Weird religious people

EKClarke

Weirdest thing happened just there a few minutes ago. I'm sitting down playing Gears of War 3 blowing the heads off of drones with the aul Gnasher shotgun. Things aren't going well, I've **** all ammo left and there at least another 40 of 'em to come when I hear the doorbell ringing. I'm thinking who'd that be since I live in the country and don't have many people dropping over.

Anyway I open the door and its some aul one with an even older one. I'm thinking they might be Jehovah's witnesses. She has a leaflet in one hand with 'The Truth' written on it with questions like 'When will suffering end', 'What is true happiness and how do you achieve it', etc. She starts asking all these questions saying did I ever think about these sort of things since I'm a young lad and they mightn't apply to me. She tells me that they're all things about life and life's questions but from the scriptures and so on. She gives it to me and I'm just trying to humour her you know, I was going to tell her to **** off and that I'm an atheist and all that but I was curious and wanted to know what they had to say. But before she goes she actually takes out the Bible and quotes it showing me John 17:17 some ****e about the sanctity in words or something. Something supposedly she found profound but she didn't have a clue what it was about as she couldn't explain why it was or anything. Well anyway they left fairly sharpish as they were scared of the dog.

I'm wondering who were these people and who did they work for? Is this common to have people come to your house with stuff like this?

It was really weird anyway. I supposed I'm just uncomfortable around people who are extremely into their religious beliefs. Probably just prejudice on my part. But I wont be opening the door any more without checking to see who it is first.

Penn

EKClarke wrote: »

Weirdest thing happened just there a few minutes ago. I'm sitting down playing Gears of War 3 blowing the heads off of drones with the aul Gnasher shotgun. Things aren't going well, I've **** all ammo left and there at least another 40 of 'em to come when I hear the doorbell ringing. I'm thinking who'd that be since I live in the country and don't have many people dropping over.

Anyway I open the door and its some aul one with an even older one. I'm thinking they might be Jehovah's witnesses. She has a leaflet in one hand with 'The Truth' written on it with questions like 'When will suffering end', 'What is true happiness and how do you achieve it', etc. She starts asking all these questions saying did I ever think about these sort of things since I'm a young lad and they mightn't apply to me. She tells me that they're all things about life and life's questions but from the scriptures and so on. She gives it to me and I'm just trying to humour her you know, I was going to tell her to **** off and that I'm an atheist and all that but I was curious and wanted to know what they had to say. But before she goes she actually takes out the Bible and quotes it showing me John 17:17 some ****e about the sanctity in words or something. Something supposedly she found profound but she didn't have a clue what it was about as she couldn't explain why it was or anything. Well anyway they left fairly sharpish as they were scared of the dog.

I'm wondering who were these people and who did they work for? Is this common to have people come to your house with stuff like this?

It was really weird anyway. I supposed I'm just uncomfortable around people who are extremely into their religious beliefs. Probably just prejudice on my part. But I wont be opening the door any more without checking to see who it is first.

Never had any to the door as I live out in the sticks, but I'd just say I'm an atheist and get rid of them. If they're that committed that they'll wander from door to door, nothing I say will ever influence them, and it'll just be wasting my time and theirs.

Sonics2k

Two Mormon lads used to come round my estate every week for years, in fact they still do. But they don't come to my door any more

Oh the fun days I had playing with them.

robindch

Penn wrote: »

it'll just be wasting my time and theirs.

Gotta play the economic angle on this one.

There's only a few of them, but lots of doors. If you detain them for as long as possible arguing about whatever, then that means they've less time to find people who are susceptible.

Beruthiel

People who knock at your door to spread religion are freakish to say the least.
Have they nothing else to be doing with their time?
I always find "I don't believe in fairies" to work perfectly well for me.

btw
If you run out of ammo in GOW, I'm pretty sure if you looked around you could pick up another gun.

Knasher

EKClarke wrote: »

I'm wondering who were these people and who did they work for?

Well I don't know if it is exclusive to jehovah's witnesses or not but "the truth" is apparently the name they use for their beliefs. Although I'd imagine that naming something "the truth" would be a popular idea, naming it "unsubstantiated and unfalsifiable claims" just wouldn't have the same pulling power. :P

Mistress 69

All you have to do is tell them politely, that you are not at all religous and would not be interested and do not wish to waste their time. This causes no offence. It is, for want of a better phrase in the selling business, ''a closed door argument''.

Newsite

Beruthiel wrote: »

Have they nothing else to be doing with their time?

EKClarke wrote: »

I'm sitting down playing Gears of War 3 blowing the heads off of drones with the aul Gnasher shotgun. Things aren't going well, I've **** all ammo left and there at least another 40 of 'em to come

.

Beruthiel

Newsite,
Playing GOW is an excellent use of your time. It is especially good fun if you have someone to go two player with you.

Galvasean

When we die all that will remain will be our Xbox achievement awards/PSN trophies.

kylith

Newsite wrote: »

.

Who are you to judge how someone spends their time? Aren't you supposed to leave the judging to someone higher up the chain of command?

OP, I had a young man and woman at my door a couple of months ago. They got very snotty when I politely told them that I wasn't interested, so I closed the door on them. Since then I've been wishing that I'd flung the door wide and asked him exactly what he thought he was doing speaking to me in that tone of voice. Next time I'll give them a lecture on respect.

Penn

Newsite wrote: »

.

Have you heard the Good Word of the COG? Only Marcus Fenix can save us, and those of us who believe in Fenix shall be rewarded with Downloadable Content. Praise be to Marcus!

Sonics2k

Penn wrote: »

Have you heard the Good Word of the COG? Only Marcus Fenix can save us, and those of us who believe in Fenix shall be rewarded with Downloadable Content. Praise be to Marcus!

Nonsense, only the Dovahkiin can save us with the aid of the Heroes of Sovngarde!

Praise be the Nine!
:pac:
(i need to stop playing Skyrim)

Knasher

Sonics2k wrote: »

i need to stop playing Skyrim

Nonsense, I need to find time to play more Skyrim.

Solair

A rather good looking 20-something year old American lady sidled-up to me in a café in Cork. I thought she was actually chatting me up, which was awkward enough as I'm very much attached.

She then produced a hand drawn card and handed it to me. It was all about how much Jesus loves me!

I was like: -- eh, O... K.... -- I have to make a very important phone call ... here's your card back! Bye!! (dialled frantically and hoped she'd go away). She didn't get the hint and kept it up, so I actually had to ask her to leave me alone or, I would have to have a word with the management of the shop as she was harassing customers.

She's apparently hanging out in cafés around Cork City Centre sidling up to unsuspecting people trying to enjoy their double carmel macchiato.

Anyone else run into her?

Doctor DooM

I've been interviewed for several thesis on gaming culture and have been on the radio a couple of times discussing it in a positive light, dercrying ignorantly old fashioned impressions of gaming as alluded to above. More to come from what I hear.

I have an entire social circle of friends built up from the Irish fighting game community.

But I've never felt the need to knock on doors, pushing my views.

I've been all around Ireland and to Cannes twice playing in video game tournaments. (I think I was the first Irish man to get top 8 in a tournament and on the live stream there).

A friend of mine was recently sent for free to Vegas to take part in Evo.


Beats the hell out of Lourdes.

Galvasean

When I lived in Dundalk (a typically student estate near the college) we would often meet the Mormons on the way home from college. they'd usually stop you for a chat, which usually quickly turned to an invitation to a prayer group / youth club via an awkward segway. Not sure if they actually called to houses or if they were just hoping to encounter students in the streets.
I live in North County Dublin now and recently the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to have stepped up their game. They can often be found near the DART station handing out leaflets, on said DART handing out fliers or calling to your door handing out magazines.

Galvasean

Doctor DooM wrote: »

I have an entire social circle of friends built up from the Irish fighting game community.

You don't sell soap by any chance do you?

HavingCrack

Anyone here watched that new comedy on Channel 4 called Fresh Meat? It has something similar to the situation you're describing in the OP. Very funny, up on 4od .

Sonics2k

Doctor DooM wrote: »

I've been interviewed for several thesis on gaming culture and have been on the radio a couple of times discussing it in a positive light, dercrying ignorantly old fashioned impressions of gaming as alluded to above. More to come from what I hear.

I have an entire social circle of friends built up from the Irish fighting game community.

But I've never felt the need to knock on doors, pushing my views.

I've been all around Ireland and to Cannes twice playing in video game tournaments. (I think I was the first Irish man to get top 8 in a tournament and on the live stream there).

A friend of mine was recently sent for free to Vegas to take part in Evo.


Beats the hell out of Lourdes.

I don't know if you're a Warcraft follower, but I also did Live streams for Dara Mactire EU PvP team for a little while, actually managed to make a little bit of cash from it but stopped due to lack of interest in the game.

But I agree, so far as I know I've yet to feel the urge to walk around from house to house teaching them about the finer arts of RBG's and Azeroth.

robindch

Galvasean wrote: »

would often meet the Mormons on the way home

Sheesh, I read that as "morons"...

iguana

For some religions this 'mission work' is a rite of passage of the religion. All members of the church must participate in recruiting new members for a set period of time.

Mormons are the most organised religion when it comes to missionaries, they are highly organised with over 50,000 missionaries worldwide at any one time. It's usually expected that male church members will take a 2 year hiatus from university (usually Brigham Young University) to do this work. Women may also do it they aren't expected to and aren't pressured in the same way. They are sent in same sex groups to mission centres in other countries or parts of their own country far from where they are from. The missionaries do this work at cost to themselves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_%28LDS_Church%29

HavingCrack

iguana wrote: »

For some religions this 'mission work' is a rite of passage of the religion. All members of the church must participate in recruiting new members for a set period of time.

Mormons are the most organised religion when it comes to missionaries, they are highly organised with over 50,000 missionaries worldwide at any one time. It's usually expected that male church members will take a 2 year hiatus from university (usually Brigham Young University) to do this work. Women may also do it they aren't expected to and aren't pressured in the same way. They are sent in same sex groups to mission centres in other countries or parts of their own country far from where they are from. The missionaries do this work at cost to themselves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_%28LDS_Church%29

Mitt Romney, currently running for the Republican nomination for president did his in France of all places actually. Don't know why I felt the need to say that .

Galvasean

robindch wrote: »

Sheesh, I read that as "morons"...

The R was in fact a typo! :pac:

It was Dundalk after all...

The Mad Hatter

Galvasean wrote: »

robindch wrote: »

Sheesh, I read that as "morons"...

The R was in fact a typo! :pac:

It was Dundalk after all...

Momons?

Galvasean

Now whose the momon? :pac:

lynski

used to love having the handsome mormons in for tea when i was a student in limerick years ago. they called regularly enough and I would have a cuppa and a chat, then ask them to leave when the started the prayer stuff, they stopped calling after a few months.
haven't had any religious callers here yet, but then google earth bypassed our estate too so we might be safe.

Newsite

Beruthiel wrote: »

People who knock at your door to spread religion are freakish to say the least.
Have they nothing else to be doing with their time?

kylith wrote: »

Who are you to judge how someone spends their time? Aren't you supposed to leave the judging to someone higher up the chain of command?

Delicious ironing!

Newaglish

Newsite wrote: »

Delicious ironing!

Ehhhh, not exactly.

Judge not, that ye be not judged

That comes from the Bible, which means you have to live by it, according to your allegedly superior Christian morality.

Non-religious people can judge all they like as they don't claim to adhere to any such standard.

Sarky

Newsite is only worried for your souls because Gears of War is incredibly homoerotic. I read some Marcus/Baird slashfic once, and the only reason it was gayer than any of the games was because the games never actually showed a man putting his willy in another man's bottom.

Or possibly he's a joyless shell of a man.<shrug>

Daftendirekt

Newsite wrote: »

Delicious ironing!

You realise you quoted two different posters there? :pac:

Beruthiel

Newsite wrote: »

Delicious ironing!

That only works if both quotes were mine.....

Penn

Newsite wrote: »

Delicious ironing!

*slow clap*

Peregrinus

This is essentially door-to-door sales techniques, as applied to religion.

Door-to-door sales techniques used to be much more common than they are today. Products as diverse as insurance and household appliances were sold this way. The technique is not as popular as it once was, partly because other high-impact ways of communicating with prospective customers have emerged - e.g. television and radio advertsing - and partly because it’s very labour-intensive, and labour has become, in real terms, more and more expensive.

But the practice hasn’t entirely died out. Charities still sell, e.g., Christmas cards by this method, and I in fact have a telephone and internet service sold to me by a bloke who called unannounced to the door.

The use of similar techniques to sell ideas and philosophies, as opposed to goods and services, isn’t confined to religion. Politicians used to use it extensively. Until the 1950s, at least, every Fianna Fail cumann, for example, was expected to ensure that a personal visit was made to every household in the district at least once a year to solicit funds for the party, to enquire if there were issues on which householders wanted representation or assistance, etc. Party officials were perfectly aware that the main purpose of the exercise was to cement party identification and loyalty.

You still get people calling to the door in support of political campaigns, e.g. to ask you to sign a petition against (or in support of) some local development.

In the religious context this technique was mostly associated with the Mormons and the JWs. (Other religions made house calls too, but usually only to people already connected with the church concerned.) In a sense, it’s not surprising that they should persist with the practice. They are barred by law from using other high-impact forms of communication (like radio and TV ads), and they aren’t directly affected by high labour costs, since the people making the calls are volunteers. Plus, they are movements of a generally conservative disposition, who may have a natural tendency to keep doing what they have done in the past.

I did once see a semi-rigorous study (conducted by a non-JW) of the effectiveness of the technique in winning conversions to the JWs. He concluded that it yielded about one conversion for every 5,000 doorsteps stood upon. Perhaps more to the point, he found all or nearly all JWs could trace their connection with the church back to a cold-call on the doorstep which they, or some close family member, had received. Given that, the JWs are a community heavily influenced by doorstepping themselves, and they will naturally think of it as an effective technique.

Some people resent it. They find it offensive, or they are embarrassed to be invited discuss matters of belief, or they feel the attempt to evangelise them somehow implies a negative judgment of them. It can get a bit fraught. However my experience is that if you’re not interested in what they offer. and say so without aggro, that’ll be gracefully accepted and they’ll go and doorstep your neighbour instead.

Mistress 69

Available for your front garden

Galvasean

Daftendirekt wrote: »

You realise you quoted two different posters there? :pac:

Damn atheists all look the same to me! :mad:

Newsite

Newaglish wrote: »

Ehhhh, not exactly.



That comes from the Bible, which means you have to live by it, according to your allegedly superior Christian morality.

Non-religious people can judge all they like as they don't claim to adhere to any such standard.

You've got the meaning of that verse on judging wrong, I'm afraid.

Sarky wrote: »

Or possibly he's a joyless shell of a man.<shrug>

Perhaps, yeah?!

Newsite

Daftendirekt wrote: »

You realise you quoted two different posters there? :pac:

Sure do!

Knasher

Newsite wrote: »

You've got the meaning of that verse on judging wrong, I'm afraid.

Really? It seems pretty clear cut to me, but it would be really nice if you actually gave the "correct" meaning.

Newsite

Knasher wrote: »

Really? It seems pretty clear cut to me, but it would be really nice if you actually gave the "correct" meaning.

Fair point.

Not that I am anyone special or above reproach in any shape or form (as nobody is), but Christians are called to 'judge righteous judgment'. What that means is that you judge according to God's standard, not your own standard.

So in other words, if you do judge (after taking care to make sure your own house is in order before you look to open your mouth - the 'beam in your own eye'), then it is not according to what you feel is right or wrong (which is actually the common definition of 'judging', which gets people's backs up), but according to what God lays out as His standard.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Matthew Henry:

We must not judge concerning any by their outward appearance, but by their worth, and by the gifts and graces of God's Spirit in them.

ShooterSF

So what's god's big problem with gears of war?

Bet he got stuck and decided to take it out on all of us!

unfortunately

Sarky wrote: »

Newsite is only worried for your souls because Gears of War is incredibly homoerotic. I read some Marcus/Baird slashfic once, and the only reason it was gayer than any of the games was because the games never actually showed a man putting his willy in another man's bottom.

Or possibly he's a joyless shell of a man.<shrug>

Call of Duty 3 is apparently an interactive gay romance novel as well:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/13/charlie-brooker-modern-warfare-3

Sonics2k

Pfft, if you though Gears of War was bad!

http://christwire.org/2011/11/is-skyrim-teaching-your-children-how-to-perform-rim-jobs-and-other-homo-erotic-sex-maneuvers/ :pac:

Newaglish

Newsite wrote: »

You've got the meaning of that verse on judging wrong, I'm afraid.

You can't just say "you're wrong, hahahaha" and then not explain what you think it's supposed to mean. Do share your opinion with the rest of the class.

Edit: It's been asked and answered above.

Knasher

I don't think your interpretation has any greater validity than the one, I'm assuming, Newaglish was using. But I don't see yours detracting from the point that Newaglish was making, so I'll do you the courtesy of taking yours.

Newsite wrote: »

Not that I am anyone special or above reproach in any shape or form (as nobody is), but Christians are called to 'judge righteous judgment'. What that means is that you judge according to God's standard, not your own standard.

So what is gods standard on video games?

Newsite wrote: »

So in other words, if you do judge (after taking care to make sure your own house is in order before you look to open your mouth - the 'beam in your own eye'), then it is not according to what you feel is right or wrong (which is actually the common definition of 'judging', which gets people's backs up), but according to what God lays out as His standard.

So here is the part which isn't in conflict with the point (I think) Newaglish was making. Your definition says that you need to "have your house in order" before you start judging (or applying your interpretation of gods judgement to) others. Yet you admit to not being beyond reproach, so clearly you are commanded not to judge others until you take care of that.

Galvasean

Woe, gotta get me back into video games. They appear sexier than the ones I used to play.



Well, maybe not ALL of them.

Popinjay

Sonics2k wrote: »

Pfft, if you though Gears of War was bad!

http://christwire.org/2011/11/is-skyrim-teaching-your-children-how-to-perform-rim-jobs-and-other-homo-erotic-sex-maneuvers/ :pac:

My plan was to wait until xmas to get this game but if it really is a 'demonic grail of violent dragon porn' then I may have to buy it today.

Also apparently it's not just available on all three models of Playstation but you can get it for the gamecube. That's pretty sweet.

I also liked this line straight afer that bit...

'If you do learn that one of your children’s friends doesn’t have proper parents and allows them to play on such vile machines, make sure your child knows that by playing with this friend will go against God and would send his soul to the fire pits of Hell.

And the pie charts... oh dear, the pie charts