NationStates Jolt Archive

what approaches have you experienced when someone has tried to convert you to their religion?

it has been suggested that only the mormons suggest that you pray about it and see if god tells you to convert to their church. ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13750135&postcount=82 )

does this match your experience?

what are the possible approaches.... read the bible, pray on it, this is god's will, if you dont believe this youll go to hell, this makes the most sense.... what else?

it has been suggested that only the mormons suggest that you pray about it and see if god tells you to convert to their church. ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13750135&postcount=82 )

does this match your experience?


Absolutely not, pretty much every single Christian denomination I have encountered has suggested this to me at one point or another.


what are the possible approaches.... read the bible, pray on it, this is god's will, if you dont believe this youll go to hell, this makes the most sense.... what else?

Approaches to what? What to base your faith on? Well there are two main forms: Revelation through scripture, which is problematic because its justification for its authority is self contained (word of God because it says so in the sacred scripture etc...).

Revelation through religious experience, which is also problematic since the experiences are subjective and the revealed truth can conflict with other experiences or sacred writings, can often be explained psychologically, and happen in many different religions as Hume pointed out, forcing many theists to be pluralists, like John Hick.

Hope this helps.

"Are you feeling your life has no direction or meaning?"

It's been a long journey here, but it was mostly logic that got me to believe Christ IS Lord. Its very simple to understand. I don't know why anyone cannot believe it.

Absolutely not, pretty much every single Christian denomination I have encountered has suggested this to me at one point or another.



Approaches to what? What to base your faith on? Well there are two main forms: Revelation through scripture, which is problematic because its justification for its authority is self contained (word of God because it says so in the sacred scripture etc...).

Revelation through religious experience, which is also problematic since the experiences are subjective and the revealed truth can conflict with other experiences or sacred writings, can often be explained psychologically, and happen in many different religions as Hume pointed out, forcing many theists to be pluralists, like John Hick.

Hope this helps.

yeah it does. ive never had anyone try to convert me. or looked into conversion on my own. so i have no idea what people say to try to get you to consider moving over to their religion.

It's been a long journey here, but it was mostly logic that got me to believe Christ IS Lord. Its very simple to understand. I don't know why anyone cannot believe it.

Care to provide us with your reasoning? *WARNING* prepare to be bombarded by nitpicking. ;)

yeah it does. ive never had anyone try to convert me. or looked into conversion on my own. so i have no idea what people say to try to get you to consider moving over to their religion.

Well, depending on how sneaky they are about it, it often first starts with them pointing out your emotional problems and then making themselves to be the answer to this (yes I watched peep show last night).

Care to provide us with your reasoning? *WARNING* prepare to be bombarded by nitpicking. ;)

I will, I will! I need to go shower and get ready for work, but when I get to work I will amaze you all with why its easy to see Jesus as Lord, and share my testimony as well.

Strange coincidence, a bunch of Jehovah's Witnesses came here to try and convert my grandpa literally four minutes ago.

Strange coincidence, a bunch of Jehovah's Witnesses came here to try and convert my grandpa literally four minutes ago.

did they get to say anything before he hit them with his cane and told them to get off his lawn?

IIRC somebody giving Watchtower tried to convert us. They prayed with us.

are the JWs successful in the phillipines?

what approaches have you experienced when someone has tried to convert you to their religion?

what are the possible approaches.... read the bible, pray on it, this is god's will, if you dont believe this youll go to hell, this makes the most sense.... what else?
IIRC somebody giving Watchtower tried to convert us. They prayed with us.

Strange coincidence, a bunch of Jehovah's Witnesses came here to try and convert my grandpa literally four minutes ago.

Ooooo, creepy, eh?

yeah it does. ive never had anyone try to convert me. or looked into conversion on my own. so i have no idea what people say to try to get you to consider moving over to their religion.

Really? You've never had someone try to convert you? Where are you from (I assume not the South)?

This is mind-boggling. When I was religious, I tried to convert lots of people because that's what my church told me to do. As far as I know, this is not unusual. I just can't believe that you've never been "witnessed to".

Really? Never? I just can't believe it...

Really? You've never had someone try to convert you? Where are you from (I assume not the South)?

This is mind-boggling. When I was religious, I tried to convert lots of people because that's what my church told me to do. As far as I know, this is not unusual. I just can't believe that you've never been "witnessed to".

Really? Never? I just can't believe it...

*shrug* i guess im not very approachable.

1) You have a disease.

2) You can't see any evidence of this disease... that's part of the disease.

3) I have the only cure.


It always boils down to some variant of the old snakeoil routine.

did they get to say anything before he hit them with his cane and told them to get off his lawn?

No, we told them he was sick and couldn't come to the door right now, but apparently this goes on every Saturday

but, um yeah, a bit creepy.

I will, I will! I need to go shower and get ready for work, but when I get to work I will amaze you all with why its easy to see Jesus as Lord, and share my testimony as well.

It's easy to see Jesus as Lord.

Unfortunately, 'easy' isn't the same as 'logical', 'based on any real evidence', 'the right thing to do', or 'not a complete waste of my time'.

Two bizarre episodes, one involving Scientologists, the other, Coptic Christians.

Scientologist Approach - "The Random Element"
"Would you like a stress test?"
"No"
"Then would you like one of our books?"
"No. Do you want a smack in the mouth?"

WTF is wrong with these people? I dislike the idea of people trying to win others over to their religion. If it works for you, fantastic. I like to see people who get something positive from their faith. I just don't want to be involved in it myself. I've got my own life, and my own faith, neither of which involve this person who approached me in the street.

Coptic Approach - "I Love Jesus And So Should You"

In a friends house one cold night, sitting over a coffee and minding our own business when a friend-of-said-friend, infused with the love of the Almighty, turns up.

"Hi. You must be [Abdju]. How are you?" [Not my actual name]
"I'm cold, my heater is broke, hence me being here with this coffee. Are you OK? you look a little... err flushed..."
"I'm happy because I love Jesus. I'm so happy. Do you love Jesus?"
"What?"
"I'm happy because I'm SAVED!"
"Oh gods.... You must be a friend of xxxxx" [friend's name deleted to protect the guilty]
"Do you believe in God and the Saviour?"
"uhh... I believe in religion, yeah"
"But have you been SAVED?! Do you know the LORDS PRAYER?!"
"Look. This is getting too f***ing weird. I'm going home"

Long conversation cut short to get over the gist of it... it actually dragged on for 2 1/2 hours and got pretty scary, and involved me trying to be absolutely non committal on anything. It was one of the strangest and most disturbing (not frightening) moments of my life.

I wonder what sort of conversion tactics you would get if other religions tried to actively win converts....

Judaism - "Come and be sad and mournful with us, you know you want to!"
Buddhism - "Relax, Neo, the answers are coming"
Wiccan - "No... you can't join in, 'cos you all persecuted us hundreds of year ago, an' shit, even tho we, like, only been here since, like, the 1950's...."
Hellenic - "What do you get in the afterlife? Fuck all! But who cares, we have the best debates"
Roman - "Don't like the Hellenes? that's OK! Come to us instead!"
Egyptian - "Because the situation is less straightforward than you think"
Zoroastrian - "You think we've gone, but you'd be wrong..."
Satanism - "Not just fucked up anti-Christians"

I'm Catholic, and while i'm willing to discuss faith w/ anyone (I have a diehard atheist friend, and we used to argue our viewpoints a lot), I don't go around converting people. i do get door-to-door idiots, though. I don't see how bothering people will get them to like you.

Conversion failed on me because she tried to convert me by briefly dating me over spring break back in college. I thought I'd been blessed with a girlfriend, and she spent the rest of the semester with some other guy. She was apparently trying to make some kind of conversion quota, and thought kissing me for a week would work.

Beware the conversion that comes with the promise of anything even remotely sexual.

I recently had someone try to give the Halal thing a spin on me citing that it is also animal friendly (WTF?)

however what I hate most is rather when they ask for some money for charity then when they receive some they hand you some leaflet to a crazy church (my town is currently infested with some cult that promises refreshment after some presentation)

"Are you feeling your life has no direction or meaning?"

:eek: omg its like you already know me

It's been a long journey here

dammit why does God always have to live at the top of some bloody massive stairs, hes omnipotent he can come down and see me the lazy git

Conversion failed on me because she tried to convert me by briefly dating me over spring break back in college. I thought I'd been blessed with a girlfriend, and she spent the rest of the semester with some other guy. She was apparently trying to make some kind of conversion quota, and thought kissing me for a week would work.

Beware the conversion that comes with the promise of anything even remotely sexual.

That's just pure evil.

1) You have a disease.

2) You can't see any evidence of this disease... that's part of the disease.

3) I have the only cure.


It always boils down to some variant of the old snakeoil routine.
Most of the time it's more something like:
1) You're bad/You suck, all people suck/are bad.

2) You need help, or else you're fucked.

3) My help is the only one that works.

That's just pure evil.

Oh, I have no doubt whatsoever that she thought she was doing the right thing. Conversion by any means still gets a convert, right? She was one of those modern charismatic (foursquare-type) Christians who, as a side effect of her evangelistic beliefs was almost utterly oblivious to how incredibly rude she could be to anyone not within her sphere of understanding. Notice how I say "her" and not "them", before I'm pounced on for intolerance here.

IIRC somebody giving Watchtower tried to convert us. They prayed with us.
I've had Jehovah's bloody witnesses come to my door also. EUGH.

"Would you like a Watchtower magazine?"
"No, I'm actually an atheist"
"Can I talk to you about Go-"
*SLAMS DOOR*

Christian on the street: "Even Darwin didn't believe in Evolution! As he said in a letter: 'I always believed in the unchanging way of nature.'..."

Informed Pagan interrupts: "And when you finish that sentence '...until I went on the voyage with the HMS Bounty...'"

Christian has egg all over face.

I don't think I can put much credit into a belief system where they feel the need to lie to get converts.

Most of the time it's more something like:
1) You're bad/You suck, all people suck/are bad.

2) You need help, or else you're fucked.

3) My help is the only one that works.

Same thing.

I've had Jehovah's bloody witnesses come to my door also. EUGH.

"Would you like a Watchtower magazine?"
"No, I'm actually an atheist"
"Can I talk to you about Go-"
*SLAMS DOOR*

You gain more high ground (if that concerns you) by not slamming the door, but by answering their questions honestly. When they have come to my door in the past, and ask me if they can talk to me about God, I react politely by saying "no thank you". Anything that happens after that is therefore their own fault because you've already told them you'd rather not discuss it.

It's been a long journey here

if your god loved you, he'd have given you a train ticket ;)

Two bizarre episodes, one involving Scientologists, the other, Coptic Christians.

Scientologist Approach - "The Random Element"
"Would you like a stress test?"
"No"
"Then would you like one of our books?"
"No. Do you want a smack in the mouth?"

WTF is wrong with these people? I dislike the idea of people trying to win others over to their religion. If it works for you, fantastic. I like to see people who get something positive from their faith. I just don't want to be involved in it myself. I've got my own life, and my own faith, neither of which involve this person who approached me in the street.


Bit harsh, they only asked you two very impersonal questions.


"Hi. You must be [Abdju]. How are you?" [Not my actual name]

Why would you lie to us Abdju?

The seem to bother me less and less frequently as time goes by. :)

The seem to bother me less and less frequently as time goes by. :)

word must have gotten around about lil goofball and the hose.

Oh, I have no doubt whatsoever that she thought she was doing the right thing. Conversion by any means still gets a convert, right?

why are you not using her for sex?

You gain more high ground (if that concerns you) by not slamming the door, but by answering their questions honestly.

that takes time and to be honest you never get the chance to slam doors these days :(

if your god loved you, he'd have given you a train ticket ;)

pfft real love is picking you up from the airport

I never get bothered by evangelists. 'cept in my uni's Christian Union, but I attend those voluntarily when I feel like the topic is interesting enough. Which is a shame. I really like people who try to evangelise me, rather in the same way you'd like a tiny kitten trying to eat you; Their goal is destructive, their methods are futile, but they're just so cute! ^__^

I've had Jehovah's bloody witnesses come to my door also. EUGH.

"Would you like a Watchtower magazine?"
"No, I'm actually an atheist"
"Can I talk to you about Go-"
*SLAMS DOOR*
I prefer talking to them, seeing them go haywire after I noted some logical inconsistencies. It's so funny, it's like seeing a robot go "Error, error, wrong input!"

word must have gotten around about lil goofball and the hose.

Perhaps I should start visiting their houses. :D

Jehovah's Witness ™: "There are terrible things happening these days. Wars, famine, crime, suffering...do you believe any of this will come to an end?"

Myself: "No."

Jehovah's Witness ™: "No?"

Myself: "No."

Jehovah's Witness ™: *reads psalm proving me wrong*

Myself: *looks skeptical*

Jehovah's Witness ™: "Well, uh, have a nice day."

-snip-

*Altered to reflect my most likely responses*

Jehovah's Witness ™: "There are terrible things happening these days. Wars, famine, crime, suffering...do you believe any of this will come to an end?"

Myself: "I hope not. I have stock in Colt Firearms."

Jehovah's Witness ™: Uh....

Myself: "Wanna buy a gun?"

Jehovah's Witness ™: "No thank you."

Myself: "C'mon in. I was about to take a bath. You can all join me."

Jehovah's Witness ™: "Well, uh, have a nice day."

:D

Whenever I've been approached by someone hoping to get a convert I just tell them I'm Catholic and then they either go away or start yelling at me. Hmm... Evangalicals are annoying. I am Catholic btw.

Funny how you use "proving" :p

"Do you ever feel like your life is meaningless?" "Yes. I like it that way."

"Have you heard the word?" "Is it aluminum?" (Tanya Huff ref. ftw)

"Have you found Jesus?" "I didn't know I was meant to be looking."

"If you don't accept Christ as your personal savior, you'll go to Hell." "Will there be cute girls there?" (I'm female)

"I want to talk to you about the Lord." (Answering the door) "Sorry, I'm busy. I was in the middle of a spell and now I have to start all over."

Bit harsh, they only asked you two very impersonal questions.

If you don't take a hard line with Scientologists right off the bat you could be there for hours.

"Do you ever feel like your life is meaningless?" "Yes. I like it that way."

"Have you heard the word?" "Is it aluminum?" (Tanya Huff ref. ftw)

"Have you found Jesus?" "I didn't know I was meant to be looking."

"If you don't accept Christ as your personal savior, you'll go to Hell." "Will there be cute girls there?" (I'm female)

"I want to talk to you about the Lord." (Answering the door) "Sorry, I'm busy. I was in the middle of a spell and now I have to start all over."

"Have you found Christ?"

"Just the one piece."

I actually had an opportunity to use that once. :)

"I'm so much better than you; you're a bad person for disagreeing with me, and when you're tortured for all eternity it will be a good thing. Convert to Jesus!"

I once, many years ago, had the mormons knock on my door. They were actually quite polite. Certainly far less annoying that the political buggers who show up every two years.

Also, I once went to the christian union with a friend of mine because there was this girl in it he fancied. He talked me into going with him so he wouldn't feel all weird being on his own.

I told him he was on a hiding to nothing, but I guess experience is only real teacher.

Anyway, modern christians, what is it with the bad guitar songs?

i convert from American imperial measurements to metric and back in forth in my head all the time.

"I love you, but my parents won't let me date a non-Christian"
Most people trying to convert you stop after a few hours; this went on for weeks.

"I love you, but my parents won't let me date a non-Christian"
Most people trying to convert you stop after a few hours; this went on for weeks.

I've endured a variant of that, but at the hands of the parents, not the son. "You can date our son if you convert". Him and I agreed to make agreeable noises or say nothing as far as family were concerned, but the agreeable noises quickly became less noises and more his pushing for me to make more concessions than we had agreed as fair and allowed all sides to save face.

For inter-religious relationships to work it really needs to spelt out clearly from the outset wether or not one person is goign to convert or not.

most recently

Appeal to Authority
Appeal to Belief
Appeal to Common Practice
Appeal to Consequences of a Belief
Appeal to Emotion
Appeal to Fear

although I have had a lot of other approaches in the past, most fall back to appeal to authority.

most recently

Appeal to Authority
Appeal to Belief
Appeal to Common Practice
Appeal to Consequences of a Belief
Appeal to Emotion
Appeal to Fear

although I have had a lot of other approaches in the past, most fall back to appeal to authority.

whose authority?

It's easy to see Jesus as Lord.

Unfortunately, 'easy' isn't the same as 'logical', 'based on any real evidence', 'the right thing to do', or 'not a complete waste of my time'.

*sigh* Why do so many on here insist mocking people of faith on here? Obviously Jesus makes him all happy and stuff, and no one is hurt. Why is it so hard for people to just say "that's what you believe, that's cool, even if I don't believe it myself."?

"You can date our son if you convert".

I've always wondered how these conversations come up? did you just walk in one day and say "Hi guys my name is Abdju and I am [insert religion] excuse me for I must now leave and perform oral sex in your alter"?

whose authority?

you should never question Authority

*sigh* Why do so many on here insist mocking people of faith on here? Obviously Jesus makes him all happy and stuff, and no one is hurt. Why is it so hard for people to just say "that's what you believe, that's cool, even if I don't believe it myself."?

because its a debate forum and so all is up for debate

whose authority?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_authority

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_authority

i know what appeal to authority means

what i dont know is how it has been used with you in this context.

what or whose authority is being sited? the bible, the minister, the converter?

how do you respond?

I am the high wacko priest of the Zigurat of Nanatsu no Tsuki (http://z8.invisionfree.com/SSA05/index.php?showtopic=750&view=findpost&p=4854123)

So yeah, I just tell people that when they try to convert me,

by the way, have you ever questioned firstly why? but secondly where did I leave my other pair of pants and where the hell did the arachnid of unspecified species in my bed appear from? Because the Zigurat of Nanatsu no Tsuki can help you with that question (the second question only)... Join now...

I just tell people about what I have experienced and what I believe. I leave the decision to them. They can look at me and see what they think about my beliefs. I also suggest reading the bible and praying about it. ultimatly the decision is theirs.

I've always wondered how these conversations come up? did you just walk in one day and say "Hi guys my name is Abdju and I am [insert religion] excuse me for I must now leave and perform oral sex in your alter"?



you should never question Authority



because its a debate forum and so all is up for debate

But why must you attack someone's beliefs. You can say you don't agree with them and stuff but I have seen people get really personal in their attacks on here.

"Are you feeling your life has no direction or meaning?"
I used to, but then I discovered nihilism.

I've endured a variant of that, but at the hands of the parents, not the son. "You can date our son if you convert". Him and I agreed to make agreeable noises or say nothing as far as family were concerned, but the agreeable noises quickly became less noises and more his pushing for me to make more concessions than we had agreed as fair and allowed all sides to save face.

For inter-religious relationships to work it really needs to spelt out clearly from the outset wether or not one person is goign to convert or not.

I am religous. I personally think it is wise if you are religous to marry within your religon. it will make things so much easier. As for dating. i think dating outside of the religion is okay as long as people don't try to mess up your beliefs and demand you convert. I think that if you really love someone, then their beliefs should be worth checking out because they are probably a good person if you are in love with them.

I think that if you really love someone, then their beliefs should be worth checking out because they are probably a good person if you are in love with them.
The power of love can play fascinating tricks on you when it comes to judging the character of the person you're in love with.

But why must you attack someone's beliefs. You can say you don't agree with them and stuff but I have seen people get really personal in their attacks on here.

thats just UB I presume

really everything is open for debate and if you don't like it being debated just keep it quite

The power of love can play fascinating tricks on you when it comes to judging the character of the person you're in love with.

thats because love is irrational either way

[insert emo cat pic]

Irrationality is something that love and faith have in common, yes.

i know what appeal to authority means

what i dont know is how it has been used with you in this context.

what or whose authority is being sited? the bible, the minister, the converter?

how do you respond?

Usually themselves, and sometimes their holy book. I usually respond by nodding and smiling and telling them what they are saying is 'really interesting' and that I will 'think on it'. Then they leave me alone for a few days. I've gotten out of the mood to debate anyone. It's easier on me and my family if we just nod and smile.

I've always wondered how these conversations come up? did you just walk in one day and say "Hi guys my name is Abdju and I am [insert religion] excuse me for I must now leave and perform oral sex in your alter"?
"So, yesterday my parents found out that you were agnostic"
"What? How?" (we had agreed that they were better off not knowing)
"Well, they saw your Facebook profile and..."

I've also found that it's usually one of the topics for that first "So... you want to date my child" talks for religious parents. Unfortunately, I'm a fairly honest person when it comes to those things.

It's been a long journey here, but it was mostly logic that got me to believe Christ IS Lord. Its very simple to understand. I don't know why anyone cannot believe it.

You've used that before, in another thread, IIRC without expanding on it upon further questioning. Do allow me to ask you again to please tell us where the logic in Christ being the "Lord" is.

I ask so in honest curiosity and without spite. I think it's dandy that you've found a belief to make you happy, and I'm always cool with people who try to share new logical things with me because I like logic, but for the same reason I get ever so slightly miffed if people try to sell me something for logic that is everything but.

I've always wondered how these conversations come up? did you just walk in one day and say "Hi guys my name is Abdju and I am [insert religion] excuse me for I must now leave and perform oral sex in your alter"?


It was one of those very traditional families where your family sit down with his family and everyone talks business. Ergo, religion comes up pretty quickly as both sides try to either preserve their own family reputation (worst case) or get as much advancement as possible (best case). If your child converts to their religion, you've lost, so the pressure is on to get their child to convert to yours. That's just how it is.

I am religious. I personally think it is wise if you are religious to marry within your religion. it will make things so much easier. As for dating. i think dating outside of the religion is okay as long as people don't try to mess up your beliefs and demand you convert. I think that if you really love someone, then their beliefs should be worth checking out because they are probably a good person if you are in love with them.

I think it's ultimately bad to marry within the religion if you have a multi-religious nation, as the nation will balkanise into lots of little, inward looking, groups and loose any sense of social cohesion. It's easy for individuals (no stress or hassle), but bad for society. It's also hard if your religion is small overall, or has little representation in your area.

I always go for the counter conversion. I am well versed in religious knowledge. I know enough of Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, even some buddhism, taoism, confucianism, Bahai, etc, that I can carry a good discussion.

All of them have huge contradictions and great stories. Just bring out the contradictions. Especially with the Abrahamic ones. There's nothing better than bringing out Lot offering his daughters to be raped, or then having children with his daughters when they were drunk.

The great thing with the counter conversion is that most of them who go door to door, there'll be a more experienced one and a younger one. Your intent is to get the younger one to question. They will often idolise the older one. Once you get the older one really struggling to answer, it will make the younger ones world view start to crack.

I usually answer to any attempt to convert me by "I'm agnostic and homosexual. Thank you, come again".

Never seen Jehovah's Witnesses get the hell out of a property that fast before.

I haven't had people try to convert me, so I haven't had the chance to say something funny to make them run away :(

I haven't had people try to convert me, so I haven't had the chance to say something funny to make them run away :(

Go with something along the lines of "My satanist lesbian girlfriend and I are interested in this salvation you speak of. Give me a moment to go fetch her from our witche's covenant and we shall sacrifice a kitten in your God's honor."

Works every time.

*sigh* Why do so many on here insist mocking people of faith on here? Obviously Jesus makes him all happy and stuff, and no one is hurt. Why is it so hard for people to just say "that's what you believe, that's cool, even if I don't believe it myself."?

Why do so many people insist on using a debate forum as a platform for their preaching?

Zilam has claimed that 'logic' is the tool that proves 'Jesus' as 'Lord', and has suggested that not-seeing-this is some kind of failing in others. Furthermore - it's going to be 'easy' to show us.

I'm simply pointing out that it is eminently possible for something to be 'easy', without being in any way a good thing, desirable or based on anything real.

And - I note - this 'easy' 'logic' has yet to materialise.

Why is it so hard... blah blah...? Because I live in a society entirely biased towards the beliefs of one religious group, constantly fucking with me, and to be honest - I'm about sick of their shit.

what approaches have you experienced when someone has tried to convert you to their religion?

once, when i lived in idaho, some mormons came to talk to me. i asked them if they'd heard the good news - we can read hieroglyphics now and have a good understanding of the precolumbian americas.

Go with something along the lines of "My satanist lesbian girlfriend and I are interested in this salvation you speak of. Give me a moment to go fetch her from our witche's covenant and we shall sacrifice a kitten in your God's honor."

Works every time.

I believe Ifreann sports a penis, which may or may not hinder the above statement to unfurl its full potential.

I haven't had people try to convert me, so I haven't had the chance to say something funny to make them run away :(

I usually just say, "Thank you, but I already have a religion." Even if they don't leave immediately, at least they realize that I'm not "on the market," as it were.
Go with something along the lines of "My satanist lesbian girlfriend and I are interested in this salvation you speak of. Give me a moment to go fetch her from our witche's covenant and we shall sacrifice a kitten in your God's honor."
This probably works a lot better, though.

I used to know someone who would invite missionaries in her house and then argue for her faith (Lutheranism) with them. I think eventually they just stopped coming.

Why is it so hard... blah blah...? Because I live in a society entirely biased towards the beliefs of one religious group, constantly fucking with me, and to be honest - I'm about sick of their shit.

Where do you live?

what approaches have you experienced when someone has tried to convert you to their religion?

it has been suggested that only the mormons suggest that you pray about it and see if god tells you to convert to their church. ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13750135&postcount=82 )

does this match your experience?

what are the possible approaches.... read the bible, pray on it, this is god's will, if you dont believe this youll go to hell, this makes the most sense.... what else?
I've found that Jehovah's Witnesses tend to be pretty strong-armed about it. Although, once I tell them I belong to the Church of Christ, they tend to slink off... I guess that's because we have some nuttier ideas than even they.

"Have you found Christ?"

"Just the one piece."

I actually had an opportunity to use that once. :)
Have you found Christ?
No, I didn't know he was missing.

There must be at least a dozen different ways to answer that and I can only think of one original* one.

*Without using Google.

Have you found Christ?
No, I didn't know he was missing.

There must be at least a dozen different ways to answer that and I can only think of one original* one.

*Without using Google.

"Yes, he's in my basement right now."
That could cause people to leave.

Have you found Christ?
No, I didn't know he was missing.

There must be at least a dozen different ways to answer that and I can only think of one original* one.

*Without using Google.

"You mean the guy who did the landscaping? No, didn't know he was missing. And it's pronounced Hey-Zeus."

Never had a real case of a conversion experiment. Once, this Christian student stopped me outside my dorm. We ended up having a discussion that went on for over an hour.

That's my defense, I guess. Turn it into a conversation. Counter them with words. I'm entertained, polite, and make it clear that I am WAY out of their league.

Have you found Christ?
No, I didn't know he was missing.

There must be at least a dozen different ways to answer that and I can only think of one original* one.

*Without using Google.

No, but I did find Waldo, he was hiding in the top right corner.

I've never had a conversion experience, living in a fairly anti-religious country probably has something to do with it.
However i accepted a pamphlet about the world is going to end stuff so you must believe in Christ for your salvation. I didn't look at it when i got it, i only looked at it later, so i went back to where the guy was about 30 mins later and he'd gone.
It gave me a great laugh reading over it, though i've now given it to my Philosophy teacher who takes great pleasure in going to debates on Christianity, because he was one and now he isn't and knows the better ways to mess with their heads.

It's really not difficult, but no sadly i haven't been talked to by them.
I had been sorta shouted at though.
As i was walking through the shopping centre there was this guy with a bib on (i swear i've said this before) and he was shouting out stuff about the bible, which also made me grin, in fact a few years ago i believe there was one in London when i passed through and he had a bloody megaphone too.

Many moons ago, I saw a bunch of evangelistic youths do something that was supposed to be street theatre. I didn't stop to look, it's not like I hadn't heard it before. Also I tend to distrust people who are just too happy and enthusiastic. That just can't be right. Save it for your hypothetical heaven, you gits!

When you guys are old and alone you are going to want these people to come up to your home, just so you can have someone to talk to about life. You can sit back and bore them to death about the time you found a penny by the tree near the old swimming hole and about all the wonderful debates you had on an ancient thing called NSG

Bell: Ring ring!

Me: *Opens Door* Hello?

Evangelist: Hello! Are you muslim?

Me: No...why?

Evangelist: Are you Catholic?

Me: Wait, why do you ask?

Evangelist's Daughter(Prolly about 5 or so): I want to tell you about my best friend Jesus!

Evangelist: May we come in?

Me: Not interested.

Door: Close!

The bell rings two or three more times, then they leave. Guess they had no luck on my floor, as all me neighbours anre muslims. I have nothing against some guy with well thought-out logic as to why I must convert, but using kids... Just no.

Bell: Ring ring!

Me: *Opens Door* Hello?

Evangelist: Hello! Are you muslim?

Me: No...why?

Evangelist: Are you Catholic?

Me: Wait, why do you ask?

Evangelist's Daughter(Prolly about 5 or so): I want to tell you about my best friend Jesus!

Evangelist: May we come in?

Me: Not interested.

Door: Close!

The bell rings two or three more times, then they leave. Guess they had no luck on my floor, as all me neighbours anre muslims. I have nothing against some guy with well thought-out logic as to why I must convert, but using kids... Just no.

They always seem to drag some poor child around with them - in winter particularly. Well it is not going to get you invited into my house. I just close the door without saying anything.

Evangelist's Daughter(Prolly about 5 or so): I want to tell you about my best friend Jesus!
That's a bit sad, actually. Jesus doesn't play ball with you or visits your birthday. He's more like the invisible friend that you have to share with BILLIONS. That little girl should have some real friends on this earth to play with, kids shouldn't be used as tools to peddle Christ to people who just want to be left alone.

When you guys are old and alone you are going to want these people to come up to your home, just so you can have someone to talk to about life. You can sit back and bore them to death about the time you found a penny by the tree near the old swimming hole and about all the wonderful debates you had on an ancient thing called NSG

yeah but the good part of that observation is that i dont have to talk to them for another 40 years.

win/win eh?