Door-to-door Jesus Freaks

[GeorgeKirk]

I really don't understand a lot of the hatred towards these people. If you don't want anyone to come to your door, just put a No Trespassing sign on your property, don't answer your door, or just say "no thank you" and quickly shut your door.

It has been my experience, and the experience of other I've known over the years, that the religious types feel those signs don't apply to them and ignore such signage.

If they ignore a clearly posted notice not to trespass, then isn't that grounds for some kind of legal action, civil or criminal?

Part of living in countries with freedom of speech and religion is coming into contact with someone whose speech or religion seems abnormal or repellent to you. If you can't handle that, then defect to North Korea.

Ah yes, the "Freedom of Speech" argument, which has been twisted over the years from the intentions of the Framers.
In their days, political dissenters were jailed for speaking their minds, so it applies to the Government. It does not mean that someone can trespass on the property of others and start yammering.

While no one would argue that trespassing is lawful, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled in a number of cases dating back to the 1940s that door-to-door proselytizing is protected by the First Amendment. The last time the Court ruled on it was in 2002, and even the "strict constructionists" Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas ruled with the majority. Certainly you're entitled to your own opinion, but you should be aware that it's not an opinion that's backed by legal precedent. Not in the USA, anyway.

Saying that you don't like the activity of a particular religion is one thing. But these threads usually devolve into declarations that the door-to-door spreading of religious ideas should be made illegal, and that betrays a dangerous kind of ignorance.

 

[Tan Ru]

Are they actually "Jesus Freaks", a popular title for early 70's hippies with Biblical overtones, or someone else?

What you are encountering may be followers of Charles Taze Russell (The Watch Tower Organization / Jehovah's Witnesses) or the followers of Joseph Smith & Brigham Young (Latter Day Saints / Mormonism).

Neither to be confused with orthodox Biblical Christianity.

What they are doing is "good works". Or what they believe will please God and gain acceptance from Him. Perhaps even "earn" their way into Heaven or a "new paradise" here on earth.

I often invite them in to discuss things spiritual. It is rare to be able to break thru the wall of indoctrination however.

Try not to hate these people. They really should be pitied if anything...

 

[John Picard]

I really don't understand a lot of the hatred towards these people. If you don't want anyone to come to your door, just put a No Trespassing sign on your property, don't answer your door, or just say "no thank you" and quickly shut your door.

It has been my experience, and the experience of other I've known over the years, that the religious types feel those signs don't apply to them and ignore such signage.

If they ignore a clearly posted notice not to trespass, then isn't that grounds for some kind of legal action, civil or criminal?

Yep, yet they love to do so anyway, believing they are exempt since they believe "spreading the word" supersedes any applicable laws.

Part of living in countries with freedom of speech and religion is coming into contact with someone whose speech or religion seems abnormal or repellent to you. If you can't handle that, then defect to North Korea.

Ah yes, the "Freedom of Speech" argument, which has been twisted over the years from the intentions of the Framers.
In their days, political dissenters were jailed for speaking their minds, so it applies to the Government. It does not mean that someone can trespass on the property of others and start yammering.

While no one would argue that trespassing is lawful, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled in a number of cases dating back to the 1940s that door-to-door proselytizing is protected by the First Amendment. The last time the Court ruled on it was in 2002, and even the "strict constructionists" Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas ruled with the majority. Certainly you're entitled to your own opinion, but you should be aware that it's not an opinion that's backed by legal precedent. Not in the USA, anyway.

Saying that you don't like the activity of a particular religion is one thing. But these threads usually devolve into declarations that the door-to-door spreading of religious ideas should be made illegal, and that betrays a dangerous kind of ignorance.

IMHO, Justice Scalia is a nutty Catholic and as such I would argue with him that although the First Amendment protects the freedom of religion I do not believe that it means some religious zealot has the right to ignore posted signs and/or trespass on personal property to proselytize.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

Well, if they ignore the signs then of course you can sue them or have them arrested, depending on applicable laws. My point was that the "anything that annoys me should be banned" school of thought is ignorant and dangerous.

 

[Udat]

I have a pink flag flying outside my front door, never had a visit from the religous nutties!

 

[Withers]

I have a pink flag flying outside my front door, never had a visit from the religous nutties!

That's really all it takes? I'd have painted my front door in a rainbow along time ago if only I'd known!

-Withers-​

 

[Udat]

Sends you his left over paint, I`ve only got beige, homosexual biege.....

 

[Mistral]

I am inherently evil in my approach to door-to-door anything so I don't often get visits(the word seems to get around). That said, one Sunday morning some years ago I got a knock on the door. It was about 8 am. I had been in the desert at a party until 6:30 drinking beer and JD with my roommate. I got to the door first. After they asked me if I had been saved and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart I explained that I was a follower of Shintoism and worshiped the natural spirits of the Earth as embodied in all things.(I get into a very weird and creative state of mind after heavy alcohol and inadequate sleep). I mentioned that "my" religion outdated Christianity by at least 2 thousand years and that "my" people were very concerned for their souls as they were followers of an upstart cult.(I played fast and loose w/the facts but I didn't care, really). Then my roommate showed at the door and they repeated their question about Jesus. I cut him off before he could respond, telling them he was a practicing Druid. I went on to tell them that although we had similar beliefs he was fundamentally wrong because he refused to accept that the spirits of rock and water existed and what did they think? Was he right or was I? When they mono-tracked back to Jesus I dismissed him out of hand as "just one man in a world of spirits" and continued to lecture them on my (probably inaccurate) take on the spirits embodying the world in all things and how that was the true essence of God. They began to look desperate. I offered to take them to my ashram for a week-long nature retreat so they could right their souls(hey, what the hell, I was still kinda drunk and was making it up as I went) and discover the nature of God in all things. I explained that we could ingest the flesh of wild animals to feel their spirit and mentioned that this, of course, would be the only food provided on the retreat. When the woman(one of each sex had shown up) asked if we had to hunt and cook all of our food during the retreat I pointed out that cooking the food distanced one from the soul of the creature being eaten. They left rather quickly after that. Damned if I know why-the religion I was creating out of whole cloth sounded darned interesting...

Regarding Mormons-I grew up in a Mormon "enclave", a high density area. Most were polite, at least superficially. I am ashamed to admit that as a kid we would shove sticks in their spokes as they passed by....just to get their white shirts dirty. As an adult, I sneer at their nametags. The term "Elder" denotes a person of age and assumed wisdom. I could never take a 22yr old pimply kid serious with that moniker on his breast. Something inherently wrong about that.

 

[Amaris]

I few years ago I witnessed this old lady going over the top with a guy I knew saying the he should embrace Jesus because "Jesus is crystal clear, Jesus is great, and Jesus is laser."

Laser.

Sounds like someone is proselytizing via Mad Libs.
"Jesus is____(random noun)___. Jesus is ___(random adjective)___."

The words she knows, the tune she hums.

Yay! I've been waiting to see if anybody would get that.

Yep. As a massive Elton John fan, I knew immediately, as did Yeoman Randi.

 

[Udat]

I am inherently evil in my approach to door-to-door anything so I don't often get visits(the word seems to get around). That said, one Sunday morning some years ago I got a knock on the door. It was about 8 am. I had been in the desert at a party until 6:30 drinking beer and JD with my roommate. I got to the door first. After they asked me if I had been saved and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart I explained that I was a follower of Shintoism and worshiped the natural spirits of the Earth as embodied in all things.(I get into a very weird and creative state of mind after heavy alcohol and inadequate sleep). I mentioned that "my" religion outdated Christianity by at least 2 thousand years and that "my" people were very concerned for their souls as they were followers of an upstart cult.(I played fast and loose w/the facts but I didn't care, really). Then my roommate showed at the door and they repeated their question about Jesus. I cut him off before he could respond, telling them he was a practicing Druid. I went on to tell them that although we had similar beliefs he was fundamentally wrong because he refused to accept that the spirits of rock and water existed and what did they think? Was he right or was I? When they mono-tracked back to Jesus I dismissed him out of hand as "just one man in a world of spirits" and continued to lecture them on my (probably inaccurate) take on the spirits embodying the world in all things and how that was the true essence of God. They began to look desperate. I offered to take them to my ashram for a week-long nature retreat so they could right their souls(hey, what the hell, I was still kinda drunk and was making it up as I went) and discover the nature of God in all things. I explained that we could ingest the flesh of wild animals to feel their spirit and mentioned that this, of course, would be the only food provided on the retreat. When the woman(one of each sex had shown up) asked if we had to hunt and cook all of our food during the retreat I pointed out that cooking the food distanced one from the soul of the creature being eaten. They left rather quickly after that. Damned if I know why-the religion I was creating out of whole cloth sounded darned interesting...

Regarding Mormons-I grew up in a Mormon "enclave", a high density area. Most were polite, at least superficially. I am ashamed to admit that as a kid we would shove sticks in their spokes as they passed by....just to get their white shirts dirty. As an adult, I sneer at their nametags. The term "Elder" denotes a person of age and assumed wisdom. I could never take a 22yr old pimply kid serious with that moniker on his breast. Something inherently wrong about that.

Wow remind me never to run into after you have a few...

 

[Amaris]

I am inherently evil in my approach to door-to-door anything so I don't often get visits(the word seems to get around). That said, one Sunday morning some years ago I got a knock on the door. It was about 8 am. I had been in the desert at a party until 6:30 drinking beer and JD with my roommate. I got to the door first. After they asked me if I had been saved and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart I explained that I was a follower of Shintoism and worshiped the natural spirits of the Earth as embodied in all things.(I get into a very weird and creative state of mind after heavy alcohol and inadequate sleep). I mentioned that "my" religion outdated Christianity by at least 2 thousand years and that "my" people were very concerned for their souls as they were followers of an upstart cult.(I played fast and loose w/the facts but I didn't care, really). Then my roommate showed at the door and they repeated their question about Jesus. I cut him off before he could respond, telling them he was a practicing Druid. I went on to tell them that although we had similar beliefs he was fundamentally wrong because he refused to accept that the spirits of rock and water existed and what did they think? Was he right or was I? When they mono-tracked back to Jesus I dismissed him out of hand as "just one man in a world of spirits" and continued to lecture them on my (probably inaccurate) take on the spirits embodying the world in all things and how that was the true essence of God. They began to look desperate. I offered to take them to my ashram for a week-long nature retreat so they could right their souls(hey, what the hell, I was still kinda drunk and was making it up as I went) and discover the nature of God in all things. I explained that we could ingest the flesh of wild animals to feel their spirit and mentioned that this, of course, would be the only food provided on the retreat. When the woman(one of each sex had shown up) asked if we had to hunt and cook all of our food during the retreat I pointed out that cooking the food distanced one from the soul of the creature being eaten. They left rather quickly after that. Damned if I know why-the religion I was creating out of whole cloth sounded darned interesting...

Regarding Mormons-I grew up in a Mormon "enclave", a high density area. Most were polite, at least superficially. I am ashamed to admit that as a kid we would shove sticks in their spokes as they passed by....just to get their white shirts dirty. As an adult, I sneer at their nametags. The term "Elder" denotes a person of age and assumed wisdom. I could never take a 22yr old pimply kid serious with that moniker on his breast. Something inherently wrong about that.

Wow remind me never to run into after you have a few...

Or maybe we should. Hell, I'm an atheist and I'd dance around a fire.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

Are they actually "Jesus Freaks", a popular title for early 70's hippies with Biblical overtones, or someone else?

What you are encountering may be followers of Charles Taze Russell (The Watch Tower Organization / Jehovah's Witnesses) or the followers of Joseph Smith & Brigham Young (Latter Day Saints / Mormonism).

Neither to be confused with orthodox Biblical Christianity.

What they are doing is "good works". Or what they believe will please God and gain acceptance from Him. Perhaps even "earn" their way into Heaven or a "new paradise" here on earth.

Not true in the case of JWs.

I often invite them in to discuss things spiritual. It is rare to be able to break thru the wall of indoctrination however.

Try not to hate these people. They really should be pitied if anything...

.

You won't break through anything if you insist on condescending and patronizing coupled with erroneous assumptions.

 

[Udat]

^ It`s to late for long words.....

 

[farmkid]

Are they actually "Jesus Freaks", a popular title for early 70's hippies with Biblical overtones, or someone else?

What you are encountering may be followers of Charles Taze Russell (The Watch Tower Organization / Jehovah's Witnesses) or the followers of Joseph Smith & Brigham Young (Latter Day Saints / Mormonism).

Neither to be confused with orthodox Biblical Christianity.

What they are doing is "good works". Or what they believe will please God and gain acceptance from Him. Perhaps even "earn" their way into Heaven or a "new paradise" here on earth.

Not true in the case of JWs.

...or LDS (Mormons).

I often invite them in to discuss things spiritual. It is rare to be able to break thru the wall of indoctrination however.

Try not to hate these people. They really should be pitied if anything...

.

You won't break through anything if you insist on condensation and patronization coupled with erroneous assumptions.

...seconded

 

[scotpens]

The boulevard is not that bad.

Looking on... she sings a song.

The words she knows, the tune she hums.

Hold me closer, Tony Danza!

My friends and I got stopped in the park today by some odd people who spoke Japanese fluently but claimed to be from Korea, and who passed out very odd pamphlets (completely in Japanese) that seemed to be advertising a religion of some sort. They kept talking about how Mt. Fuji gives off special energy and life force, then offered to take us somewhere. We were all beginning to suspect that we were seconds away from being abducted, brainwashed and indoctrinated in some kind of weird new age cult, so we got out of there quick.

Good thing you did. You were about to be enslaved by the notorious Cult of Godzilla!

 

[Amaris]

^

By the way, this morning I opened my door to find a little baggie with pamphlets inside. I thought, "Hmm, maybe JWs or Mormons" and looked at the pamphlets. I read the covers, and opened the inside to see who had placed it on my door, to find it was...

Baptists! [cue chord sting]

A new Baptist church in town, inviting me to share God's love in their community. I thought it was a nice gesture. I'm not going, but it was nice of them to invite me. Whether that would change once I walked in the door, I don't know. I'm known to bring darkness and an orchestral theme that plays in mostly minor keys.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I'm known to bring darkness and an orchestral theme that plays in mostly minor keys.

I have the... damnedest... habit of bursting into flames.

()

I was just about to mention that I've had Baptists go door to door in my neighborhood, but you beat me to it.

 

[Emher]

I just think of the Robin Williams quote about this:

When these people show up at the door saying "Have you found Jeeesus?!", don't you just wanna' come to the door naked and say "No, come help me look for him!"

We get Jehova's at some points around here, but while I consider getting into it with them, I just take the damp pamphlet, close the door, lock it, and then rick the damn thing into shreds and throws it in the recycling.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yay! I've been waiting to see if anybody would get that.

Yep. As a massive Elton John fan, I knew immediately, as did Yeoman Randi.

You guys rock.

Hold me closer, Tony Danza!

And what the hell, you do, too.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

I just think of the Robin Williams quote about this:

When these people show up at the door saying "Have you found Jeeesus?!", don't you just wanna' come to the door naked and say "No, come help me look for him!"

We get Jehova's at some points around here, but while I consider getting into it with them, I just take the damp pamphlet, close the door, lock it, and then rick the damn thing into shreds and throws it in the recycling.

Say "no thank you" and close the door. Witnesses record which addresses take their literature as 'interested' and then return to the householder's door for follow ups later. This is called a 'return visit'.

If you wish, tell them to add you to their "do not call" list. Witnesses also keep track of householders who specifically ask not to be visited.