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Author
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Topic: What's the difference between religious and political proselytizing?
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 09 July 2004 08:22 PM
*knock* *knock* *knock*
(door opens, resident looks warily at callers)
Caller: Hi, how are you today?
Resident: Fine...
Caller: We'd like to give you some information about [current event or issue]. Have you ever wondered about [current event or issue] and how it affects your life?
Resident: [yes or no response, perhaps elaboration if you're lucky]
Caller: God is concerned about [current event or issue] too. He tells us that if we follow his word then he will give us [whatever good thing]. If you'd like to learn more about what God's word says about [whatever], our organization can show you the way.
Resident: [response]
Caller: Do you believe in God?
Resident: [response]
Caller: [short response to resident's response talking briefly about religious beliefs.] Thanks for your time. Could you tell me your name? Thanks, have a good day.*knock* *knock* *knock*
(door opens, resident looks warily at callers)
Caller: Hi, how are you today?
Resident: Fine...
Caller: We'd like to give you some information about [current event or issue]. Have you ever wondered about [current event or issue] and how it affects your life?
Resident: [yes or no response, perhaps elaboration if you're lucky]
Caller: The NDP is concerned about [current event or issue] too. If [Local candidate/Party leader] is elected, then he will implement [whatever good policy]. If you'd like to learn more about NDP policy about [whatever], our campaign office can give you more information.
Resident: [response]
Caller: Can we count on your support this election?
Resident: [response]
Caller: [short response to resident's response talking briefly about political beliefs.] Thanks for your time. Could you tell me your name? Thanks, have a good day.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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nonsuch
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1402
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posted 10 July 2004 12:18 AM
Well, if you care about people and believe that your idea (system, philosophy, party, diet, movement, religion or whatever) would relieve some or all of their suffering, then you probably want to share that idea.How do you go about sharing it?
You may write a book, get it published (HA!), do the tours, and reach only the literate, who can afford to buy a book and happen to want that book - a small percentage of the population.
Eventually, a lot more may get it second-hand or borrow it from the library.
Meanwhile, of course, they go on suffering. You could advertise on television, newspapers, magazines and billboards - if you had unlimited funds.
You could make a movie.
You could try to sway influential people and have them pass the word.
You could stand on a soap-box and shout.
You could post a notice behind a locker in the men's room in the basement of - i forget what public building Arthur didn't visit in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and so didn't know that Earth was condemned. If you're under some kind of time-constraint (as in election or last trump), you want to reach as many people as possible, as fast as possible.
Why should the method be different, if the intent and obstacles are the same?
From: coming and going | Registered: Sep 2001
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nonsuch
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1402
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posted 11 July 2004 12:00 AM
Surely, what's acceptable or un- is in the mind of the target?
If somebody knocks on your door to beg for Halloween candy, charitable donations or political support; to sell cheese, a candidate, a magazine subscription or salvation, and you consider any of those unacceptable, you close the door. If all of them are unacceptable, you can post a notice: 'Don't Even Think Of Soliciting here!'.I think there are far too many intrusions in our lives by strangers who want something. But i don't think society as a whole can draw lines according to subject matter, good taste or even the duration of a campaign. Still, if enough individuals just close the door, they'll probably stop.
From: coming and going | Registered: Sep 2001
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skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478
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posted 11 July 2004 10:39 AM
Whether people enjoy politics or not, there is pretty general agreement that politics is public or civic life -- the polis = the city, after all. Evangelical religion, though: there would be many and deep divisions over how "public" religion is or should be, which is partly why some people are going to feel more bothered by those persistent missionaries on the doorstep. And the ones I've met really are persistent. In my experience, as soon as I tell a Liberal or a Con canvasser that I'm a member of the socialist hordes, they go away quickly. Mormons and JWs don't necessarily respond to the same treatment, and if you talk to them at all, they come BACK! One reason to get your window or lawn sign really early in a political campaign -- the other guys won't bother ringing your bell.  But I don't know of a matching technique for the missionaries.
From: gone | Registered: May 2001
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 11 July 2004 10:47 AM
This is true, skdadl, that religious canvassers are more persistent. However, if you ask them not to come back again, they probably won't. The thing with religious canvassers is, they take advantage of your politeness. But I've found that if I don't engage them at all and just say, "I'm not interested, thanks," then they usually go away. I haven't experienced any foot-in-the-door tactics personally, although I'm sure others have. However, when I let them go through their spiel, they're almost certain to come back at the same time the next week!  And I've gotten reactions while canvassing for the NDP that are similar to ones I could imagine religious canvassers getting. None of your business how I'm voting - we have a secret ballot for a reason. That sort of thing.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478
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posted 11 July 2004 10:56 AM
I confess that I have not canvassed for lo these many elections. Saint Tommy of Douglas, I have sinned.  (I do have a short list of excuses, if you're interested.  )For about a year recently, I had a hand-written sign on our door asking people not to ring the bell if they weren't expected because we were a medical situation. I can't know, of course, how many polite people respected the sign, but there sure were a number of aggressive people who figured out ingenious ways around it. Several people, eg, didn't ring -- they just pounded and pounded terrifyingly on the door.  Our phone number was on the notice -- I thought people would take it down and phone from home, but I wasn't counting on the guys with cells who would phone while standing at the door! And of course any number of people just decided, Oh, she can't mean me, and rang the bell anyway. Sigh.
From: gone | Registered: May 2001
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DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490
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posted 11 July 2004 01:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Michelle:
Jews for Jesus canvassing was only for a limited time and a specific purpose here in Toronto. And yet a lot of people were offended by it. Was it an acceptable way to try to gather support?
You know what I'm talking about, Michelle.  The government imposes restrictions on political canvassing for elections. Jews for Jesus is under no such constraint. They can freely choose to extend their deadlines, extend their canvassing, and nobody can say them nay.
From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001
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VoiceofTreason
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5852
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posted 12 July 2004 02:17 PM
Not a gun advocate per se but a friend of mine recounted the tale of a co-worker who had a gun collection of some repute.Said individual was in the habit of cleaning his weapons while watching the evening news. One night there came a knock at the door and said co-worker resplentend in his "wife-beater" and y-fronts went to the door to find a pair of JWs. Said gentleman waved the two inside (don't know why) but the two proselytizing visitors blanched at the idea and hastily made their excuses. The guy had answered the door still holding the gleaming .357 magnum he'd been polishing before the door went. The image is classic...suffice to say no JWs have come calling since.
From: Toronto | Registered: May 2004
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'lance
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1064
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posted 12 July 2004 07:34 PM
quote:
When you hear the door-bell, you could yell "Is that you Zed!" and open it while wearing some liederhosen, knee high stilleto boots, and one of those leather hoods with zippers over the mouth and eyes.
In The River's Edge, Dennis Hopper's standard way of greeting anyone who knocked on his door was to jerk it open a few inches, shove a taped-together old revolver in their faces (it literally had duct tape on it, and looked like it'd blow his hand off if he ever fired it), and scream: "The check's in the mail!" [ 12 July 2004: Message edited by: 'lance ]
From: that enchanted place on the top of the Forest | Registered: Jul 2001
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