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Nice. Polite. They don't deserve to be treated poorly just for trying to spread their message.
First Im always polite.
I have had many Mormons knock at my door.
they have always been very smartly dressed.
Always been very polite.
I have seen people be rude to them and they have turned the other cheek.
I have on times invited them in and discussed religion with them - Im an atheist but love discussing such things.
They have always left in a polite way.
So they dont deserve any rudeness in my opinion.
Honestly? I try not to answer, and if I do, I politely (and sometimes not so nicely) tell them to scram. I hate the door to door thing.
But then sometimes I like to pick up thier bill in a restraunt, most missionaries are dirt poor.
I remain nice, yet firm and advise them I have my beliefs and thank them for stopping by and tell them to have a great day.
I try to be nice to anyone that knocks on my door until given a reason not to be.
Yes, I try to make the time to talk with them.
I am polite because I respect their zeal in preaching publicly. I frequently go out in my ministry from house to house myself.
I will speak with them about the Bible, but they seem to prefer to speak to me about the book of Mormon.
I was nice and polite when they used to stop by... I try not to be mean to anyone who honestly believes they are doing a good thing.
They dont come by anymore, though, since I told them that I am athiest and that I had a very close friend who was a member of LDS and after 4 years of friendship she couldn't convert me either.
I guess I'm on the "Don't Bother" list now.
I am very nice and respectful to them, as I would be to anyone else. I don't blame them for trying to witness to me, because, as a missionary, I would do the same to them. Their faith leads them to believe that witnessing is tantamount, as does mine, just I have a different story behind my faith than they do.
If they came, I would invite them in and we would have a calm discussion so that I would be assured that if they are going to reject Christianity, they at least have a true understanding of what they are rejecting (most Mormons I have talked to have no clue what an evangelical Christian actually believes).
I am always open to religious discussions with anyone, and won't bash anyone for their faith. I just want them to have an understanding of my faith as I seek to do the same with theirs; hopefully the result is a conversion, but the choice is theirs.
This depends entirely upon when they knock. I'm not very nice anymore, though, because I've asked them to stop coming. If they ignore that, they are being rude to me.
Just because you may not agree with someone's particular beliefs, is no excuse to be rude.
I go for the middle ground.
Nice + Rude = Nude.
im nice to everyone...arent you
As a practicing J.W. who also does the door to door ministry, I have had two young Mormon men come to my door.
after a ten minute discussion on the Bible, they felt a bit outclassed as to their Bible scripture knowledge. I was quite willing to even compare the scrioptures from their K.J.V. Aand my N.W.T.
They seemed keen to give the Bibles a miss and get to the book of Mormon.
I insisted we stay with God's word.
They left me standing at my own door.
Im nice to them even though I dont think I agree with them. I have never really heard the whole message, but have heard a lot of people badmouth them for things that are probably not true.
No one deserves a door slam for doing what they think is "saving" your soul. Even if they are wrong.
I am Nice. About 5 years ago I allowed two men into my home, one was young and apparently a trainee. They confirmed that I have Christian beliefs and told me that the Mormon faith is also Christian. I responded that I find that the Book of Mormon conflicts with the Bible. They went into defensive mode and tried to show me that their book has no conflicts. They failed to find Bible passages that support the Book of Mormon, but asked to return next week and I agreed. After about 5 return visits with a rotation of unsuccessful missionaries they stopped returning. They have not returned since, so I presume I am on the “Do Not shake-up the Fledgling Missionaries List”.
Nice . They are polite why would I not be the same?.
I hope I am polite to everyone that rings my doorbell
yes i use to be nice to them and infact thank the 2 missionaries that stopped by my house b/c if it wasnt for them i would of never been converted. i have been baptized in the mormon church and now live one of the most happy times of my life. i really must say that anybody whose door gets knocked on by 2 mormons do listen to their message b/c out of all the religions it is the one that makes the most sense. serioulsy. i was a die hard baptist that had been brain washed my entire life but i eventually coudlnt deny the fact that they could answer all my questions while the preachers could not.
They are just doing their thing and are harmless. Most will accept an 'I'm not interested thankyou' and move on.
if they are cute il be nice and deny them politely but if not... il kick their asses :p kidding!!
il deny them politely, they are still humans who deserve to be respected and just want to share what faith do they have...
G'day John1513,
Thank you for your question.
I am nice to them and politely tell them that I am not interested. They then try their luck elsewhere.
Regards
Yeah im nice to them, haven't had one knock on my door in a long time but yea.
I love missionaries. They knock because I've invited them over ^_^
To save 10 Grand and spend 2 years of your life totally devoted to something you truly believe... Any thing in life could benefit from passion like that.
When *any* missionary knocks on my door I will send them away immediately, but politely.
"No thanks."
If they do not get the message I will stop being polite.
I put up a sign that says no salesmen, no questionnaires and no surveys welcome.
No one comes to my door unless I invite them.
I try to be nice and polite, but in a way that I know will scare the Bergeezus out of them.
I'll invite them in, making sure that I have the curtains on my satanic shrine at least partially closed, and I'll try to mop up most of the blood before I let them in.
Make sure to have a full glass of red wine in my hand when I open the door, and maybe offer them "Something to drink," in a vaguely menacing sort of way shortly after they sit down.
That sort of thing.
I like to send them running and screaming across the yard.
But I don't really like to be overtly mean about it.
I've never had any Mormon missionaries knock on my door. I'd be nice. What I've always wanted to do if they ever did come around was answer the door in the nude just to see their reaction. XD I probably never will though lol.
I consider it polite, although they might not. It annoys me slightly that they come to my door trying to convert me, as though I did not have a brain and could not think for myself. I tire of them very quickly if they are anything less than respectful.
It depends on my mood really; most times I tell them (as nicely as I can) to go away and never to bother me again with their stories and beliefs. Occasionally if I am in the mood I will listen to them, if they listen to my beliefs first for an equal time, which seems more than fair.
Overall I think I am as polite to these people as their behaviour warrants.
We very rarely get mormons knocking on our door. We live in the countryside (UK) and it would be hard for them to find our house.
In the past though, when I lived nearer to Manchester, we occassionally had them come a knockin' . I would always be polite but firm, it would always be a Sunday morning, and they would have usually got me out of bed, sometimes after I'd just got back in after turning the Jehovas Witnesses away. I'd feel sorry for them, so I wouldn't be rude, even though I found it rude of them to wake me up on a Sunday morning....
There is never any point in being rude. That is never called for. Besides, they are doing what they believe is right and sacrificing two years of their lives for that prupose. I will be polite.
I disagree with most of these responses. I think that folks have the right to lead by example, and then to answer question when and if I come to them. But I believe that door to door sales of religious ideas is,in every sense of the word,pure coersion. As this is unsolicited, they have no right to politeness. this is just wrong. However I am generally polite but firm. I'll tolerate NO further discussion of the matter and they must go away. Others are required to have a permit to sell things door to door. Why would these folks not be required to do the same?
I used to be polite to them, but after asking them repeatedly not to return (they were coming every Saturday for awhile) I had to resort to other means to get a good late sleep on saturday.
I'm not rude to them, but I enjoy putting them in awkward situations. No one else rings my doorbell so early on Saturday So I started doing things like answering the door with porn and booze in hand and a cigarette dangling out the corner of my mouth. When that didn't scare them off I just stopped putting on clothing all together before I answered the door (since I was always still in bed when they rang). They stopped coming shortly there after.
Im rude to most people without even thinking about it. Why should the missionairies have it easy?
I do what I can do best to be polite. I do not answer the door.
I'm not rude but definately not friendly because I don't believe that way and I don't like people knocking on my door to try to convert me to a false religion. If they want to come in and have me tell them the truth, I don't mind. But they won't listen.
I am polite, but I wouldn't say I'm "nice."
I treat them as I do telemarketers. I allow them their opening spiel, and at the first opportunity I say, "Thank you, but I'm not interested." I continue to say this in response to anything else they say, until they nod their heads and turn away. Once a woman would not turn away so after three or four "I'm not interested"s I said, "I'm closing the door now, have a good day" and I gently closed the door in her face. This is the rudest I have been to a missionary or telemarketer.
Once I lived with a man who would get extremely agitated by missionaries and would be very rude with them. I never understood that. I mean, first of all, if they upset you so much, there's no one saying you have to open the door: if you pretend you aren't there, they'll go away. Second of all, what about general love for human kind?
I was a mormon missionary. I would never treat a jehovas witness, a baptist minister, a evangelical, or anyone else rudely. I follow the example of the savior who was kind to all men. He has said to "do the works ye have seen me do" to me that also implies kindness to all
Well..stop me if you've heard this one..
Two Mormons came to the door..
"hi! We would like to tell you about Jesus Christ and.."
"Hold on" I says excitedly "I've got something happening out back.. can you wait 5 minutes?"
"Sure" comes the polite response with a big cheesy grin.
Well.. I head inside.. pour myself a cup of Joe, sit down, read a bit of the paper.. "Oh right" I remember going back to the front door..
"Hi again" I say to the two neatly dressed guys standing exactly where I left them.."Just give me a couple more minutes I'll be right with you..that ok?"
"Sure.. we've got all day" came the genuinely nice response.
Closing the door yet again I go back to the paper and my coffee only remembering to go back to the door after reading something funny in Dilbert..
"Hi guys.." I say faking out of breath.."Would you just give me 5 more minutes.."I emphasise holidng up my right hand.. "I just have something AMAZING happening out the back.."
"Oh really" the taller one says excitedly "Anything we can help with" he says trying to peer around behind me..
"oh no.." I respond blocking his view "I'll be back and I'll tell you all about it"..
"Alright!" says the other guy..
I close the door and head off to the head and come back to the door about 10 minutes later..
"Wow!" I say leaning on the door post catching my breath.."WOW!" I repeat with feigned exclamation "You should see what just happened!"
"What? What just happened?!" they both sang almost in time..
"Well.." I pause for effect.. "I was out the back yard watering the grass and this HUUUUGE bright shining light came out of nowhere.." I blurt looking towards the sky.."..and out of the light this HUUUUGE big old angel descends down and stands before me.. " I look at them both and begin to detect a hint of disbelief..
"He says to me.. "I continue unpreturbed.."MICHAEL! I have something for you! the angel boomed at me.. I was sure they could here it in the next town!.. anyway.. he hands me this massive golden tablet and a pair of crazy glasses and says that I will interpret the weird writing on the tablets, I have to form a church and marry lots of wives and one day I will get to go to the planet where god is..but first I have to tell everyone and show the world the way to eternal life!!!" I finish excitedly looking from one elder to another.. their disbelief was plain and obvious..
I say faking hurt.."What?.. you don't believe me?"
The taller one crosses his arms.. "No way.. we don't believe you.."
I state triumphantly.. "Well..Why should I believe anything you're going to tell me?" and politely close the door.
I'm very secure in my faith and am happy to talk to the missionaries. I came from their faith into a relationship with the TRUE God and am happy to tell them about Him. I know how they feel since I was once a missionary and I know how I feel in my relationship with God and that is something I want to share. What does it speak of our character if we are mean or ugly to them?
I like to ask them in for a cup of tea and get their addresses out of them. Then I like to call around their house at dinner time or even better, late at night and talk to them about the benefits of AMWAY.
I'm polite, but direct. I just say, "Thanks, but I have no interest in your message.." they don't usually press further.
I don't believe in treating anyone rude as I am treated rudely at times in my door to door visits as a J.W. Yesterday, when this man came to my door trying to sell me a book of coupons for Midas, I was even nice to him and let him give me the sales pitch even though I did not purchase it.
I am nice
As a former Mormon missionary, I always appreciated polite people. As well, I always respected people's wishes, meaning if I was asked to leave I would leave.
Therefore, I always allow other such to come into my home. I know how hard it is to be out there simply trying to help the condition of the world in any way possible. I know how discouraging it is to talk to people only in the interest of showing them something that I have come to love only to have them slam the door in my face, yell or swear at me, throw things at me, spit at me, threaten to call the cops on me and many other things.
On the same note, those who claim what I was doing was arrogance are in error. I was simply trying to spread the message I have come to love to the most possible people. If you bleieve something but don't care about it enough to tell everyone you know and more then perhaps you should reevaluate your motives. I got nothing for my Missionary work except the opportunity to speak with hundreds of different people with many different beliefs.
You don't have to listen - that's your own personal choice. You don't have to let them in - also your choice. Just please be pleasant. It helps them. They're people too.
But the funniest stories often come from the people who slam, yell, swear, throw and spit. So, if you must, so be it.
I am polite the first time, but if they continuously come around, I just pull out my bible, and say "I will listen to you, if you listen to me also". They normally do not want to. I also let them know that God never spoke of a second bible, anytime during the first one, so I do not take it as my belief. You do not have to be rude, just honest with them. They do respect that, and I respect thier beliefs, and what they do, despite all the door slams in thier faces.
Since I have a "No Soliciting" sign on the door, I generally don't get strangers knocking! :) Were they to knock on the door and were I to open it, I'd simply politely reply "no thank you" and shut the door without further conversation. I do the same to telephone solicitors too (except I hang up the phone).
At 9 in the morning on the Saturday after a really really really great Friday what passes between myself and the various door to door missionaries and salesmen can be heard quite a few houses away.
Otherwise I'm polite but firm.
Ive never met any Mormons - i live in NY and dont know any- if one did knock on my door- he would probably get a very hard time because i dont go for people disturbing me- but maybe not- i sleep during the day but people never take that into consideration. i might be nice- u never know- depends on my mood- i am curious about them though- since ive never seen one before- only on south park.
well you shuld treat everyone equaly. if you were in their postion would you want to be treated rudly?
If they are nice I am nice. I start with a simple no thank you and if they leave without a "but have you heard blah blah blah" I generally say something like "have you heard about he guy who invited the door to door salesman into his house so he could kill him and eat him?"
I'm really neither - probably more on the "nice" side.
Whenever someone comes to the door, the dogs, (three black labs, and one rat terrier - usually the loudest of the bunch) are barking, loudly, I'm yelling at them loudly, I sit in my wheelchair either inside the screen door (with the dogs barking and me trying to shut them up), listen to them give a short sales pitch, and usually take the pamphlet they give me, saying we'll see, and they go away. (And I usually toss whatever they give me.)
The tacit implication is that if they come in, the dogs will eat the alive. In actuality, they'd probably jump on them, lick them and smell them, as they do anyone else new who comes in. I just never dissuade them of that fact. ;-)
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You're reading When Mormon missionaries knock on your door, are you nice or rude to them?
Comments
No doubt. Why be rude to anybody?
by Darryl61 on January 10th, 2007
I agree, there is no reason to be rude, just tell them how you feel politely.
by turbowray on January 27th, 2007
Well, I disagree very strongly. In nearly all cases, I'd agree, except in the case of door to door religion peddlers. I take particular offense to that. It is an extreme act of arrogance and intentional insult, or so it seems to me, to think it ok to take your religion to others in that way. A church is like a beacon, as all know where it is, and know that they can go there to check it out any time. My porch is not. Religion is a very personal thing, and I know of few who wish to be converted to anything, or who do not feel uncomfortable and insulted at religionists showing up on their doorstep with the express purpose of selling their own brand of religion.
So as door to door sales go, sure, I'm polite. I detest these kinds of sales, but poliiteness is called for. Religion salesmen are an exception, as they are extremely disrespectful just for assuming that someone would not be insulted by their bible-thumping presense, and intent to convert. Just not ethical.
by Anonymous on January 27th, 2007
I agree: there is no reason to be rude, unless they're disrespectful or won't leave when asked. Freedom always includes putting up with some things you don't like, that's part of the price.
by Stableboy on February 2nd, 2007
Well said, Anonymous.
by MrLugubrious on February 2nd, 2007
I have never been insulted, though, I am christian, and I feel it more funny, that they would think that I would change my feelings, of my beliefs, by a door to door visit, but never have I been insulted. How could you be? They leave when you ask them to, even if it is in the first 10 seconds, and they even tell you to have a nice day. (At least the ones who have visited me.) I do see where you are coming from though Anonymous, I guess, I just make that conscious choice, to not let it bother me, or to take it so personal.
by turbowray on February 2nd, 2007
Lots of religions include "heavy proselytizing" as one of their core practices. As long as they're acting within the law and not being rude, to deny them this is to deny them freedom to practice their religion. Our right to privacy and not be annoyed has to be balanced against that -- there's no absolute right on either side of the debate.
by Stableboy on February 2nd, 2007
This is true Stableboy, there is no right or wrong, on this debate, everyone is entitled to both. I know, that there is a sign you can buy, that pretty much states, no religous solicitors, and they will not come to your home, because with this posted, they would be breaking the law. Good luck anonymous!
by turbowray on February 2nd, 2007
Their right to 'practice their religion' ends where it attempts to infringe on mine to not practice one. If I want to convert I'll seek out a damn church.
by MrLugubrious on February 2nd, 2007
So are you saying their right to knock on your door should be restricted by law? Do you know of any political party which advocates such a radical revision of our interpretation of civil rights? Are you going to start your own political party to make your case?
by Stableboy on February 2nd, 2007
MrLugubrious, here here! This is precisely what I am getting at. I support rights for all, be 1st Amendment or whatever, with a vengence. But, as you say, those rights END where they encroach upon my own. I too have a right to my own religious convictions, to have or not have them, and am quite content with them, and will fight for my own as I'd fight for those of others. I am quite sure that if I were to conduct a door to door mission of converting people to atheism, I'd be greeted very unkindly over and over again. I'll just bet that most of those who think I should just be courteous to all, regardless, would have to eat their words if an atheist intent on "conversion" and insistent that they are wrong, and should abandon their beliefs for my own were to show up on their own doorstep. Perhaps there should not be a law against this, but doing this is pretty damn unethical.
by Anonymous on February 3rd, 2007
I hear where you guys are coming from, and I have many friends, that just do not believe, I am not here to change them, I am here just to be thier friend, and I hope for the same. If you came to my door, I would not be rude, why would I, you have your reasons for being an athhiest, as I do for not being one. I am sorry if someone ever came to your door, and were not polite enough to leave well enough alone, once you said, not interested.
by turbowray on February 3rd, 2007
Thanks Anonymous for saving me a lot of typing. But turboway, I shouldn't have to answer my door when I may be in the middle of something important just to tell them that I'm not interested in their religion. And I can say with some degree of certainty that Anonymous is correct in the assumption that an individual on an 'Atheist mission' would not be afforded the same privileges as these missionaries are to intrude on people's lives and would probably end up being arrested! Where is that individual's First Amendment right now? I don't have a problem with these people proselytizing, they can attempt to convert people all they want on their websites, or on the street or other public places that aren't schools, but their right to do so should end when they try to bring it to another individual's private residence, because freedom of religion also includes freedom from religion.
by MrLugubrious on February 3rd, 2007
Understood MrLugubrioius! I just wanted you to know, that I would never respond rudely, if an athiest came to my door. I must say, that once, someone came to our door, at dinner time, and I knew who it was, I yelled please come back later, we are eating, thank you! I never went to the door, and they did not come back later. :)~
by turbowray on February 3rd, 2007
If a polite "no thank you" doesn't work, you can tell them to look up Galatians 1:16.
by df7012 on February 4th, 2007
I will have to read this now tee hee.
by turbowray on February 4th, 2007
Thanks MrLugubrious for mentioning that freedom of religion does indeed (and necessarily) also mean freedom from religion. In my mind The right to prosletize stops at my sidewalk. On my porch it amounts to pure and simple harrassment.
by Anonymous on February 5th, 2007
I'm so polite I always offer them a glass of tea.
by Pogster on February 7th, 2007
Unless it's herbal tea, it's against their religion! That's funny.
by zee-ster on February 7th, 2007
Give them hash tea.
by Maximum Displacement on February 26th, 2007
They most certainly do deserve it. These people are being so rude by coming up on your porch to sell their religion, and aren't even interested in whether or not you want to hear their message at all. they don't care of you are already happy with another religion, or if you're happy with your no religion at all. Arrogance +rudeness = very dangerous combination.
I once drew a white chalk outline on my porch just as one of them left. Hope they remember.
= rudeness =
by Anonymous on April 25th, 2007
i didn't think about the hash tea possibility. clever max_reality! anonymous: do you hate the JWs as much as you do the mormons?
by zee-ster on April 25th, 2007
Oh Miss Insatiable Goddess... O contrar... I don't hate them. They bring much frustration when they force me into defensive posture due to insult, but I don't hate them. They do deserve a good spank though! And yes, makes no difference if we're talking about Mormons or JWs...all the same to me. I just think missionaryin is rude and insulting.
by Anonymous on May 18th, 2007
LOL! thanks for getting back to me on that.
by zee-ster on May 18th, 2007
Don't mention it fickle goddess of the treez
by Anonymous on May 19th, 2007
Zee- BTW, I have worked with a number of JWs for more than 10 yrs, many of whom are good friends. However, I won't discuss any religious matter with them. It is just a matter of courtesy. Knowing limits and understanding one another is key to a friendship at times. I never try to convert others, and merely expect the same courtesy.
by Anonymous on May 19th, 2007
i know what you are saying there.
by zee-ster on May 21st, 2007
Sorry to interupt. My Email says I have a 'mormon' answer to address. Yet, it puts me on this page...1 out of many. I must have 10 "go to this Morman page" and answer...Emails. However, it isn't on this page. Can someone tell me where...[what page] all these comments are originating from? I must have struck a chord! Thank you.
by Holiday on November 28th, 2007
Oh yes they do. I will go to their Wards if I'm interested in their fairytales. I have every right to be rude to anyone who comes to me in my own house and tries to sell me something.
by 23Skidoo on April 8th, 2008
Nobody is questioning your right to be rude. The question is the appropriateness of that as a general policy.
by Brand Y on April 8th, 2008
Yes, they just don't like my questions.
by Dave2222 on September 30th, 2008
I am a former Mormon who resigned his membership in Mormonism.
When the missionaries come to my door (which is rare) I invite them in for a cool drink in the summer or a hot chocolate in the winter. THEY are the ones that bring up their beliefs. Like Dave2222 above, I ask knowledgeable questions that they admit (if they are honest)they don't know the answers to. If they are dishonest, they will try to buffalo me with malarkey.
But, either way I am always respectful and friendly and the meeting ends on good terms. I was a missionary myself and understand how hard they have it. Why would I be anything BUT friendly and nice to them?
by Zelph on August 25th, 2009