it's private property. She was an old, kooky, hypochondriac anyway, so it didn't surprise anyone.

smokeybailey · June 2010

I ask them if they are selling tamales and when they say no, I tell them that I must have the wrong place and close the door.

It's rude but it always made my sister laugh.

lisarose7 · June 2010

I had friends in HS who are JWs so I was always polite when people came to the door to preach. I'd listen for a moment but tell them that I was comfortable with my current religion and tell them to have a nice day. FI was raised JW, but decided not to join the church as an adult. Now if a JW comes to the door, I inform them that FI is an apostate and they immediately leave. Technically he isn't, though. An apostate is someone who joined the church and either defected or has been kicked out. However, JWs cannot associate with apostates, so informing them that there is an apostate in residence will usually result in their telling me to have a nice day and leaving.

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