i think of it as sport, and always bring my kjv bible with me. while it is a love hate bag of mixed feeling, because i wish they would stop pushing this lie door to door, i use it as an opportunity to educate them on their bible.
I have only had the mormon kids ever come to the door, and I actually like to take the time to talk to them. For what it is, while the religious end of their beliefs are beyond ridiculous to me, the kids doing the missionary work are usually pretty genuinely decent people- just a bit on the misguided side. Most of them have been happy to sit and talk with me, because I will let them do their "pitch" and then discuss with them my feelings on religion. It is insane to me the idea that atheists are somehow immoral or lacking in purpose simply due to not having a god to answer to. My morals don't come from a fear of a hell or a heavenly reward- if these things are all that keeps you from being a horrible person then you are the one lacking humanity. I do my best to treat people as I would like to be treated, and do pretty well unless I'm dealing with a real ass hat at which point respect goes out the window.
These mormon kids have been brought up indoctrinated so deeply that they are out there in unfamiliar places knocking on doors to save souls, most paying their own way to do it. Slamming the door or being combative with them just furthers that belief that we need saving, and I would much rather do my best to talk and listen to these kids and show them that godless and good can go together, and even a morman missionary can find common ground with an atheist.
This attitude comes very much from the fact that every mormon kid I've spoken to has been very polite, respectful and willing to have a real conversation rather than arguing and judging. I live in Georgia and if southern baptists did the door to door jesus peddler shit, I am certain I would be far less apt to attempt a meaningful conversation. It sort of boils down to great quote about religion being like a penis-nothing wrong with having one and being proud of it, but once you start waving it around in public and trying to shove it down my throat without an invitation we are gonna have a BIG problem. The mormon kids keep it in their pants....er....backpacks...pretty damned well for being door to door god dealers, a huge portion of southern baptists on the other hand are all about pummelling the shit out of people with a sea of deity-dick everywhere they go. Anyone knocking on my door to tell me about their awesome hellfire loving sky daddy, at BEST gets told that if I wind up in heaven with that crap attitude god they worship because someone prayed for me, no one there is going to be happy.
I used to get a lot of Mormon missionaries.
I'd invite them in, offer them a beer (when there were two of them, they would decline...).
Growing up in SE Idaho among a very Mormon family, I had my go to's. I knew more about their "beliefs" than they did.
My personal fave was when I was told that I'd go to hell for not following THE church!
I'd point out that their religion only recognized a 1st level of heaven. No HELL!
Then they'll posthumously baptize you as a Mormon.
Bless their little hearts...
When they ring my bell and ask If I have time to talk about the lord I say sure as long as you have time to prove he's real without your bible.
It is absolutely a Sport, I will engage them if they push an agenda. I like to just hear what's being said,....& Reaffirm why I no longer subscribe to that philosophical Ideology ????
I love it, if I am not busy. I open the door and invite them in then close the door behind them and block it. I then proceed to try and convert them into the light of atheism or engage them in some other topic for as long as I can stand it , my record is 4 hours. Its funny to watch them squirm sometimes because they have to pee but, are to intimidated to ask to use the bathroom. I consider it a public service to protect my neighbours from them.
My all time favourite was the J.W.'s, one in particular that was much, too old to be on the doorstep to be witnessing he should have been an elder and above that crap but, he must have done something wrong in the eyes of the congregation.
He was an old farmer so, I would start talking farming with him, I would let him in the house and leave the younger ones outside I would pour him a coffee or tea and sit and visit leaving the other where they were, he could use my bathroom no problem. He gave up on the conversion after the first time and would just visit and talk about normal farmer things. He never seemed to notice the time and how the novices suffered which is probably why in his seventy's he still had to door knock.
He died last year and I can honestly say I miss his visits but, I bet those novices don't.
No. Out of my 62 years of life, I've been when that hasn't or never been my Problem. Maybe back in the 1980's or 1990's a couple of times. I am glad to have 99% from it happening in my Life. But I seen some Neighboring Activity and Grinch at what is happening about it.
I told the last knockers I am atheist. No more knockers. I guess they told all their friends.
Yes MichealSpinler I'm deep in the bible belt. It actually just slipped out. I usually try to get them away from my door without telling them I am atheist. I guess I just was not in the mood that day lol.
If it happens when I'm on my way out (not dying, just leaving for a short errand), and it's a Jehovah's Witless (oops, witness) I tell them I'm going to give blood. That stops them quickly. I love messing with them. And if I'm not going out, I ask them to come inside for a nice discussion about their religion. No one ever comes inside.
On my day off if I'm not too busy it can be a form of entertainment. That might sound cruel but they came to me to tell me what I should believe so I make them justify their beliefs. Then when they can't and they obviously never have, I ask why they believe since they can't provide reason for belief. We always end it with why faith is a bad way to know if you're correct.
My dad, who is a Doctor of Divinity, used to get great pleasure out of schooling whoever showed up at the door on their Bible. It was entertaining to watch.
I actually demand that my grandchildren not answer the door if we see them coming. If the grandchildren are caught off guard and they ask for an adult which would be me, then I say that I am not religious, and sometimes just repeat that I am not religious and they leave me a brochure and move to the next door.
hell, one of them actually talked to my 8 yo grandson and offered to take him to church and got him to bug my dau-in-law about church! She set them straight--as if she'd let him go off with some stranger.