Another rant: Using kids to distribute religious literature

[CO Liberal]

It's one thing to answer your door and find a Jehovah's Witness there with a copy of The Watchtower. It's another thing when they have their kids holding the thing, as if you're not gonna refuse to accept anything from a child.

Personally, I just slam the door in their faces.

[glarius]

1. Once years ago when my kids were small a J.W. came to my door with

a couple of small, unhappy looking children dragging along with her...When I told her I wasn't interested in her literature, she noticed my kids and said I was a terrible mother for not ensuring that my children would be going to heaven (by following her religion.)This was on a cold winter day. I looked her in the face and said "I'm the kind of mother that wouldn't drag little children through the snow to be embarrassed while their mother annoys other people!" She never said another word but just tramped off...I never saw her again, though there have been others through the years....

[Trajan]

2. I dont think I would slam the door ....

THAT would be a bit rude for innocent children who know NOT that they are being indoctrinated ...

But: ... I am troubled by the overwhelming amount of theology that some 'child evangelists' are forcefed: ....

Its one thing to have basic belief, as it forms part of a whole personality to consider god and religion and their role in daily life .... but its WHOLLY different when a child is fed a steady diet of creedal polemics, while elbowing out the other 'fun' parts of childhood ...

Strict religionism can be just as devastating as alcoholism is in the dynamic family structure ..... Children should be allowed to be children .... and do childish things ....

[eyesroll]

3. On my college campus, we'd get roving preachers once a year

and my now-husband actually ended up "winning" a book from one of them. It was filled with how his five kids help him convert college-aged sinners to his bizarre brand of fundamentalism (man with long hair? woman with her knees exposed? Smoke? Date? Swear? Listen to popular music? You're going to hell!) , because people listen to little kids who talk like little adults.

<hijack>
Apparently, there's a whole FAQ and newsgroup devoted to Brother Jed.
http://www.eilertech.com/faqs/jedfaq.htm
</hijack>

[markus]

4. What about using (my) kids to drop lit at campaign time?

To each his own. As long as people don't turn the dogs out on people they don't like, I'm all for the freedom of amyone to go up and knock on anyone else's door and proslytyze for their chosen world view.

My kids get a fair amount of political indoctrination at our house as well.

[skrunch]

5. You're One Hot Chick!

"Hi there...I'd just like to brighten your day with some sunshine"...

"Well, you should open your drapes then, sweetie, bring some in"

"Perhaps, your children would be interested in some literature?"

"Nah...that's what my taxes pay for, besides we homeschool"...sorry the place is such a mess..."

"Quite alright, sir..."

"Hey...you're kinda cute!..."

"Perhaps I should speak to the lady of the house"

OK...I'll call a plumber if...HEY!..."

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1014/1014_01.asp

[cherryperry]

6. Yes, it seems

now that every time these proselytizers are at the door, there are 2 or 3 adults with 2 or three children. I wonder what others think of notifying Child Protective Services. I've been thinking about it...maybe they could just make a friendly call to the JW headquarters... What say ye?

[LittleApple81]

7. My husband just says

Get out of my property. And you should be embarrassed to use your child as a shield so I can't tell you what I think about you!