Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons, Please Respect My Home

There’s a problem in my neighborhood.

I’m very tolerant of other religions. In most religions, there are basic principles that everyone can agree with. The problem appears to be among the sects within religions. When I find someone say that they are the only “true Christians,” I am not so tolerant.

My experience with members of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society goes back to the mid `1970’s.   I’ve met the good, bad and indifferent just like in other sects. Through the years, they have come to my house. The Watchtower Society requires them to go into field duty and publishing routes. It is how they earn their salvation. However, just because they put time aside to conduct field service does not mean that I have the time to listen to them.

Back in the 1980’s, the Kingdom Hall blacklisted my house because the new recruits coming with the old-timers on their publishing routes were returning to my house with questions — and leaving the Kingdom Hall.

I’m sure glad they didn’t come to my door.

Through the years, I’ve had Mormons also come to my house. When I answer the door, “Who is it?” like Jehovah’s Witnesses say they are “bible students, Mormons say they are “missionaries.”

What has been happening for the past year, is that they don’t leave if I don’t answer the door after they ring the bell the first time. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons – every week. They ring the door bell again, and again, and knock, and knock again, and ring the bell again. That is intrusive. It is disrespectful.

This morning, a friend called me around 6:45. The phone woke me up, and it stopped ringing after the third ring. Thinking it was an emergency, I called him back. He had not intended to dial my number. No problem. We talked a few minutes and I went back to sleep. Around 9:30 a.m. I was getting in that morning stretch before getting up when the doorbell ranged. The dog ran downstairs and gave her deepest, there’s a stranger at the door bark.   The blinds were closed. My car was in the garage. There was no sign of anyone being home other than the dog. Not expecting anyone, I didn’t move.

Ding dong.

Wolf, wolf, growl, growl.

Knock-knock.

Wolf, wolf, growl, wolf.

Ding dong. Knock-knock.

Getting up and going into my office where the window faces the front, I looked out. There was no UPS or FedEx truck in my driveway. There was no car parked outside. Who could be so persistent?

Ding dong. Wolf, wolf, growl, wolf.

Me: “Who is it?”

We are Bible students.

Me: “You woke me up. Sorry. Have a nice day. Good-bye.”

(But, the voice of a man continued to talk on the other side of the door.)

Me: “You woke me up. I’m in no position to open the door.”

“We would like to talk to you.”

Me: “Please leave and don’t come back.”

(He continued talking.)

Me: Hey doggie, want a snack?

The two men then walked off my porch.

I hate being rude like that. It has bothered me all day.

I know that according to their belief, they are supposed to evangelize because Jesus told his disciples to go door to door. At that time, there were no newspapers, radio, television, internet. This is not the first century. And, didn’t Jesus say if their message was not welcomed to leave and knock the dust off their feet? In other words, don’t be disrespectful of the houses and time of others.

The intrusion is disrespectful. I could have been in the shower, cooking breakfast, (and if married, taking care of business), on the phone OR NOT AT HOME. Did they have fun agitating my dog?

Looks like I need to write the local Kingdom Hall a letter requesting that they stay away.