Ding Dong
by Linda Stowe
The sound of my doorbell always irritates me. There is something intrusive, almost demanding about the stark sound of the doorbell in the silence of my day. I don’t mind a knock on the door. That sound has a humble quality, a request for my time. But that doorbell. It expects my attention. Now!
So, when I come to the door at the summon of the doorbell, I am already irritated.
My front door has a window through which I can see the heads of whoever comes calling. If I see two heads waiting for me to answer the doorbell… well, it only means one thing. Church people. Proselytizers. The worst kind of church people.
When proselytizers come calling, they are essentially saying they think your personal beliefs are wrong. There are at least ten major world religions, each with its own set of beliefs and practices. These religions include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Jainism. Overall, it is estimated that there are more than 4,000 different religious groups in the world today. Who’s to say which religions are wrong?
Not all religions proselytize. Some people believe that proselytizing is a form of coercion or manipulation. Others believe that it is disrespectful to people’s religious beliefs. As a result, there are some countries where proselytizing is illegal.
Proselytizing can take many forms – personal conversation, literature, media, lectures, and good works. The laws against proselytizing vary from country to country. In some countries, proselytizing is only illegal if it is done by foreigners. In other countries, it is illegal for anyone to proselytize, regardless of their nationality.
As far as I know, proselytizing is legal in this country. And I am happy to hear about and support their good works in the form of soup kitchens, hospitals, and other public support. I have no problem with people expressing their religious beliefs, as long as they don’t ring my doorbell to do it.
Ding Dong By Linda Stowe
