As the doorbell tolls…
February 13, 2007
While I was making myself some hote tea this morning the door bell rang. I was not expecting anyone but saw that two women were standing at our front door and were staring at me. I answered the door and they opened the screen door (big no-no in my book) and proceeded to tell me how many people have unanswered questions about why bad things happen in this world and then wanted to know my answer for why bad things happen. Had they been offering a cash prize or some kind of free vacation then I would have gladly answered. However, they were offering me the Jehovah’s Witness variety of salvation - you know, the kind that only works for 100,000 people. The Jehovah’s Witnesses must be the most idiotic of all Christian sects - they are basically saying that almost everyone will not get into heaven but you should try anyway. I think they need a new marketing strategy because telling people that they are going to work hard to fail is not a way to win believers. Of course, with me they would have even more problems than just that… At any rate, I asked them if they were Jehovah’s Witnesses and they said yes and I said no thank you and have a nice day.
This incident made me ponder why some of our neighbors have large fences and gates around their properties. I think I know the answer now… We have a Jehovah’s Witness *group* that meets in the village above our house and they don’t want them bringing by literature or dropping by for a faux philosophical discussion about why bad things happen in the world. THIS is one of the reasons I left the South - I can’t stand the people who knock on your door to sell you salvation.
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I can appreciate that you may be annoyed by Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking at your door, but some householders do express appreciation for it. In any event, while it is true that we believe only a limited number of people will be resurrected to heaven, exactly 144,000 according to Revelation 7:4 and 14:1, this by no means limits the number of people that can be saved. Revelation 7:9 makes mention of “a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations . . . and they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:9,10) In fact, most Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be of this innumerable great crowd which will live on the earth forever. (Psalm 37:29) Again, I am truly sorry if you the visits disturb you, but I think we’d probably both agree that it is better living in a country that allows the free exchange of ideas rather than in one that does not. Have a great day.
TJ
comment by TJ — February 13, 2007 @ 11:46 am
I don’t care if you post on my website. If I did not want people to post comments then I never would have put my website on the internet. I have no problem with anyone posting on my website. However, I do have a problem with anyone that comes to my home and rings my door bell upwards of FIVE times and knocks on my door especially when I have nothing on my home that says, “Please bother me.” Furthermore, I have a real problem with people trespassing on private property. I don’t care if they are trying to sell me something or sell me religion - you do not come on to someone’s private property and bug them during the middle of the work day or during any part of the day.
comment by katy — February 13, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Hi Katy,
With all due respect, everyone has the legal right to knock on their neighbors’ doors to speak with them. It’s a part of our first amendment rights. If it really annoys you that much, you can take steps such as posting a sign that says ‘No Trespassing.’ We do respect these signs if you don’t want to even speak to us.
As I said before, you may detest people ‘bothering’ you by knocking on your door, but many others that I have personally spoken with have expressed their appreciation for our message. Of course, it’s always an option to just ask us not to come back to your house as well. There’s no sense in letting it get you this upset.
Smile.
TJ
comment by TJ — February 13, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Ahhh Jehova’s Wittnesses…. the Scientologists of the Christian world without the aliens and space ships.
Seriously though. People who come to my house unexpectedly, and refuse to leave when asked to do so will more than likely be met with a firearm of varying caliber. You wishing to speak to me is your constitutional right. However, it is also my constitutional right to eject you by force if your presence is not desired, or do not leave willingly.
Religious types need to realize that there are those of us out there who have no desire to mix with your sort. We find comfort and joy in other things, not believing in fairy tales and superstition.
comment by Dan — February 14, 2007 @ 7:38 am
I’m not sure what your first amendement right to freedom of speech has to do with trespassing on private property. Please explain. Also, to clarify, the Jehovah’s Witnesses that came to my door are not my neighbors and I have never seen them before in my life. Why should I think they are not robbers or murderers coming to check out my home? And why do they come into neighborhoods where signs are clearly posted “No solicitation and no handbills” and when property is marked “No Tresspassing”? People do have a second amendement right to bear arms and the law does allow for citizens to shoot tresspassers.
comment by katy — February 14, 2007 @ 7:40 am
Hi Katy,
The Witnesses that came to your door were most likely ones that live in your community. In that sense, they are your neighbors. We do respect “No Trespassing” signs, though we do typically knock on doors with “No Soliciting” signs since we are not soliciting money. But again, we do respect people who ask us not to come back, so I don’t understand all this gun talk. That seems a bit unnecessary, don’t you think?
For decades Jehovah’s Witnesses have brought numerous first-amendment issues before the Supreme Court, winning most of them. Here are some of the comments made after the most recent victory which involved the right to bring our message to people’s doors.
“Door-to-Door Soliciting Ruled Constitutional Right. Decision a Victory for Jehovah’s Witnesses
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that politicians, religious groups, the Girl Scouts and others have a constitutional right to go door-to-door promoting their causes without first getting permission from local officials.â€â€”San Francisco Chronicle, June 18, 2002.
“Free Speech Wins
The next time some Jehovah’s Witnesses interrupt your dinner, you might consider thanking them. In gritty dedication to their religious principles, this out-of-the-mainstream denomination of scarcely 1 million members [in the United States] has probably done more than any other institution to secure freedom of speech for individual Americans. . . .
“For the Witnesses, going to the high court is a familiar routine. In more than two dozen cases over 65 years, they’ve effectively fought against the tyranny of the majority.â€â€”USA TODAY, June 18, 2002.
“Court Backs Jehovah’s Witnesses; Door-to-Door Ministry Doesn’t Require a Permit
In a life of knocking on doors as Jehovah’s Witnesses, [the Witnesses] always believed they had God behind them. Now they have the U.S. Supreme Court, as well.â€â€”Chicago Sun-Times, June 18, 2002.
“Supreme Court: You Can’t Keep Jehovah’s Witnesses, Girl Scouts From Knocking
WASHINGTON—The Constitution protects the right of missionaries, politicians and others to knock on doors without first getting permission from local authorities, the Supreme Court ruled today. . . .
“By a vote of 8 to 1, the court reasoned that the First Amendment right to free speech includes the entitlement to take a message directly to someone’s door.â€â€”Star Tribune, Minneapolis, June 18, 2002.
“JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES HAVE DONE IT AGAINâ€
Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar and director of education programs at the First Amendment Center, wrote the above words on the Freedom Forum Web site, under the title “The Freedom of Faith.†Haynes continued: “Last week [the Witnesses] chalked up their 48th Supreme Court victory—an extraordinary line of cases that have significantly expanded First Amendment protections for all Americans.†He cautioned: “Remember this: If the government can restrict the freedom of one faith, it has the power to restrict the freedom of any faith—or all faiths. . . . Of course, people have a right not to listen—and to close the door. But the government shouldn’t have the authority to decide who gets to knock on the door. So two cheers for the Supreme Court.â€
Haynes concludes: “We all owe the Jehovah’s Witnesses a debt of gratitude. No matter how many times they’re insulted, run out of town, or even physically attacked, they keep on fighting for their (and thus our) freedom of religion. And when they win, we all win.â€
TJ
comment by TJ — February 14, 2007 @ 2:47 pm