[Alpo]

Something to think about.

Let's suppose you are a Baptist, and are quite happy going to Church Sunday and Wednesday, worshiping God and Jesus the way you want to, and getting all-over dunked.

And a guy with curly sideburns and a long beard, wearing a black suit, shows up at your door explaining how Jesus was NOT the Messiah. How you need to come to church on Saturday. How you need to not eat bacon or shrimp. Because Judaism is the only REAL RELIGION.

Would you be happy? Would you be open-minded? Would you be willing to listen to him, and change your religion because this guy came to your door to talk?

Or would you say, "Shove off", and slam the door in his face? The NERVE of that heathen, trying to tell ME how to worship!!!!!

So why would you think at anyone else would be happy that you came to their door to tell them about the joys of being a Baptist? I mean, there I am. Reading a book/watching TV/playing a video game/cleaning a gun/talking to the kids/bathing the dog/making lunch, and the doorbell rings and it's somebody that wants to TALK TO ME ABOUT A RELIGION THAT IS NOT MINE, AND THAT I DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT.

Sounds like there is not a whole lot of difference between missionaries and telemarketers.

I was raised to be polite. So for the longest time, when the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses, or anybody else came knocking, I would stand there and listen. Politely. Then one day I realized that I did not have to be polite to someone that was being rude to me. And when you get right down to it, if you come banging on my door, uninvited, and interrupt whatever it is I am doing, to try to sell me something - and it does not matter if it is vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias or God, you are trying to sell it to me - then you are RUDE. If I want to learn about the Mormons, I can call the local LDS church. Want to learn about Jehovah's Witness? Call the local Kingdom Hall. Don't come to my house unless I ask you to. To do otherwise is simply rude as hell.

And now when missionaries come to my house, I shut the door in their face.