How Should One Handle Missionaries?

[_truth dancer]

Hey James,

They're still volunteers right? So everything they get they could avoid by not going on a mission right?

Yes, they are volunteers and can avoid the not-so-great stuff.

Still... they truly believe they are doing God's will. That at least can be respected no?

Of course.....but should they have to listen to my comments and questions? If they waste five minutes of my time don't I have the right to waste five minutes of their time?

Well, if you don't want to engage in a conversation, just politely decline and no one's time is wasted. ;-)

If they waste your time do you have the right to waste their time? Hmmmm this is a weird question.

People waste my time all the time. I have to wait too long on the phone, wait too long at the Dr.'s office, wait too long at the check out counter... I have never thought that it gives me the right to waste the time of those who wasted my time.

I go with the "politely decline" a discussion idea!

:-)

~dancer~

[_Mephitus]

As they have chosen to spend the time as preachers of their faith, i feel i should be able to question any aspect of said faith. Its their "job" to present their religion isn't it? that's why i always carry with me at least one list of tough questions for handout. Most missionaries have never heard of any of the information that alot of us find questionable. I feel they are "owed" on some level to at least hear about it.

[_Fortigurn]

Do people have the right to question the missionaries who approach them?

Yes.

Should missionaries have to take whatever they get from people (as long as it isn't violent or profane)?

Yes.

As a Christian missionary myself (in a non-English speaking country), I hold myself to the same standard.

[_moksha]

I like to wave and say hi when I see the missionaries. When I see them walking, I will offer them rides when I am able to do so. They are young people far from home, so they need extra friendliness in their lives.

Did you know they spend at least one day a week doing community service?

[_Fortigurn]

I have to confess I avoid the LDS missionaries here. I used to have a go at conversation with them, but then I thought why waste their time and mine?

[_Mr. Coffee]

Well, if all else fails there's always concerntina wire and claymores...


MISSIONARIES IN THE WIRE!

[_Bond...James Bond]

Well, if all else fails there's always concerntina wire and claymores...


MISSIONARIES IN THE WIRE!

I guess this could be good training for when they're drafted into the Danites.

[_Pokatator]

As they have chosen to spend the time as preachers of their faith, I feel I should be able to question any aspect of said faith. Its their "job" to present their religion isn't it? that's why I always carry with me at least one list of tough questions for handout. Most missionaries have never heard of any of the information that alot of us find questionable. I feel they are "owed" on some level to at least hear about it.

I like your idea of a list. Care to share the list with us?

[_harmony]

A family story: when my Dad was alive, he would invite the missionaries in for a drink (water, lemonade, 7-up) whenever they came by. They'd sit around and talk for hours. He was a gentle giant with no malice in his heart, and when he died, I'm sure a light lit up in heaven. Now, the missionaries often help my mom with heavy yard work, and she feeds them whenever she can. Neither would ever allow a lesson to be taught, and both made it clear they enjoyed having young men around, for conversation and company. Neither of my parents would ever join the church, but perhaps they could make a difficult assignment a bit more pleasant for those young men.

[_Sam Harris]

Do people have the right to question the missionaries who approach them?

Yep. Why should they feel its ok to approach me, even at my house, and I'm just supposed to sit there and listen and agree to be baptized six weeks later? I did that already, it didn't work.

Should missionaries have to take whatever they get from people (as long as it isn't violent or profane)?

I think the key words "violent" and "profane" were missed by some when regarding this question. Yes, they should. Because these missionaries, no matter how young, cute, and innocent they may be, are approaching folks and telling them their beliefs are wrong. You worship God in the wrong way, if you worship the right God at all. In my case, there is something wrong with my lineage, and that is why I look the way I do, not to mention the things my people have had to go through, though these days that's glossed over if mentioned at all. They want you to sit there like good little boys and girls and listen to the glossed over story, only to find out the truth of the matter later when you're enmeshed and indoctrinated, which makes it difficult to leave. Is that fair? Well, if not, then answer my questions now. I'd definitely do things differently now if missionaries were to come knocking on my door.

If you are gonna make a claim, then you need to be able to answer the necessary questions to back that claim. I don't care who you are or what you are doing.

If I see missionaries, it's usually because a TBM friend of mine insists on having them over for dinner when I'm around. There are usually strangers/acquaintances from my old ward present as well, who "remember me". I admit that yes, they do know me, yes, I'm the girl with the pretty voice who sang in sacrament a lot, and no, I'm not a member anymore. Why? I'm studying to be a preacher (half truth, but it shuts them up).

Outside of that, if I see missionaries, I keep walking. They don't knock on my door anymore, not that I'd answer.