At least two Mormons cannot read

[Disturbed]

Two guys were ringing my doorbel and woke me up. I didn't answer the door. How do I know they were Mormons? they were wearing the standard Mormon atire and had their book in their hands. I saw them through the window on my door. Yeah. I was real annoyed.They cannot read. I have a real obvious sign on my door. NO SOLICITORS.

[ashmanonar]

1. this is when you come to the door naked,

and when they ask if you've found jesus, just say "no, come help me look for him!"

:D

robin williams is a genius. :D

[LeftyMom]

2. I've got one and I've still had Mormons and JWs come by

thier excuse is that they aren't soliciting because they don't have anything for sale- apparently they pay tithes and offerings with monopoly money. :eyes:

edit: and Baptists- can't forget them, can we?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. They don't consider themselves to be solicitors.

They, like all the other door-to-door fundy wack job Jesus-peddlers, think they are doing you a huge favor by introducing you to their fruitbat theology. A pair of Mormons were trolling our street one summer Saturday morning; we saw them coming, but not in time to close the doors, pull the shades and pretend nobody was home. Instead, we just flopped on the floor where they couldn't see us through the windows or the screen door, and waited for them to go away. It was a long wait; they are very tenacious. I doubt that a NO SOLICITORS sign would have deterred them for an instant.

[Yupster]

10. Wow - hiding from bell ringers?

I just answer the door, offer them a drink and a chance to use the restroom, and then tell them I'm happy with my church, but would be happy to take a card if I ever had a question. I also got a free Book of Mormon which I have never read but may open someday.

I don't get the hostility. They've always been polite as can be with me and have left when I indicated it was time for them to go. Semed like perfectly nice enough young men to me.

[Terran]

27. You don't "get the hostility"...?

...toward people trying to push their religious views on other people who don't want such views pushed on them? Seems like a real no-brainer to me.

[Maru Kitteh]

51. What about the people who went door to door for Kerry or Dean

etc.? We were pushing our agenda but I expected to be met with politeness at least. If you don't want to hear about the Democrats plans for education and healthcare that's fine, just a polite no thanks will do and I'll be on my way.

It's terribly hypocritical to expect civility towards people bearing a message you approve of and then advocate hostility towards the bearers of a message which does not interest you.

That being said, I don't think anyone should be knocking on a door that says no solicitors, but neither should we hold a double standard.

[Terran]

68. Read what I wrote before you call me a f*cking hypocrite.

Where did I "advocate" hostility toward these people?

I don't respond to *any* uninvited guests knocking at my door, probably 95% of the time. I don't advocate irrational hostility toward anyone, but at the same time, I certainly understand the hostility toward such invasions, and that DOESN"T mean that hostility needs to be directed actively toward such people. I have the right to not be bothered in my home by uninvited strangers with an agenda. If people walking precincts for Kerry were met by hostility, as I'm sure they were, I don't approve of that. If they were met with unanswered doors, oh well. The same goes for religious types selling their dogma. Rudeness is unnecessary; I merely ignore them.

[demwing]

55. You have a narrow view of "push"

Going door to door to offer a message takes stamina and thick skin, but it doesn't require being pushy.

Now, not accepting NO for an answer - that's pushy.

[Terran]

67. I think not.

People knocking on your door uninvited to sell you an idea or a product is the same thing as spam. The two are exactly analogous.

[demwing]

69. Not even close

untill the amount of people knocking on my door each month equals 1/10 of 1% of the spam I get each DAY.

That's the problem with spam - it is automated, relentless, and overwhelming. You can't just tell it to go away, because when you answer your spam you get more spam!

[Terran]

70. We'll have to disagree then

Uninvited is uninvited, whether it's real life or on a computer. An uninvited email is quickly and impersonally disposed of, and these days is handled for me by software, for the most part; an univited person with an agenda on my doorstep is rather more difficult to handle, and is as annoying as 257 spams (IMO).

[demwing]

74. No prob. We see things differently.

I can live with un-unanimity.

[XemaSab]

31. Don't mean to offend any Saints here

but the book of Mormon is cripplingly dull. Painful, painful going. Right up there with the really slow parts of the Bible, the first few shuras of the Koran, and the "Left Behind" books.

[girl gone mad]

41. I think it's part of the reason these religions..

have managed to survive for so long.

NO one can actually be bothered to read and understand the books.

[expatriate]

38. I can explain MY particular hostility

Anyone who comes onto my property without my specific permission is trespassing. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and any other religious people who come onto my property and intrude on my life in any way without my permission are trespassing - as are door to door salesmen.

I work at home, and I have to work to a schedule. I can't constantly go to the door, and on some days, the parade of Mormon kids who have been shipped to Australia by their families to do their mission work seems endless. They leave the front gate open when they come into my yard uninvited, which leaves my two non-carwise dogs at risk should they run out into the street. The knock on the door makes me stop working, get up and answer the door for no reason. I've had some of these Mormon kids be very tenacious and literally stick a foot in the door, asking when they should come back when it would be more convenient for them to preach at me.

Consider the absolute temerity of anyone who would trespass on private property and interrupt other people's schedules all for the sake of lecturing them about religion. This goes beyond all grounds of courtesy, before I have even spoken to them. They've already been discourteous by the time they knock on the door.

If I want to hear about their religion, I'll go to their church. They have a lot of nerve deciding that it's okay to BREAK THE LAW, come onto my property, interrupt my work and endanger my pets so that they can tell me about a religion I couldn't give a pair of lemur balls about.

Anyone coming onto my property who is not expected and uninvited, and anyone who interrupts me is rude and deserves my hostility. If they had an emergency and needed help, of course, I wouldn't mind - but to come and natter at me about their particular religious construct? That's another matter entirely.

[trackfan]

59. I agree 100% with this post

If I am in a particularly ornery mood, I play the piano (which is right by the front door) just so they know someone is home and is not going to answer the door.

[demwing]

60. Do you have a sign posted saying "NO TRESPASSING?"

Because just coming up to your door is NOT against the law, unless you've explicity requested otherwise or posted notice.

[expatriate]

64. Yes, I do have a No Trespassing sign

right on the front gate along with the sign requesting that people be aware of my dogs. They ignore both signs.

When asked why they ignore the signs, these young people say that the sign doesn't pertain to them because they aren't "selling anything" or "we're not trespassing".

They come on my property despite the sign, and without my permission. After that - no politeness from me.

[demwing]

66. Fair enough.

If they ignore the signs, release the hounds!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

63. As an ex-Mormon...

As an ex-Mormon I am really hostile to any one of the numerous lies they attempt to sell. The missionary's are cloned Stepford people who repeat their dogma which they have very little understanding of themselves due to the cloistered lifestyle most Mormons impose upon their children.

The UTAH Mormons as well as most parts of AZ, New Mexico and Idaho Mormons are the worst. They churn out missionary's like Ford cranked out Model T's. I had their clap-trap hoisted on me for years and can tell you, from first hand experience - These people are kooks.

When faced with the question of their belief in plural marriage, they always counter with, "That was a long time ago, we no longer practice plural marriage." LIE! Indirectly they do and don't know it.

Since they are married in the Temple for "All time and eternity" and take this to heart, they will often have several spouses in the "afterlife" - This is how that works....

2 people marry in the temple
Wife # 1 dies
Husband marries in the Temple again
Wife # 2 is hit by lightning and dies
Husband is at liberty to once again marry in the temple to wife #3

Now he is set up (according to their belief system) to have three wives in the great beyond...

When I invite these ill-prepared young men into my living room and ask : "So what about multiple wives?" they are dumfounded when I explain their own theology in reasonable terms.

I hate the whole lot of them and find their naive lunacy to be disheartening. BUT at least they are not trying to change the courts or take over the planet. They already know they are the one true religion and are happy living in their own little world of complacent idiocy.

Can we move to Australia? ... We want out.

[demwing]

76. "I hate the whole lot of them"

So I'll take what you say with just a grain of salt, if you don't mind.

[0007]

62. ....and a chance to use the restroom? You gotta be pulling my choke!

Is this the way Republicans handle the Mormons in Midland Texas or are you being sarcastic?

[Freddie Stubbs]

65. apperently some people aren't mature enough to face someone

who may offer them an idea they do not agree with.

[Bouncy Ball]

78. Hiding?

Where is it written you HAVE to answer your door when someone rings the doorbell?

Seriously, where?

I choose not to answer my door when I don't want to. That bell is saying "will you come to the door?" not "ANSWER THE DOOR!" And sometimes my answer to "will you come to the door?" is no.

Same goes for the phone.

If I see people standing on my porch with religious literature in their hands, I don't open the door. Real simple. Why waste their time? I am happy with my religious beliefs. Let them move on to the next house as quickly as possible.

[demwing]

14. Nice attitude

"all the other door-to-door fundy wack job Jesus-peddlers"

I'm so tired of DUers refering to all people involved with religion as "fundies" or "wack jobs" or all the other garbage that passes for enlightened, liberal discorse, but which is actually hateful, ignorant rhetoric.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. "All people involved with religion" are not the problem.

I have been "involved with religion" in my own way for many years. But people who try to pester you in your own home and get in your face and tell you their church is better than yours are beyond annoying. There's nothing hateful or ingorant about objecting to religious fanatics, and that's what most of those door-to-door characters are. Religious fanaticism -- not mere religion -- has caused more misery, death and disaster throughout history than just about anything I can think of. And we are now dealing with Dominionists and other lunatics who want to use the power of the government to impose their beliefs on all of us. Sorry, but I have no patience at all with proselytizing in any form. Religious faith is a personal matter, and if you come to my door and tell me I ought to be going to your church because my faith is wrong and your god is better than mine, I'm not going to be very friendly. That's not being anti-religious -- it's just demanding that people mind their own business and respect my right to my own beliefs.

[demwing]

19. "most of those door-to-door characters are...religious fanatics"

I'm calling bullshit.

There are some who are fanatical, but there are some who are just convinced, and want to share the benefits that they are enjoying.

I know, because I'm a non-LDS living in the heart of Utah county.

We get LDS missionaries at our door quite often. Sometimes we have no time, or just don't want to talk, but we express ourselves politely, and we NEVER have a problem.

NEVER. Do you read that clearly?

Recently, some brave Baptists have come into the area, going door to door and inviting people to their church. Can you imagine the amount of "NO!" answers they get? About 95% of my neighbors are hard-core LDS.

But the Baptists were polite and quick.

There is a Jehova's Witness temple near by, and we get a missionary once or twice a year. I've never been treated rudely by any of these groups.

My family is not Christian. Fact is, we're Pagans. We have an altar in our living room, we chant, we have deities, and an entire library of alternate philosphical beliefs. But, we have respect for people who have other faiths--or no faith at all--and as such, they have shown that they can respect the fact that we don't share their beliefs.

Now, I ask you this: If some Pagans can pull that off in the middle of Happy Valley, Utah, then what is you're difficulty?

[chopper]

48. uh...

just because someone is polite and nice doesn't mean that they aren't a religious fanatic. just because they aren't rude doesn't mean that they aren't a fanatic.

you're a pagan. i'm an atheist. have you ever had a knock on your door and found someone on the other side trying to convert you to paganism? atheism? no? why is that?

the moment you go out of your way to deliberately bother other people in order to try to convert them to your religious beliefs, you're a fanatic IMHO. it doesn't matter how polite you are.

[demwing]

50. You don't get pagan and atheists at your door

because they are not as numerous, or as well organised, as the Christians.

And obviously, preaching door-to-door works. People are converted, or at least become interested, otherwise the Christians would stop wasting their time.

[Bill McBlueState]

53. "preaching door-to-door works"

You assume the door-knockers are interested in results, i.e., more people converting to their religion. My experience among the door-knockers (I was involved with a fundie group for a couple years in college) is that they're not interested in that kind of result. What they're really looking for is to feel better about themselves by living up to the Great Commission in Matthew. Whether they're in any way successful is a distant second to convincing themselves that they really *are* true Christians.

That's why they say, "We saved x00 souls today!" without ever doing significant followup to see whether they've really changed any lives.

[Walt Starr]

21. Anybody who knocks on MY door to SELL ME RELIGION

is a fundie whack job jesus peddler!

[demwing]

23. No, you're wrong

And I can't express why without pissing off the mods.

[Walt Starr]

32. No, I'm not wrong, being a fundie whack job Jesus peddler is required

to go door to door peddling Jesus.

[demwing]

33. What a narrow viewpoint.

Mean, and just plain wrong.

I thought better of you Walt. It's odd how you can think one way about a person, and then with one small exchange, discover that you never really understood that person at all.

Who are you to judge so harshly?

[Warren DeMontague]

43. He's the guy whose fucking DOOR it is.

Therefore, it is his RIGHT to judge whoever chooses- of their own accord, mind you- to knock on it with the intent of proseltyzing a total stranger*...


in whatever fucking way he sees fit.

*and the unspoken arrogance of said proseltyzation, by the way, is, "We understand the universe, and unless you see things our way, YOU DON'T... therefore you NEED us to come knock on your door- and set your ass straight"

[demwing]

47. Wow. So much anger.

Here's a secret--Just because you have the right to be rude, it doesn't make being rude right. I am impressed, however, that you wrote the word "fucking" TWICE. That's so cool. You should use it more often. It's very persuasive.

On to the content of your post...

It may be his prerogative to judge them as he sees fit (within reasonable limits) but it is also his responsibility to act decently. These people have never cause you any harm. Why do you hate them so much?

Is that what being a "progressive/liberal" means to you?

You see their attempts to share their faith as an unspoken arrogance, an act of haughty superiority. Why?

Isn't it just as likely that they are people who have found something so excellent in their lives that they are compelled to share it with others our of goodness and love? Why do you attribute such negative motives to people you do not know?

Perhaps you've had a bad experience with one or more missionaries. Is that any reason to judge them all so harshly, insult their faith and beliefs, and fester a hate in your heart?

Haven't you ever had a bad experience on DU? Haven't you ever been insulted here? Do you judge all of DU harshly? Do you then hate liberals? Of course not, which is why you are still hear.

Under those circumstances, you might want to consider why you are more likely to cut someone some slack when they share your beliefs, and act intolerantly when they do not.

[Warren DeMontague]

71. Do I come to their doorstep and start spouting about quantum physics?

Evolution? String Theory?

No, No, and No.

If someone wants to share "the good news" with people who are INTERESTED, that's one thing. Coming to a stranger's door and preaching at them on their own property is, in my mind, really fucking arrogant.

And I don't care, frankly, if you like that word or not. While you apparently haven't been paying attention, theocrats and fundamentalist Christians have been mounting what I consider to be quite possibly one of the most serious challenges to our constitutional system and our liberties in this nation's history. If you can't figure out why I might throw in the word "fuck" to talk about RIGHT WING EVANGELICALS (and I'm certain the vast majority of people who preach door-to-door sit on that side of the political spectrum) then I humbly suggest (because far be it for me to preach at a stranger) that you bone up on your current events.

[demwing]

75. Before you judge me

you should walk a mile in my shoes.

I live in a theocracy. I'm a pagan in the heart of Utah, where the LDS church runs just about every damn thing.

In a job interview, I've been asked "So, where did you do your mission?" The parents of our children's friends never see us in church, and often ask to what Ward we belong. If this sounds unfamilar, count yourself lucky.

Imagine how hard it is to get ahead in an environment where you are constantly the odd man out. Actually, you can't imagine it, unless you've experienced it. I've had a tiny little taste of what it must be like to be a woman or a person of color in a white man's world. You have to work twice as hard for half the recognition.

I'm the white man, but in a whiter man's world, because in Utah, my soul is darker than thine.

Separation of church and state is my number one issue, because I live it every day.I see whats going on, perhaps better than others, because I'm sensitive to the issue.

But I don't take it out on the religious. I'll defend their right to preach and practice their faith within the law, and I'll do it with my dying breath. To me, thats what it means to be an American.

What good are civil rights if we reserve them only for those who think as we do? Those aren't civil rights at all. Those are social allowances. Our forefathers didn't hold a revolution so that we could "tolerate the faults of others," they did it so that we could learn, over the course of several generations, that we must respect different opinions, even when--and maybe especially when--we don't share those opinions.

[oxbow]

83. Impressive amount of tolerance, Demwing

I have lots of experience with the mo's myself (had an LDS girlfriend and I was a jackmormon for a while before I found out all the weird stuff). I know how crazy Utah-mo's can be too.

If they come to my door now, I invite them in for a drink and talk to them, time permitting. Being a missionary is a lonely and boring job, and many of these kids are pressured by their community/family to go on missions against their own wishes. I feel bad for them. It gives me a chance to tell them how much happier I am now too, and a bit about all the reasons why I left. Many of them appreciate the honesty and respect, and I wuld guess that some of them will remember those conversations long afterwards.

[demwing]

84. That's sooo right!

You don't have to agree with them, but understand that they are people, and treat them as you would want to be treated should the roles be reversed.

Your post was very inspiring, believe me. Thanks!

[oxbow]

90. My pleasure. After all...

its we that are supposed to be the tolerant ones. But the fundies are causing so many problems nowadays, I guess it's hard for a lot of us to remember that.

[Warren DeMontague]

92. Tolerance doesn't extend to my not making fun of people in any way shape

or form when those people choose to show up on MY doorstep.

For the record, I'm always polite, even though the "No Solicitors" and "No Preaching" signs really should have clued them in.

[Warren DeMontague]

93. I'm not judging you, and the points you are arguing against- I never made.

Furthermore, I don't "take it out on the religious". I just expect them to respect the sign on my door that makes it pretty clear I'm not interested.

As far as this line:

I'll defend their right to preach and practice their faith within the law, and I'll do it with my dying breath. To me, thats what it means to be an American.

I agree 100%. 1000%. And for Eris's sake, please show me WHERE I said anything resembling "Civil Rights should only be reserved for people who agree with me". I'm sorry, I don't think bitching about door-to-door proseltyzers is the same thing as being interested in denying their civil rights.

But I must confess I do think it would be WONDERFUL if we could live in a country where people understood that... well, you know that Vegas ad campaign- "what happens here, stays here"? It'd be nice if people could do that with their HEADS.. or, at least, their belief systems. Believe what you want, just please -please- try not to start imposing it on your neighbor. People want to preach? Hey, that's fine. Not on my doorstep, though, please. And again, people still do it, and I'm always polite. Even if I wish they could understand what "No Preaching" and "No Solicitors" means before I have to slog to the door dripping wet in a towel.

Preach on the street corner. First amendment. Great thing.

But even if you come up to me on the street and start telling me about the wonderful things an invisible man in the sky is going to do for me, well, at that point I'm a bit justified in explaining how I feel about a few things, too, aren't I?

[demwing]

81. BTW - I'm the OP on the Nov 8th "Official 'F*ck You' Thread"

Found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1339988&mesg_id=1339988

I'm hardly against the word, only your choice of its intended victims.

[Warren DeMontague]

91. Well, in fairness...

People who ring the doorbell and try to sell me shit (yes, I have a large "No Solicitors" on the door, along with the "No Preaching Plaque") right in the middle of dinner or when I'm in the shower- invariably, when I'm in the shower- fucking piss me off too.

[Maru Kitteh]

52. I repeat: What about the people who went door to door for Kerry

or Dean etc.? We were pushing our agenda but I expected to be met with politeness at least. If you don't want to hear about the Democrats plans for education and healthcare that's fine, just a polite no thanks will do and I'll be on my way.

It's terribly hypocritical to expect civility towards people bearing a message you approve of and then advocate hostility towards the bearers of a message which does not interest you.

[demwing]

54. Thanks for the apt analogy

and I agree, if a door, house, whatever, is clearly marked indicating "No Solicitors" then everyone should stay away.

There's never a reason to be hostile, literally or figuratively.

[Warren DeMontague]

72. There's a difference between being hostile

and referring to someone as a "whack job jesus peddler".

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. Hallelujah!

[demwing]

35. Praise God!

Which is the literal translation of "Halleluyah."

A composite of Hallelu and Yah, it translates from Hebrew as "Praise Jah." Jah is the shortened form of the name Jehovah.

So, whether you are trying to mock those who are trying to share their faith, or you are simply throwing yourself on a bandwagon that you don't really understand, you end up in the same position.

You praise God.

What a lucky soul you are. :)

[Bouncy Ball]

79. What do you care whether he praises God or not?

You sure went to a lot of trouble to be snarky in that post.

:eyes:

[demwing]

85. Aw come one, just having a little fun.

If it was snarky, I'm very sorry. :)

I dont even follow Jah ;)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

56. Well, technically, there could be Allah-peddlers too

Or some-other-big-man-in-the-sky-peddlers. Although I don't know how likely THAT is to happen in the USA.

[muriel_volestrangler]

46. It seems an accurate description to me

Notice that it doesn't actually say 'rude' - it's possible to be polite and still be:

'door-to-door': simple literal description
'fundy': ie fundamentalist - believing that absolutely everything in the Bible is true
'wack job': if you believe everything in the Bible is true (eg creation in 6 days, a 'loving God' smiting innocent people because they belong to the wrong tribe, etc.), and then frequently add new things like the book of Mormon or the Rapture, then 'wack job' is fair comment
'Jesus peddlers': simple literal description

[ToeBot]

17. If they were from from Utah...

It's possible they didn't know what solicitors are. It is entirely possible that that thought it meant lawyers and prostitutes. I've never seen such willful ignorance.

[mitchum]

4. Maybe they needed Joseph Smith's 'magic viewing stones"...

or whatever that huckster called them

[Warren DeMontague]

73. They looked really cool

in Lord of the Rings

[AverageJoe]

5. Maybe a "No Mormons" sign?

I'm with you--those guys are way beyond annoying. I've had them come to my house AND stop me in the street. One kid, about 20 years younger than me, introduced himself as "Elder" so and so. Sheesh. Those guys give me the willies.

BTW: I sincerely apologize to any Mormans in DU-land who truly believe in their faith. Just please, don't come knocking on my door...

[Disturbed]

6. A long time ago I

invited a couple of JWs in and debated them on various items in the bible. They came by a few times and then gave up. hehe

Mormons are real tenacious and I don't have the strength to tanlge with them.

Thanks, Think I wll put up a big sign Mormon! Do not knock or ring my bell. I will charge you with tresspassing if you persist.

[Catholic Sensation]

7. tenacious is too weak an adjective

I told a group of Mormons I didn't believe a word in the Book of Mormon, thought the whole story of "Joe Smith" was pure bullshit, and told them I'd never leave the Catholic Church.

They kept bullshitting me for another 15 minutes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. You could invite them in

and promise you'll listen to their sales pitch, but only if they show you their magic underwear first.

[Booster]

28. I'm with you. I was baptized as a Mormon in 1956 and haven't been

to church since. They come around constantly and they should work for the FBI cause you can move and change your name and they still find you. One had a clipboard and said "I want to schedule the visiting teachers to come by and give you a lesson"; I said I don't want them to come by and he said "Well, we're going to send them anyway" and I said "Well, I wish you wouldn't". He said I would have to write a letter to the President of the church and denounce the religion, otherwise they would keep coming. I think I just might do that if it will clue them in that I'm just not interested. In the past I've told them I died, moved back to Texas, etc. and nothing worked. Maybe that little letter would free me from them.

[ebayfool]

44. My best friend & her hubby were born into the Mormon church. By the time

I met them they had turned away from it, but the church wasn't willing to let them go. They had moved all over the country, ended up in CA, hadn't stepped foot in a church in over 25 years - still got the door-knocking at least 2 or 3 times a week. I'm visiting at their house one day, obscenely_hugely_grandly 9 months preggers w/2nd child - kids running like loons all over the house (half the neighborhood was over playing). When Jim opens the door & sees who it is, he quickly scoops MaryEllen & I up in his arms - smiles proudly, gestures to all the kids & my belly, introduces us (I'm now wife #2!) & invites them in to hear the word of the TRUE Mormon church!

Those boys ran like scared rabbits ... & NEVER CAME BACK!

Not always easy to find a pregnant female when you need one, though. A sign is easier, but not nearly as funny!

on edit: They may not have been religious, but they are the best people I've ever known! No fundie or christians I've met could hold a candle!

[pnorman]

12. Perhaps: "No Solicitors, or Purveyors of Unsolicited Doctrines"

pnorman

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

57. I'd do something better and more concise:

NO SOLICITORS
NO PROSELYTIZING

[shanti]

26. the young mormon missionaries

are relentless. i've even heard them proselytizing on the light rail coming home from work! not to me, i'd cut them off in a heartbeat, but who wants to be bothered by that at quitting time??

[roguevalley]

8. a couple of mormon missionaries chased my mom around the side

of the house trying to get her to talk but were stopped dead in their tracks when our doberman, Pagan, came around loaded for bear to protect her. Dobies just eyeball you and lower their head and look frightening. They turned around, left and never came back. RIP, Pagan honey.

[Ladyhawk]

11. I put this sticker on my door at my last apartment:

I added the words: "NO BIBLE THUMPERS!"

It worked like a charm.

[AllegroRondo]

49. I had one of those!

When I lived in Texas.
And I STILL got the occasional religion peddler.

"Hi, we're from the Church of xxxxxx"

"Didn't you see the sign?"

"Oh, that? Very nice. We thought it didn't apply to us."

"So, you read the sign, understood it, and STILL knocked on my door?"

"Um, yeah. What church do you go to?"

SLAM!

[enigmatic]

13. I used to have a doormat..

That I picked up at a outdoor market that said:

GO AWAY

The ex got it when we broke up; I wish I could find another one...

[unhappycamper]

16. A most simple google finds your doormat

"go away"+doormat

http://www.kitchenkapers.com/6864.html
or
http://www.thematking.com/residential/doormats/goaway.htm
or
http://stores.ebay.com/FABULOUS-MATS-AND-MORE

[JNelson6563]

18. Mormons are easy

I had a few 20-somethings here once, referring to themselves as "elder". Oy! Anyway, I accepted their little book, skimmed the whole thing in a day and they came back and asked what I thought. I told them the first word to come to mind was "plagerism". This was written by someone trying to copy the King James version of the bible. I mentioned I thought it odd that the 19th century translation of the tablets from the angel Moroni was in Elizabethan English.

Within 3 minutes they were gone, it was apparent I wouldn't be joining. No Mormon has been back since and that was at least 5-6 years ago.

Julie

[MountainLaurel]

20. The benefits of a secure building

Although theoretically, since we're on the bottom floor and with a back gate and patio, they could try coming in that way. However, one of the perks of living in an incredibly multicultural area is that the jesus-peddlers tend not to come around so much: they might have to interact with someone who isn't native-born Murrican.

[Walt Starr]

22. Best answer for somebody peddling LDS door to door

"I've read the book of Mormon. Reads like a third grader's attempt to rewrite the Bible."

[Disturbed]

24. Are Mormons Conservative?

Are Mormons Conservative?

http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article3282.html

[atre]

40. It's funny what he doesn't mention

One of the major reasons that Mormons are "loathed by the left" is because of their long-standing Biblical position that black skin is the mark of the devil. From what I understand, that is no longer the "official" church position, but I was arguing with a young Mormon who was shocked that anyone would think otherwise as late as about 10 years ago.

Mormonism is a cult. It is absolutely frightening that it seems to be gaining so much steam.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

58. Yes. They're trying to rewrite their dogma because of changes of attitude

towards racism.

When Mr. Smith wrote that, of course, it was perfectly all right.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Put up a new sign.

No Right Wing, Religious, wacko, nut job Jesus Freaks allowed...especially Mormons. Think they'll understand that one? :shrug:

[Tracer]

30. A Recent Episode...

... My home office faces the street and so, a few weeks ago, I got a real sinking feeling when I saw 2 young men in dark suits walking up my driveway.

I couldn't pretend I wasn't there, since they saw me through the window.

They knocked and I went to the door and said "What's up?" and they started in on their religious spiel. I said that I wasn't the least bit interested in hearing what they had to say and closed the door in their face.

I'm not a rude person, but from experience, I know that these people are hard to get rid of.

Being in Massachusetts, these "visits" are pretty rare occasions, but it occured to me that since our Dear Governor is a Mormon, and the Mormon's have built a gigantic temple on a hill that overlooks Rt. 128 (big main highway) that the proselytizing could be increasing here too.

[kineneb]

34. Hubby got visited a while back

He simply pointed to the concrete lawn Buddha in front of our steps and said that we are Buddhists, were not interested and didn't they see the statue? That was enough to get them to leave.

[Disturbed]

36. this post snuck back. haha

I just thought of this: Maybe I should put the photo below on my door?

[eridani]

37. What about when your PCO comes around?

Does NO SOLICITING apply there as well?

[Az]

39. If they come to your door despite the signs then take them for everything

Use their bible against them. Turn to Luke 6:30 and imagine what you can do with that verse. If they love Jesus and his teachings they can deny you nothing.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. You, My Friend, Need One Of These:

http://www.rof.com/Plaque_NoPreach.htm

I still get a few, but not nearly as many. Interestingly enough, I had a very persistent dude try to shove a little flyer into my hand today for something called "Victory Outreach".

I asked, "Um, is that church related?"

"Yes"

"I'm sorry, but it would be physically impossible for me to be less interested"

"Well, Jesus loves you, man"

"Good. So maybe he will protect me, my government and my freedom from extremists who think they are his followers"

That shut the guy up, and good.

[Hubert Flottz]

45. It's springtime...maybe they just wanted to marry you!

Are you a 13 year old girl! If so, you are about their speed!

Edit} Here are some topics(child brides)they may want to talk about!

Excuses ! Excuses ! Excuses !

Turning a blind eye to the abuses ocurring in Hildale, UT and Colorado City, AZ has, sadly, been the status quo for many of the politicians in Utah and Arizona. They don't want to be bothered with it; they don't want to acknowledge it; they claim they can't do anything about it; or they say its someone else's problem. This also seems to be the attitude taken by the Canadians regarding the "Sister-sect" in British Columbia. Below are some prime examples of this situation. These news articles are listed in chronological order.

http://childbrides.org/excuses.html

[ohio_liberal]

61. You need one of those "no bible thumpers" stickers on the door

:D

[markus]

77. My sister converted years ago

Weird. I believe they thought it would advance my brother-in-law's military career, but refusing Korea so as not to leave the family behind was apparently a poor career choice for an infantry officer.

Anyway, I digress. I tell them I'm not the least bit interested in their faith, but they're sure welcome to come in for a cold drink cause, well, my sister's in their church and I think about my nephew out on mission somewhere.

For some reason, they never want to come in when I tell them clearly I do not want to discuss religion, but they're welcome to come in out of the heat for a while.

As a southerner, it burns my butt that they won't come in.

[PA Democrat]

80. First few times that the Jehovah Witnesses came to my door,

I talked to them and explained I had my own faith, but respected them for their beliefs. The problem is, these folks keep coming back again and again and again. It's even the same people that come around about 3 or 4 times a year. Last time I saw them working their way down the street, I turned on the sprinkler, so that the only way they could get to my front door, would require them to get soaking wet. They passed by my house. :evilgrin:

[demwing]

82. The last time JW's came to my house

I invited them in, turned on my Vedic chanting CD, lit some incense, and proceded to quote to them from the Rg Veda.

They've never been back since. :)

There's more than one way to skin a cat...

[Zhade]

86. If they could read, they wouldn't be Mormons.

After all, Joseph Smith was proven to be a liar and fraud IN HIS OWN TIME, yet Mormonism is one of the fastest-growing cults around.

And oh yes, it's a cult. As an ex-Mormon, I know whereof I speak.

[Raster]

87. been there, done that. refused the underwear.

There's a very quiet schism taking place in the church. It seems that several things are trying to come to light (which the power structure of the church tries to suppress at every turn):

(1) one of their own, a professor from Bring'em Young, set out to prove the validity of the B.o.M. using scientific method and record. Problem is, he's ended up showing that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING provable in the B.o.M. Nothing archaeological, nothing anthropological, nothing biological, etc. Nothing. Nada. Zip. The B.o.M. can't stand any test or pass any muster. It's all blind faith.

(2) One of the main tenants of moronsim, sorry, Freudian slip, mormonism is that the American Indians are the "lost tribe" of Israel. One small problem, genetics proves that is not the case. Not even close.

[JohnLocke]

88. I suggest that everyone here read "Under the Banner of Heaven"

Good book!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/sim-explorer/explore-items/-/0385509510/0/101/1/none/purchase/ref%3Dpd%5Fsxp%5Fr0/102-0578972-1257712

[JohnLocke]

89. Jews and Mormons have a VERY strained relationship

See Posthumous baptisms of Jews

Ironically, my synagogue is a former Mormon temple. :D