Lol I'm not interested in their religious twaddle!

Ha I'll remember that one *JoJo* ?

I always have a little admiration for JW or Mormons completing their mission. I am not religious at all, I just think they must have such conviction and bravery to go round random housing unaware of the response they might get.

I have seen signs you can place at your door that state you don't wish religious callers.

Haha l need to remember that one as well!

Agreed. I think is a shame that people have such a negative response to them which to me often seems over the top. It's not as if they are going around preaching hate is it?

Of all the religions, I find Mormonism to be the most bat-sh*t crazy baffling.

Come in. Have a cup of tea. Now, what's all this about God living on a star called Kolob? Please, tell me about your religion that was founded by a convicted con artist who, in 1830, claimed to have dug up a new sacred text from under a tree in America, of which there is now no evidence. That's wierd, huh? And remind me again why you banned black men from being priests until 1978, and only overturned the ban under immense political pressure received a new revelation just before you expanded into more ethnically-diverse countries. Uncanny timing, no?

And one last thing. Why are you trying to convert me to Mormonism when, if I refuse in life, you'll simply baptise me into your church when I'm dead? Just like you did with 300,000 Holocaust victims. And Adolph Hitler. Good move, buddies. Reckon they're having fun together, in one of your multiple heavens?

I have to say, threads like this really get my goat.

Why be so flippant and rude about someone's whole lifestyle and beliefs?

Because beliefs should be judged on merit, not protected from criticism simply because someone holds them?

But nobody knows whether religion or atheism has merit.

I wasn't particularly responding to your post footers, I don't know anything about Mormons really!

Whhaaaaaat???? ?

I thought I was pretty well versed on Holocaust/Hitler historical facts and figures but have totally missed this.

On a similar vein, but not related to this post, I wanted to start a thread before about the word "offensive". It seems so over-used generally and people tend to (no-one specifically here, just generally speaking) employ it as a device for ending the debate/conversation and usually forcing an apology from the, um, offence-generating person, who capitulates into what can only be described as sorrowful word vomit....

I apologise if I have offended anybody by going off on a tangent.

I'd just like to point out I haven't said I'm offended and I am not. I don't follow a religion and I'm not one for getting offended on behalf of other people (unless it's something really serious).

Although I describe myself as an atheist, technically/culturally I'm Jewish (mainly for the food), so am having a *smug* moment at the fact that we don't try and convert anyone. After all, we are the chosen people, obviously.

I am a spiritualist and have grown up in a spiritual family but on all the occasions I have told people they decide they want to pray for me as I play in the devils playground as they tend to be too small minded and place spiritualism and witchcraft together. So for that reason I no longer tell them that I am on a spiritual path and just tell them I'm a devil worshiper and watch them squirm.

Oh, I didn't think it was particularly aimed at me.

I actually agree that religion can have merit, but it's a slightly different ballgame when you get down to examining specific beliefs. If someone knocks on my door and tries to tell me that Santa Claus exists and that he's watching me to see if I'm being good, too right I'm going to rip them for it. Same if someone knocks on my door and tries to tell me that the earth is 6000 years old (as a JW once did) or that converting will make my skin lighter (as Mormons might believe).

All those beliefs are ludicrous and I reserve the right to call them. That doesn't ever mean I have the right to insult the person though. Perhaps that's a key point?

I don't appreciate people hassling me in my own home and during my time own about their religion. Ramming things down peoples throats is rarely a good way to go... I am not religious and that really isn't going to change.

I know that OB - said that it wasn't related to your post, but more a tag-on to FTLOMB's response and a complete tangent, if that makes sense.

Yes I think you're right, distinguishing between the general belief and the person speaking it.

I can categorically say that JW do NOT believe the earth is 6000 years old. That's probably part of the problem too, in all walks of life you find extremes, and if you happen to come across one (even if they aren't truly representative) it taints your view of the whole organisation. That doesn't just go for religion either!

In principle, I get you.

But, in my cabbage, a belief that black skin is representative of wickedness and corruption is more than worthy of derision.

I can remember a Jewish friend of mine years ago do a hilarious comment about why Judaism doesn't go out and ask for converts - I can't remember it properly but it went along the lines of if God really wants you he chooses you, he doesn't need you to convert.

Along the lines of OB I don't understand why if someone has different views to you then their views are twaddle etc. I'm not offending, it jsut seems so uneceesary, why can't we all just get a long? <starts humming a tune>

SL so you were upset by people not understanding your beliefs so why not accept other people have views that are different to you?

Feck I'm typing slow tonight, there's been another page!

When I was about 10/11 my mum was very polite to the JWs who called round when we moved into our new house. They were also very friendly, gave us bibles etc to read, but never tried to convert us. (as in, they didn't ram it down our throat, just chatted a bit about thier beliefs and asked about ours) I read their bible out of curiosity, as it was anice easy read with bright pictures, it actually seemed very similar to the CofE bible my primary school used to get us reading from now and again.

However I currently teach a JW kid who is completely orthodox JW and will actively try to convert kids and staff. He makes situations quite uncomfortable and in our school we are not supposed to tolerate it. (yet management do because they don't want to offend his parents)

I suppose my point is that in my experience not all JW/Mormons etc are the same, just as I suppose not all Muslims/Christians etc are all the same.

I do accept they have views different to me but I don't respect the fact that on my own front door step they wish to pray for my soul to be saved. My mums cousin in a JW and we have great conversations and when I did my volunteer work in Africa I spent 4 weeks with a Jewish guy and on once again we had great in depth about our own view and the different paths we have taken. Today how ever was my first experience with a Mormon and they where the ones that came to the conclusion my soul was damned.

Possibly after being informed by yourself that you worshipped Satan, whom is the opposition's leader to them, which hence make them believe that you would be damned?

Granted I should have told them that I am a spiritualist seen as it was the first time they have come to my door but I was in auto pilot as we normally just have the same two JWs that come around year after year.

A belief that eating meat is the right thing for humanity - not twaddle (but very different to my personal viewpoint).

A belief that the universe is 6000 years old - twaddle (and very different to my personal viewpoint).

Surely it's quite easy to dismiss some viewpoints as twaddle? Otherwise you'd be in a position where you have to accept and incorporate every single crazy thing that every single living person believes.

So not entriely a fair viewpoint of them?

*Although I am gobsmacked about what FTLOMB said

Why can't you just accept someone believes something different to you? It doesn't mean you have to believe it.

They are two different things, as mentioned earlier, the difference between a belief and the person holding said belief.

I completely accept that someone believes something different to me. It would be a boring world if everyone thought the same.

I reserve the right to call that belief 'twaddle' (should I think it such).

And we're ignoring the elephant in the room - that peoples' beliefs impact on peoples' actions. When I view those actions as actively harmful, I may well become far less accepting that some people believe something different to me.

Is it wrong that I'm coming around to Mormonism, after happily Googling pictures of Brandon Flowers? He must be ready for another wife by now....

Ok this just made me giggle >.<

He is kind on the eyes. I would have a lovely long chat on the doorstep with him!

But your views are actively harmful to yourself according to the Mormons so they pray on your behalf to protect you then?

And Bradon Flowers? That's how they gets ya?

Perhaps some of the other proselytising religions need to get an equally gorgeous poster boy?