Fundies knocked on the door, and I mistakenly answered.

[Kansas Wyatt]

ON EDIT: Okay, they may have been Mormons. I didn't really listen to what they were pitching, since I didn't seek their opinion and they were knocking on my door. To me, anyone like that is a fundie and I don't check the religious team that they are playing for, since they are trying to push their religion on me at my home. And no, I would not even accept their literature.
***********
Anyway, they didn't get to pitch their line and set the hook. So there I was, my arms folded the whole time as two male kids tried to work their Christian Magic on me.

I interrupt, and asked what political party they backed. 'What? We are not affiliated with politics like other churches, and it's up to the individual,' was the reply.

So they again try to work the Christian Magic on me, and I interrupt again and ask, how they viewed political divisive issues, such as abortions and gays. Again, 'we don't get involved with politics, and then the long spew on all of God's children and right ways and wrong ways blah blah blah.' Frankly I didn't care about the gay issue, but they seemed to focus on that for some reason.

I'm getting bored, so I interrupt again. How rude of me, but for Christ's sake, it was right after supper and I wanted to get to the DU. So, I ask about how they feel on the stem cell issue. 'What? We don't know what you are talking about. We've never heard of that, what is it, are babies aborted for it?' I'm thinking, you liars know exactly what I'm talking about, but they refused claim any knowledge of it, so I could not unload on them for my own medical problems and tell them to get the hell out of here. Such perfect young gentlemen liars, they are.

Anyhow, they keep trying to push their religious stuff on me, and I resist. Kept telling them that there is too much religion in politics, therefore it's killing their program. They ask me more questions, can't remember what and I think I answered them, oh hell I don't know, it was all blah blah blah, as I kept saying there is too much religion in politics. One of them said, yea we get that a lot. So more blah blah blah, do you pray? No. Blah blah blah, do you believe in a Heavenly Father. No, well maybe, but not the same as you (made me think of GW Bush for some reason, which made me more determined). They bring up Adam and Eve, I bring up dinosaurs and ask how long ago that was. They say a couple million years ago. So I ask, so when did God create Adam and Eve according to the bible? They are stumped, but muster out, well time in the bible isn't exactly like our time and God goes by his time, and God provided dinosaurs so we can have fossil fuels. I make it a point to make sure they see my eyes roll and give them a look of complete disapproval with their reply.

One said that government and politicians are easily corrupted, but that's.... I cut him off, and said so are churches. He agreed, and finished his statement about the Heavenly Father. They asked me if there was anything I needed help with or needed. Nope, nothing you have or can give. How do I know they ask. Trust me, move on because there is too much religion in politics. Yea, we hear that from a lot of people. I ask, so are you associated with the Christian Coalition or any of those groups at all. They roll their eyes, no we don't have anything to do with those groups. I'm thinking shit, just give me a reason to tell you where to go. They keep bring up praying, while I'm thinking, wasn't that suppose to be between me and God anyway.

One is saying that he communicates with God. Couldn't help myself and ask, does God talk to you? He said that God has communicated with him (they are on the part about prophets blah blah blah). So I say, what prayer has God answered. He says that he was missing something and prayed that God would let him find what he was missing (he forgot what it was that he was missing though). So he prays, and gets a mental picture, looks there behind the chair, and it was there. Poor kid, by this point I didn't have the heart to unload on him, so I just let it go, while thinking this guy is an idiot and needs new material. The other one still wanted to talk about prophets and wanted to know if I believed, so had him explain a little very briefly. I stopped him (I know I'm awe fully rude about that), and said, oh that's all that rapture stuff isn't it. He says, well Christ did walk the earth. Really, I say! So is he coming back, where? Well that's why there are prophets blah blah blah. Again I say, there's too much religion in politics, since that seems to shut them up. I know, I asked him, but he was boring me again.

So in the end they wanted to know if they could come back. No! Well then, could they pray with me? No, again! Thanked me for my time, and wanted me to know that if there was ever anything that I needed, look them up. Nope, afraid not. They give their names and ask me mine, which I gave, but for some reason I kept thinking that I was going to be entered into some sort of database with the government on a watch list.

So, how did I do?

I gave them too much of my time, didn't I?

[cmd]

1. Look at it this way

The more time they spent with you, the less time they had to do damage else where. Good work.

[laheina]

8. That's an excellent way to look at it!

I'll remember that next time I'm pretending that I'm not home.

:hide:

[Thtwudbeme]

2. When I was working as a paramedic, I sometimes picked up rural

48 hours shifts.

One long shift, I had to work a wreck in the very early morning (like 3:00AM) got off work at 7:00AM. I was so tired, that despite having blood in my hair, and some on my shirt, (I lived alone) I feel asleep on the couch immediately when I got home.

ONE HOUR later...banging at the door.

I got up and answered it half asleep....fundies.

The sight of me scared them so damned badly that they shoved some literature in my hand and ran. I went back to bed....and when I woke up glanced at what they had left---

"God can even help you with drug problems."

I never, ever saw them again!

[bahrbearian]

13. From now on I'll keep a bottle of ketchup by the door.

[NC_Nurse]

3. You did well

I don't think it's bad to spend time introducing a few other points of view into these brainwashed kids minds. :toast:

[Mythsaje]

4. You want amusement, invite an atheist or a pagan

over to discuss the matter with these folks some time. It's rollicking entertainment.

[havocmom]

9. Especially fun if the pagan goes skyclad

:evilgrin:

[Mythsaje]

16. This usually results in a outright flight from the scene...

LOL

[kiraboo]

5. Some here would say yes.

I think that anything you can say to interject their spiel with common sense is worthwhile. People often claim that logic has no place in faith, and that is true. Nevertheless, logic has an affect on the human mind (now and then!) and at some point in the future, your words might have a worthwhile effect on the young lads. For the same reason it is always worth putting your thoughts out there, even in the most hostile intellectual environment. Who knows how they might resonate? We cannot always know what effect we have on the lives of others.

[laheina]

14. You think that faith and logic are incompatible?

I'm inclined to think the opposite. Blind faith is a scary thing.

[kiraboo]

20. I think that people of faith are capable of endorsing ideas

that are logically impossible or fallacious, because their faith allows or even compels it. Contrary evidence is discounted. The stronger the faith, the greater power it has to trump reality. This does not mean, in my opinion, that faith and logic are mutually exclusive; rather, that for some people, the one is used to circumvent the other.

[laheina]

25. Good answer!

That's more along the lines of what I think.

For a second, I had the impression that you meant that they were mutually exclusive or that people of faith were completely without reason. I've seen similar opinions from time to time.

[Zhade]

39. Very, very good point.

The ability to believe something for which there is absolutely zero objective evidence - e.g. "Jesus rose from the dead" - allows for the belief in other unproven things, like "Iraq/Iran has nukes".

[Richard Steele]

6. "God provided dinosaurs so we can have fossil fuels"

Yes, you gave them too much of your time.

[SimpleMan]

7. Sounds like you got visited by Mormon missionaries...

Not quite as bad as a true fundie.

[laheina]

10. That's what I was thinking. nt

[Kansas Wyatt]

17. All the same to me, since I didn't ask for their presence.

That could explain them not gobbling up my baits. They still earned zero credibility points with me, regardless of the religious team they are playing on.

If it wasn't a true fundie, them I'm upset and intrigued about how one of those visits would go over.

[JerseygirlCT]

27. I've never even had them get pushy

The JWs are very pushy; the LDS boys are very polite. I say "no thanks, we're set!" and they say "thanks, ma'am, good-bye" and leave.

[Yupster]

30. That's what it sounds like to me

Each kid has to do a one year mission trip away from his family I think before he starts colleg.

They come by my house every couple of years.

I always offer them a drink of water and a chance to use the bathroom. I read a USA Today story which followed two of the youths and bathrooms while on their bikes was their biggest complaint.

[Warpy]

11. They haven't bothered me in years and years

because they'd invariably bang on the door and lean on the doorbell just after I'd gotten to sleep after a 12 hour night shift. I'd fling open the door, hair going every which way and murder in my eye and yell "THIS PLACE BETTER BE ON FIRE!!!!"

They left hastily and didn't come back. It took me about 6 months of that performance to get rid of all the denominations, including the JWs.

Another acquaintance invited them in and tried to sell them Amway. That worked, too.

[Thtwudbeme]

12. omg, read my post above

;)

[Poppyseedman]

15. Sounds like you had some Mormons knocking on your door.

The vast majority of door to door proselytizing is done by brainwashed kids belonging to religious cults, not evangelical fundamental christians.

Evangelical fundamental christians typically will proselytize at social functions and meetings. Ask about your life and how Christ has added meaning to their life. Ask you to come to their church and check it out.

Of course there are the exceptions. Some churches require evangelical outreach to remain members in good standing, but that is not very common especially in today's seeker type Churches.

My suggestion is to ask politely to move away from the door as not be injured as I close it.

My experiences with the ones who knock on my door is to invite them in and I ask them the questions. I am quite versed on the various cults and their belief systems and know what they believe better than the kids knocking on my door do.

[Duer 157099]

18. were they dressed in dark pants and white shirts?

If so, they were likely Mormons. They sound like it anyway. I've had a couple of them (young fellas) coming to my door and I accidentally answered and engaged them in discussion for awhile, and then they kept coming back until I finally told them that it was no use, they'd never convert me.

I think many of them are very unaware of the political and some of the other social issues you raised. We at DU are the exception in terms of being aware, don't underestimate that.

I feel sorry for these young kids who go out doing this ("missionary work" I think they call it). They're just tools.

[Yupster]

31. Well we say not to mix religion and politics, and here were these

two young men out prosthelitizing saying they had no interest in politics. They were there for religious reasons.

Isn't that what we want?

[bluerum]

19. You have the patience of a saint. eom

[mtnsnake]

21. LOL, you were great!

I would love to have been there listening to the three of you going at it. Personally, I think all of you came out winners, just because it sounded like you had fun toying with 'em and were polite at the same time!

Recommended!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

22. Next time,

just politely say, "I have my own belief system, and I'm glad you have yours. And we can both be glad that we have a Constitution that allows us each to believe the way we want to. Good day."

[ThomCat]

23. Bravo!

You did wonderfully!

I'm impressed and entertained by your account. :P

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. What part of Overland Park are you in?

I am in the northern part. Do I have to watch for these fundies knocking on my door?

[Kansas Wyatt]

28. Southwest of 435 & 69

But they may have not been actual fundies, but they were pushing their religion on me at home. It's all the same to me at that point. I would have spent more time messing with them, but I was standing outside in a t-shirt.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. We call that LaLa Land

here in the old part of OP. I try to stay north of 95th St. :evilgrin:

You are a better person than I am; I would have told them off and impolitely asked them to leave me the fuck alone. We used to get quite a few. There is that bible school at 74th and Metcalf and they cruised the area fairly regularly for years. But it's been quite a while since they came to our house. Maybe they just avoid our house now; like it has the mark of Satan or something. :)

[hobbit709]

26. I have a sign

in 4-in high letters in Headhunter font(all the letters are made of bones) that says:
"IF YOU'RE TO PREACH OR PRAY
THEN JUST Y0U GO AWAY"
Haven't been bothered in years.

[kineneb]

29. they visit here rarely

neighbors all have loud dogs inside fenced yards... Last time they visited, Hubby introduced them to the concrete lawn Buddha sitting in the front yard and they went away.

[Yupster]

32. I tell them that I'm involved and happy

with my church and they leave happy enough.

They always accept a drink of water.

The mission is something they have to do. I'm sure it's very difficult. Leaving your home and being basically a door to door salesman for a year.

They are looking for people who have no reliion and are looking for one. They have a regular rotation of visiting the people who allow them to at regular intervals for the whole year. I like that their nametags say "Elder Brian" when they're 18 years old.

Anyway, I'm polite and offer them a drink and they've given me a Book of Mormon which I haven't ever read but maybe I will someday.

One interesting thing about the Mormon Church, and I'm not a member (Methodist) so I may not have this all right, but I think you have to be a Mormon to get into heaven, and therefore Mormons will pray their non-Mormon ancestors into heaven long after they've died. That's why the Mormon Church has such a good geneological library.

[seabeyond]

33. you did fine. i welcome these people that come to my home

i know christianity, the bible, christ conscious..... i will take anyone on. i talk and talk and talk. they try leaving, getting away from me, but i dont let them go. bah hahahahah. the last couple guys i told them i was pissed at religion. not christ, christ and i are doing jsut fine, but religion. i wont support the kids on their fund raising as long as christianity is promoting hate. that would be me walking away from christ to support religion at this time, and that i refuse to do

[riderinthestorm]

34. Thanksgiving Day, years ago at my FIL's place

in upstate NY. His yard is decorated already with Christmas stuff: angels, santas, a creche - you name it, he had it. He was a devout Roman Catholic (my husband and I are atheists).

So we had JUST finished dinner and we are all sitting around stuffed when the doorbell rings. I jump up as the good daughter-in-law trying to be helpful and answer the door.

There they were, some kind of fundamentalist sect trying to hand me literature (they never did give me any literature).

I said as cheerfully as I could, "we're Jewish!" Assuming that they would realize this was a joke with the Christmas paraphernalia already decorating his lawn.

I tell ya, they reeled back off that porch like I was the spawn of Satan himself. I couldn't believe it! It was a fucking miracle. I get a chuckle even now, a decade or more later at the thought of their horrified faces as they literally RAN away....

My husband and I are farmers so we never get the door-to-door fundies - it's a good half mile to my nearest neighbor - definitely NOT conducive to door-to-door prosyltizing. I'm actually bummed since I can't wait to use my "line" at whoever comes next and see if it works on all of them! Kinda like Raid on the wasp nests....

[president4aday]

35. Once I hear or see anything that suggests religion,

I open the door and say "We're not interested". and close it.

Sounds rude, but so is the conceited assumption that complete strangers, often many times their
age, will accept spiritual guidance from two kids who've just learn to shave.

[yourout]

36. about 30 years ago when I was a teenager growing up on a dairy farm...

Several female Johavas Witnesses dressed in their sunday best stopped by the farm while I was cleaning out calf pens. It was a warm summer day and the smell I was irradiating was very very pungent. For every step I took toward them they took a step toward there car. After a very brief exchange they threw a Watchtower at me and made a b-line for their next stop.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. I think you did give them probably too much time

My family is Christian but we don't take those doors either so don't feel bad when you don't either. ;)

[bedazzled]

40. i had someone come up to me in a parking lot saying to read the bible

because the end times are coming.

i told her no thanks, because i think that some folks who believe as she does are working day and night to help the end times along.

i have less patience for this stuff the older i get

[deadcenter]

41. as long as I'm

not in the middle of something else, I enjoy chatting with them and providing them with different points of view from those that they've grown up with. I don't believe in organized religion as the hipocrisy and corruption are far too rampant to give them any credibility. The last pair came by about two years ago, I asked if god is all knowing, why do I need a church to act as my interpreter if I want to talk to him?

Time before that, maybe 9 or 10 years ago, I was in grad school, we were lounging around on a Saturday morning and I hadn't had nearly enough coffee. Opened the door and was introduced to Elder Smith and Elder Jones, to which I replied, "Elder than what?" That conversation didn't last nearly as long. Usually I try to be a bit more polite or at least not downright rude.