The_Dude

This is another religion thread


I've been tried to be converted by a variety of people.

My parents are hindu's, and i dont know how they know it, but a bunch of evangelicals and some other groups have come knocking at our doors.

about 10 diff people have done this, and many come again giving us literature (which we just dump in the trash, some of the ones that we got were actually insulting hinduism, portraying hindu gods as devils)


anyway, since i'm an athiest, a LOT of my christian friends have tried to convert me. we have great arguements on this issue, but a whole bunch of people have tried this (many have given up).

most of them go w/ the mentality that their way is the right way and stuff.


anyway, list your experiences.

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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

apetaster

Had a bunch of Jehovahs Witnesses coming around - got to be kind of fun. When they were spotted walking down the driveway my wife would let me know. They'd offer to read me a scripture. I'd tell them to not waste their breath as I was a raging atheist who was in the middle of a meal. They politely thanked me and walked away. Happened 3 times in the past 2 years. Anyone who has any good offensive lines, please pass them along.

GakFace

well its not so much of an experience. but rather how i go about "converting"

I don't. Its that simple, people that try, I feel are using the worst method of all. One cannot force beliefs upon another, it doesn't work. They told you about it, if you're curious you'll call them. They tried and if that means bad things for you.. hey they tried.. them trying more will only result in you giving them bad luck.. Personally But yeah, people who try hard to convert need to rethink their strategies.

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RoboBlaster:
Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

w3r7y

mormons
always the damn mormons.
Like I'm gonna give up promiscuous sex anf caffiene.
I have my own sort of religion, I'm a reservist.
I reserve jdgement on if there is a god or not, so that way if there is I don't go to hell, and if there isn't it doesn't matter. I'll repent all my sins on my death bed, no sweat off my back.

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You say Tomato, I say Fuck you.

sixate

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

I have something in common with you..... I'm joking.
First of all, if you're gonna tell people you're atheist, learn to spell it properly.

Anyway, a few of my friends are very religious, and they always talk religious crap to me. I dated a christian chic and she always tried to convert me. It was always an issue. I remember when I first told her parents that I was atheist. It was Christmas day and her mom asked me about my religious views. I told her I was atheist and she cried! HAAHAHAHA! Up until that point I was Mr. perfect. They didn't hate me after that, but it was like they felt that there was something wrong withe me because I had different religous views. They always tried to get me to change, and a huge reason I broke up with her was over that shit. That and the fact that she was an uptight christian that didn't fuck.

BoCo will know exactly what I'm talking about soon. He's dating a christian. He'll soon realize that guys like me and him shouldn't date chics who are very religious/christian. It doesn't matter how hot they are.

Smoky

We had some Jehovahs come by a few weeks ago. I answered the door holding one snotty kid in my arms and one by the hand. I told them to come back later as if they talked to me they would get sick and die because they can't receive medical attention. *closes door*

This past week, the doorbell rings. Look through the peephole and it's my Jehovahas again. I walk in the kitchen and tell my wife it's for her. =)

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gibber71

When religious folk come to my door ( Jo Ho's,Mormon's etc)and start telling me their beliefs,I tell them that they don't have to show me the way cuz I know the way,MY WAY,and thank them.If they push my buttons after that,I tell them they are the ones who don't know the way or else they wouldn't be banging on complete stranger's doors acting as puppets for whatever faith they belong to.

MSD

I live on a hill, it cuts down on the Jehovas Witnesses. I had two when I was about 8, and my mom politely told them we weren't interested in "Bible lessons." People don't try to convert me, when they ask about my religious views, I tell them that I believe in God, and that being a good person is more important than adhering to a religion, and that no matter what they believe, I'm ok with whatever people want to believe as long as it motivates them to be good people and they give me the same respect and courtesy that I give them.

This tactic has never failed to ward off a conversion attempt, although I do admit that I try to avoid eye contact with anyone carrying a copy of The Watchtower.

The_Dude

that's great, i'll have to try that

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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

WhoaitsZ

of course. i do not know anyone who has been under a converter's gun one time or another.

most people don't understand that this usuaslly does much, much, much more harm than good.

i always politely tell them i already have a certain faith, thanks but please go your way. if they wanna get smart, then i just go off on them.

but most of the time, just tell them no and they will leave. (in my scenarios anyhow)

vermin

Few things are as annoying to me, a christian, as the asshole christians who go around try to convert people with a smug, holier-than-thou attitude. Them and tv evangelists. They make christians seem insane and weird. Most of us are nice people who use profanity, think dirty thoughts, perform naughty acts, and generally sin up a storm. It's people who think their christianity makes them better than other people who are going to burn the hottest.

rant over

On a funnier note, when my grandfather was still alive some Jehovah's Witnesses came to the door and asked if they could speak to us about God. My grandfather, a teacher of the advanced Sunday School class at his church, said "Sure, c'mon in". For the next hour and a half grandpa told them all about what the Jehovah's Witness believe, why it was biblicly incorrect, cited bible passages to prove his points, and when they left it almost seemed like they were re-thinking their choice of church. Although I'd guess as soon as they got back with their JW buddies they probably forgot what my grandpa had said. But this is one of the reasons why I think he was a great man, and he is often missed.

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Lebell

I've had many JW's try to convert me to their point of view. I enjoy the dialogue with them, plus I frequently send them running with my own Bible knowledge. (not bragging but true).

Occasionally fundamentalist Christians will engage me in conversation, especially when they find out I'm a creationist. No biggie there either.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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Wile E

This is NOT going to become a bash Jehovah Witnesses or bash Mormons thread. If you care to discuss the complexities or situations in which you were attempted to be converted, please feel free to. Otherwise, keep quiet. This all boils down to your lack of knowledge on the situation, and if you want to knock something, please do us all a favor and have even a fraction of knowledge before hand, to save yourself the embarassment of being proven wrong and the others the humilation of being insulted by ignorant people.

Not that I feel compelled to let you in on this, but I will anyway. Both Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses both follow the bibles teachings quite accurately (Yes the same bible of the catholic religeons). It states that all of Jehovah's (God for you ignorant ones) disciples are to spread the word of God. These people that come to your residence are good hearted people, and have the best intentions by coming to your house. They are also very courteous and polite, and a simple "no thanx" will have them walking on their merry way.

So, lets stop the bashing, as fun as it may seem to your trivial existence, and continue discussing like a civilized human being. Okay?

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"We got no food, no clothes...our pets HEADS ARE FALLIN' OFF!"

rock_bottom

Mormons on two occasions, they were pretty cool. Just guys doing something they believed in, and not overbearing or anything about their religion.
I've run into a few Evangelists / Born Again Christians. These are different all together. The ones I've encountered, I felt like they didn't care about who they were preaching to, they were just trying to prop themselves up for their own egos and to score points with God, where the Mormons were really just preaching because they thought their message would help us.
The Evangelists would show up at gay-related meetings I've been too (I'm not gay but I have a few gay friends) and give us the whole "Satan loves homosexuals!" spiel. I have a few bible verses memorized just for those occasions to catch them in contradictions, but the Evangelists usually are all like "Well if you read <i>this</i> crazy translation, then it says something I agree with". And then there's the tactic they all love in big groups: Ignore the guy who knows what he's talking about, like they're a kid saying "I can't heeaaaar you!" and just find gullible people they can get with cheap debate tricks.
Also approached by various Eastern religion people several times. I like to talk to them, just to learn about their religions... sometimes they're a little pushy about getting you to commit to stuff though.

phredgreen

so i grew up in mesa, arizona. there are two predominant culteural groups out here: mexicans and mormons. now my skin isn't brown enough and i didn't carry thick-ass scriptures everywhere, so it was rough going during the early years. later on in high school, i lost alot of my social hangups and started being alot more visible... making lots of new friends... and when you're in a predominantly mormon town, that means making alot of mormon friends. now here's my take on the whole mormon religion:

they are the largest growing western religion for a very good reason: they're incredibly strong in their faith. the mormon church emphasizes alot of things that you don't see in this age and day that are vitally important to a growing society: family values, personal responsibility, and the importance of following through. the church's teachings are also very convincing... they pick up alot of biblical themes and continue them with their book of mormon... anyone who beleives that moses or david could speak with god could very well beleive that joseph smith or brigham young did the same. their whole bend on the standard christian religion is modern prophecy. that's really all that makes them different from the rest of the churches. that means that they really only need to sell you on one minor detail and then they've got another beleiver in the fold...

now during high school i became interested (partly because most of the girls worth dating were mormon and because i wasn't a big troublemaker, so i got along with alot of the mormon guys)... so much so that after i graduated high school i went through their course of teachings with missionaries and was baptised into the church. it was all fine and dandy until i went to college and realized there was more to life than just that, but alot of the reason i "fell away" was that most of my mormon friends were off in other places on their missions... i had no real support structure, and that's vitally important when converting... to continue the support as they grow. so anyways, i've been through the whole deal and would probably still be a beleiver if i hadn't had an opputunity to explore my own self and my own feelings in college... it's agreat church, don't get me wrong. i trust my mormon friends explicitly and i know that i can always depend on them when i need them... but i feel like i grew out of what i got into when i was young and impressionable.

as for jehovia's witnesses, i'm gonna keep my mouth shut... they stole away too many years of my aunt's life before she finally was able to get out. i know quite a bit about their beleifs and i don't understand why the evangelize as much as they do (according to teachings, only 144,000 of them will be worthy enough to ascend), but i suppose that's their lives and it's not my place to tell them they're wrong.

what do i do nowadays when they show up at my door? politely turn them away. i don't understand who would be so insecure about their own personal beleifs that they feel the need to do inane and mindless things to people who are only trying to "enlighten" (in their own special way) others.

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JangoFett72

I had a gf whose mom was a born-again christian. Her mom tried and tried to convert me and when she realized it just wasn't gonna happen, she told me I couldn't see her daughter anymore. Of course we still went out for another month, but eventually she said she felt bad sneaking around and going against her mom and we broke up.

GreasyP

I live in Provo, Utah, and I'm not Mormon. Need I say more?

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bundy

a couple of years ago i went to journalism college. it was based next door to the Mormon Sydey HQ.
every day i had to politely decline.

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Ohayo!!!

Lebell

Actually Wile E.,

The Bibles of both the JW's and Mormans are different from the accepted Catholic Bibles which are also different from accepted Protestant Bibles.

One of the major difficulties with JW's using a 'Catholic' Bible is that certain passages directly contradict JW teachings, especially in regards to the exact relationship of Jesus to God the Father, so the founder (something Russell) wrote his own version.

Mormons on the other hand, have the book of Mormon, handed down to Joseph Smith by the Arch Angel Moroni, which is central to their faith.

Among the mainline Christian Denominations, there are several different translations stretching from the Douay-Rheims and King James translations to the New Jerusalem and NRSV versions. Between Catholics and Non-Catholic versions, there are books in the old testiment that are found in one which are not found in the other.

So when someone tells you it's "In the Bible" you are perfectly correct to ask them, "Which one?"

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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KillerYoda

People try to convert me daily. Apparently my Misfits shirt screams out "I worship Satan" so I always get invited to various church events, which is sad because I do attend church on occassions. Those no hangover Sundays.

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christophagust

Lot's of people try, when they first get to know me, and make me go against being agnostic. I usually make them realize to stop trying quickly.

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who dares wins... and sometimes loses

Wile E

Thank you Lebell, as you are seemingly correct regarding the book of Mormons, but I'm not fully convinced about the JW having a different version. I'm not 100% on my thinking, so before I respond I want to find out the true answer. But regardless of this fact, my point still stands that these scriptures I was referring to are in the 'Catholic' bible. That part I am certain of. But I will repost later when I have the correct information.

**Wile E hates being corrected.**

Guess I should've done my homework last night, not the day after. Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator.

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billege

Wile E I'd like to thank you for putting a stop to the rudeness, I was thinking of making a similar post, before I saw yours.

I don't understand why some people find it so amusing to be rude. But I do think it says something about the character, or lack thereof, of the person posting.

<i>General life rule #432</i> If you are bragging about how rude you have been, or can be, then you are an being an ass.

I have a buddy of mine who used to be my "agnostic buddy." I consider myself an agnostic, and I think more ahtiests would consider themselves so if they looked up agnostic.

My buddy went from being an agnostic to a Jehova's witness. We have had some interesting conversations, believe me. That is what it comes down to, by the way. One believes, or one does not. If one chooses to believe, than no amount of reason, logic, or fact will change one's mind.

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I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence:
"My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

Grondar

My friend is Christian; I am an atheist.

He will occasionally bring up the topic that I should go to Church with him sometime, but our religion differences never get to the point where it intereferes with our friendship. Which is certainly a good thing.

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Sparky

Mormons have the Book of Mormon and they also use the Bible. They use the Bible as much as they use their Book of Mormon. They see both books as the word of God.

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ARTelevision

Nope.
I am told anyone who knows me figures out I am not convertible...

and those who try figure out the same thing during the very act of trying.

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Lebell

's Ok man.

You and I are alot alike in this regard.

__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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Cynthetiq

i'm baptized catholic and the wife is of jewish decent... she has her own beliefs and I have mine, they aren't conflicting but they aren't the same. She definitely doesn't believe in organized religion. I see it has a place for some people.

Sometimes when I'm bored I'll take on a JW or two. I'm well schooled in the bible and can go toe to toe with them for some time. Ultimately it's boring after awhile and I ask them a simple question of respect,"If you with your convictions and beliefs are strong would you want someone to try to convince you otherwise? What makes you think that I would be different than you?"

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platypus

They don't come to the door anymore.

Greet 'em in an open bath robe clutching a cold one. Offer 'em a beer, flash yer dick, and tell 'em the orgy's about to start.

They hardly ever take you up on it....hardly ever.

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sapiens

I find persistent converters very offensive. Once I say that I am not interested, I expect them to leave me alone. I remember an incident when I was younger and more religious. I was accosted by a converter. He asked me if I was a christian. I said that I was catholic. He said, "Is that christian?" I wanted to say, "Do you have any clue about the history of your religion? Protestantism was formed in protest of the Catholic church!"

A jewish friend of mine always said that whenever he was accosted by someone trying to convert him he told them that he was Jewish and they immediately left him alone. It's interesting to hear that telling them that you are atheist can work too. I haven't been bothered by people trying to convert me in a while. Next time, I'll just tell them that I am an atheist (which I am).

GreasyP

You were closer to the truth, Wile E--Mormons use the standard King James version of the Bible, which I am pretty sure is the most common version of the Bible in Christian religions. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. They read out of it at least as much as they do the Book of Mormon. In fact, the subtitle of the Book of Mormon is "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" to emphasize the fact that the Bible is absolutely central to their beliefs, as well. I don't know about JW, though, Lebell is probably right on that one.

/used to be Mormon

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jmf1234

I'm a jew and you wouldnt believe how many people saw the mezzuzah on my door and tried to convert my family when i was young

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Lebell

Greasy,

While it is true that Mormons also use what is considered the "regular" Bible by most folks, it is the Book of Mormon that makes them uniquely Mormon. It is also a testiment that only Mormons follow.

This as opposed to a Baptist being Baptist because they use the King James version.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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louiedog

I don't think it's good to meet them at the door and be rude. Tell them you're not interested and you'd like them to leave. If they persist be rude. No reason to be a jackass to someone that hasn't really done anything to you.

I have a friend who is mormon and not once did he ever try to convert me. On the other hand, my christian ex that went to church maybe three times in the year and a half we went out tried to all the time.... worst relationship ever.

I miss my old dog. I live in a rural area and they'd have to drive to my house to talk to me. When the same people would come back after I'd told them I wasn't interested I'd let her out and her size alone would scare them back into their cars. Luckily they didnt know she was incapable of hurting a person.

prettypinkfiary

Usuially when the mormons come arround I'm nice and listent to what they have to say then I take their books and thank them. Those poor guys have to go out into the world all by themselves for TWO years without seeing their famalies and friends for that mission trip. The least i can do is respect their strong commitment to their faith and spiritual developement. It's kinda annoying but you'd be surprised what you can learn when you take the time to listen to people. Other evengalists bother me more. Those people who live in twon and harrass you constantly. The ones who have little clubs at church and won't let you go after you've asked politely for them to stop comming round. One thing that does work on those people is a little white lie every now and then. I sometimes just say i allready attend a church and am quite happy with it. I'm surprised that one VERY obnoxious (and no I will NEVER make ANY APOLOGIES for my Dyslexic spelling) group of evangalists (for lack of a better word) was left out of this discussion. Those pesky athiests who can't stop telling everybody that god is a cruch and a silly idea. Those ones who never miss an oppertunity ot tell their christian friends, family members, and aquaintances how silly they are for finding fulfillment in the spiritual. Nothing makes me want to laugh more than someone railing against the wind about how dumb overattachment to a spacific idea about the ultamate reality is. Teen angst and adult discontent can lead a person to some pretty dark and obnoxious places. seems to be that it's simply a matter of disposition weather you end up with jerry fallwell or anton levey (the lowest common denomanaters of this equasion)

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apetaster

You know, the first time they pulled the conversion deal, I was polite and said no thanks and they were on their way. The second time I reminded them they had already been here and I was not interested. It was the same set of people. The third time the same couple came around was when I was fed up eith their bothering me (at mealtime.) In my eyes they are every bit as invasive as telemarketers no better, no worse as they are peddling something to me uninvited - and not to be overly harsh, but I really don't care what they are offering because it is not for me, and when approached three times offering the exact same thing at the same location and having politely turned them away the previous two times, yes I was curt with them that third time and don't feel the least bit bad about it.

What would you suggest next time? Me informing them that they are not welcome on my property and next time I'll call the cops or going off on them with a string of expletives? I'm normally a pretty nice guy at home and am the first time to buy tickets to a Pop Warner pancake breakfast when the kids come around, but these people simply did not listen and took it upon themselves to attempt to save my soul repeatedly. Was I offended that they inferred I was in need of help from above, no - and were they offended by my statement that I was a raging atheist - probably not...would it have been any different if I stated I was a hardcore Catholic or militant Jew?

prettypinkfiary

hey man all i'm saying is don't fuck with the little guy. most of thoese people are just doing what they're told. record when they've showed up and call the temple to say the police will pay them a visit or give em a call if they show up again. i wasn't attacking you personally.

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apetaster

Prettypinkfiary - I was not responding to you or anyone in particular (my error, I should have stated that my response was a general one.) I did not take your post as being directed at me specifically.

phoenix1002

Two Jehova's Witnesses tried to convert me once. I talked to them for a little while, but they never really let me say anything. When they started talking about doing good deeds for those in need, I finally was able to say that I was in the midst of a 4 week internship with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is an organization that builds houses, then sells them to people who otherwise would not be able to afford them. Those people have to help build other houses before they are elgible for their own. It is also a Christian organization, although you don't have to be a christian to work there. Anyway, the two JWs that I was talking to started telling me how basically it wasn't good enough, something about how God wouldn't approve of it. At that point, I felt like telling them they really shouldn't make comments about things that they clearly didn't know much about. Then the phone rang, so they left.

I respect them for their comitment, but they can get annoying, especially when they don't know what they are talking about. It must be very depressing though... I can't imagine they have much luck converting people. I mean, at one point, I suspect that they were spreading the word to people who might not have heard much about their religion, but in this day and age, most people probably know about it, and if they are interested, have found their religion already.

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krwlz

jahovas witness's until i told them of my solution to the starvation in africa....let em starve, and have the land to people ration balance out, then the ones who make it arnt starving any more!