Relative Newcomer

Situation: a pair of fundies who look as though they just stepped off the set of "Fraility" come knocking at my door and ask me if I've been saved (this happens to me frequently). Normally I just tell them to take their business (since that's what I see it as) elsewhere, but I'm seriously considering stepping into the ring with them and telling them the real Truth. I'm also thinking about printing out some literature of my own for them to toss into the trash, just like they make me do. However:
1.) They wont change my non-belief and I wont change their belief.
2.) These fundies now will know where an atheist in their tiny community lives (I'm also new here and their fanaticism is somewhat of a concern).
I suppose my question here is: is it worth it to get into a debate with these guys? I don't know if I can keep silent any longer.

Worldtraveller

I say go for it, but I don't know where you live. Browse through the IIDB library (I've barely scratched the surface), and do some reading of 'classic' atheist/rationalist literature. I strongly recommend some Thomas Paine (Age of Reason) and Mark Twain (Letters from the Earth), as well as breezing through the Evolution/Creation & Biblical Criticism fora. That alone oughta keep ya busy for a while.

Print out the good stuff, I'd recommend going through the effort of making an extra copy of the really good stuff to give to them, but then, I'm an evil bastard.

I debate about 95% of the religious whackmuffins that knock on my door, and I have a 0% return.... not sure why.

If you are seriously worried about repurcussions though, I would either stay your present course, or buy a good security system, including external cameras.

Hope this helps. It's one of the more fun pasttimes one can have, IMHO, although it annoys my wife sometimes when I spend 45 minutes tearing these 'poor people' down. Hey, they knocked on my door!

Cheers, and good luck,
Lane

Rational BAC

What denomination? The usual JW's and Mormon pain in the asses that we all have to deal with or something else?

If just your standard JW or Mormon, then I think most times they are just doing what is even for them a distasteful "job" they "have to do". I wouldn't make their lives any more miserable than they are. Just a pleasant "no thank you" works fine.

If it is from some local fundy church and is a small town, they probably should be taken more seriously. Hypocrisy can be a virtue when you have to eat to live.

Relative Newcomer

Small town Indiana, not surprisingly like many of the current posters here. I've been an atheist since I was 8, but didn't begin exploring it until the last couple of years when I started getting fed up with the end-timer craze and the constant annoyance of bible thumpers putting leaflets under my windshield wipers when I'm in the store.

I'm currently reading "Atheism: A Reader" by S.T. Joshi, as well as "An Anthology Of Atheism & Rationalism", and I'm now getting involved here in the IIDF. I've given some speeches at a Toastmasters International Club that I belong to on determinism and my own non-belief (didn't go well with the xians and free-willies, but they had no choice except to listen or tune me out)...a lot of fun.

Thanks for the tips. I'm a stay at home dad so I have plenty of time for research.

JW's and I'm pretty sure pentacostals - although I haven't given them the time of day to tell me who they're working for...

butswana

They're working for Jesus, silly.

Silent Dave

I say give them a copy of Kissing Hank's Ass.


Dave

squiddy

If you're in "Small Town Indiana" (like I am), no amount of logic, etc., etc., etc. will ever make a difference.
In my opinion: NO
You'll get a better response talking to your dog.
When the fundies come to my door I nod, smile, and send them on their way. I admit, I don't enjoy confrontation, but some people just aren't worth the effort. Door to door religion peddlers are the prime example. My most recent run-in with fundies:

Fundy: "If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?"

Me: "The problem of door-to-door solicitors" (as I shut the door in her face.

I had fundy literature left on my porch for about two weeks, but they seem to have forgotten me...

JonathanChance

Why not just go the twisted route like I do?



Fundies: Have you been saved?

Me: You're just in time! The goat has been shaved, but we haven't started the ritual yet!

Goober

I definitely have to agree: Give them kissing hank's ass.

Kissing Hank's Arse

Enjoy.

Mediancat

Thirded on "Kissing Hank's Ass," but I have an option I've used a couple of times: Simply come up with a definition of "saved" that fits you, say "yes, I have been," and shut the door. It could be as simple as "Saved from having to listen to people like YOU."

Rob aka Mediancat