Door-to-door Jesus Freaks

[Amaris]

Just out of curiosity.... Isn't this thread title flirting with the "trolling" line a bit?

"Jesus Freak" is a commonly accepted term by both secular and non-secular groups. Christians use it as well. It's considered a badge of honor to many of them.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I've heard that term being used for over forty years, and I've never known anyone to take offense at it.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

You're making ill-formed and smug assumptions about how door to door preaching groups organize their time and manpower.

It is entirely possible that I am smug - it has happened before. I am not, however, ill-informed, and YOU are the one making assumptions about how much personal knowledge and insight I may have into how evangelism works. I, personally, am not for evangelical behavior, but one entire side of my rather large family was and is, and I grew up around them.

My assumptions proved correct. You have far less insight and experience with evangelical preaching activity, and JW activity in particular, than I do. Growing up around them is no way comparable to growing up IN an insular family/social group and doing this work near daily from the age of 5 until leaving the faith in early adulthood.

I have little love for any religious persuasion, let alone evangelicalism.

But, if it allows you to continue to feel like you accomplished...something, I'll leave you to your assumptions.

I'll repeat,

Repeating is not leaving me to my "assumptions". But based on your apparent understanding of the physical laws of the universe, I'm not surprised that you would have a different perspective on that, too.

they plan ahead for interactions like the ones you seem satisfied in engaging, and compensate according. Again, despite what you may think, you kept them away from no-one they wished to reach that day or any day you engaged them. You wasted your own time and the people who came to your door no doubt had a laugh at your expense once they left.

Okay, I'm going to try this again, in more detail. A team of two evangelicals comes to my door, and has an hour long conversation with me - let's say, from 2PM to 3PM. Those two cannot, therefore, be having a conversation with someone else during that same period of time. Unless you are suggesting that G_d somehow compensates them for that time by allowing them to live an hour longer at the end of their lives or some such, that hour is GONE for them. They may go on to talk to other people from 3PM - 6PM, and then go home for the day, but they were going to do that, anyway, and that in no way negates that I tied them up for an hour and kept them from talking to other people with whom they may have gained more traction in THAT hour. It also doesn't matter if 6 other members of their group talked to other people in that time, since they'd have been doing that anyway.

The only way I can NOT have wasted their time is if it is only the fact that they tried that counts, as far as they are concerned. In which case, we are back to my aforementioned Win-Win, since they got what they wanted out of it, and so did I, which was to delay them in talking to other, possibly more susceptible people.

Similarly, I believe you will find that I have wasted your time in reading this, thus keeping you from harassing other people with your lack of logic during that time. ;-P

You're confusing the reasons why many evangelicals do preaching work. The point of JW preaching work isn't even to convert people efficiently - if that was their goal, they wouldn't do door to door work. They'll tell you that's their goal because it sounds noble, but the honest ones will tell you the dirty secret -- they do it because they interpret certain new testament scriptures as a mandate to do it, with the expectation that few people will actually be interested in hearing it.

More than a few of them view debating people at the door as sport, and Witnesses at least, there is rarely if ever a team of two. There's multiple teams, for the express purpose of conducting lengthier conversations with householders while the other teams work the rest of the territory - and reach the more receptive people they're searching for in the same amount of time you think you're stealing. You gave them exactly what they want and made it that much more of a productive day for them. If they didn't get into that conversation with you, it would have been a less successful day.

Don't ever say I've defended their actions or their motivations in this thread, because not once have I, but you've played right into their model, man.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think the fairest thing one can say about these people is that they have guts. They don't care what any of us thinks of them. They stick to their convictions.

Do I think what they're doing is right? No. They are being pushy and I don't agree with that. The door-to-doors are out to convert, pure and simple, and IMHO that's wrong. My pastor said, and I concur, that we shouldn't look at people of other beliefs (or none) as targets to be converted or anything like that. We should concentrate on being "spiritual friends", as he put it.

Oh well. I'd like to think that most of the door-to-door'ers will go away if you tell them bluntly to do it. If they don't, call the police. Pure and simple. (Although I try to be perceptive enough to look through the peephole in my door and already be able to tell who they are, so I don't have to talk to or disappoint them.)

 

[Amaris]

I think the fairest thing one can say about these people is that they have guts. They don't care what any of us thinks of them. They stick to their convictions.

Do I think what they're doing is right? No. They are being pushy and I don't agree with that. The door-to-doors are out to convert, pure and simple, and IMHO that's wrong. My pastor said, and I concur, that we shouldn't look at people of other beliefs (or none) as targets to be converted or anything like that. We should concentrate on being "spiritual friends", as he put it.

Oh well. I'd like to think that most of the door-to-door'ers will go away if you tell them bluntly to do it. If they don't, call the police. Pure and simple. (Although I try to be perceptive enough to look through the peephole in my door and already be able to tell who they are, so I don't have to talk to or disappoint them.)

I kind of figure that it works out a little differently. I think at first, these folks are absolutely thrilled to be witnessing to the masses, going door to door to share their good news. Over time, though, I think many start to see it as more of a chore than a thrilling adventure, particularly as some get the door slammed in their faces time and time again.

For most, though, I don't think it's just to convert. These people are genuinely happy to see you and want you to join them, particularly Mormons! Now, I know a fake laugh and false niceness when I see it, and those Mormon boys I had over some time back were actually pleased to talk to me, and I know it bothered them that I politely refused, but at least they knew that while I didn't believe, I would always be a friend to them, and I stand by that to this day. All jokes aside, they still have a friend. Boy, if poor Elder Ben knew I was an atheist today, he'd likely pass out from shock, bless his heart.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"Jesus Freak" is a commonly accepted term by both secular and non-secular groups. Christians use it as well. It's considered a badge of honor to many of them.

This is true.

 

[Michael Chris]

Just out of curiosity.... Isn't this thread title flirting with the "trolling" line a bit?

"Jesus Freak" is a commonly accepted term by both secular and non-secular groups. Christians use it as well. It's considered a badge of honor to many of them.

Yeah, I would definitely not consider the title at all trolling. Perhaps some of the content, what with the suggestions of viciously assaulting people, but not really.

 

[Amaris]

Just out of curiosity.... Isn't this thread title flirting with the "trolling" line a bit?

"Jesus Freak" is a commonly accepted term by both secular and non-secular groups. Christians use it as well. It's considered a badge of honor to many of them.

Yeah, I would definitely not consider the title at all trolling. Perhaps some of the content, what with the suggestions of viciously assaulting people, but not really.

Agreed. Also, I own DC Talk's "Welcome to the Freak Show". Great music. One of the few Christian groups I ever found palatable. Them and "Jars of Clay" (the older albums, not the new one).

 

[Guartho]

I, personally, am not for evangelical behavior, but one entire side of my rather large family was and is, and I grew up around them.

[/QUOTE]

Hey Bears Discover Fire, why do JW churches not have any windows?

 

[Brent]

I'm a Jesus Freak.

Not a door to door one, but I'm a saved by God's grace Jesus Freak.

That said, I think the door to door ones, putting out "The Watchtower" have strayed from the word. I've had them come up to my door before. Out of kindness and love, I listened to what they had to say. Not saying I believe it, or their methods, but I'm not going to be mean about it. I listened, took their book, and they went on their merry way.