Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaganath69]

My wife is Indonesian, for those of you who don't know. She has a friend who lives down south who is also from the same country. Her friend lives here with her husband, who is doing his PhD at a uni here, and their infant child. Now this lady is a pious Muslim who wears a jilbab, there would be no disputing her faith. Recently, she has been besieged by Korean Christian missionaries who cannot take a refusal. Doing the polite thing when they first called, as most Indonesians will do, she calmly and nicely told them she was not interested. Undeterred, they returned the next day, four of them, announcing they wanted to baptize her then and there. The woman remained calm and repeatedly refused, but despite her lack of interest, these four people continued to try to force her door open, repeatedly rang the doorbell and kept calling to her that she would burn in hell if she didn't accept (their) one true faith. What the hell is wrong with these people?

My wife has had similar experiences with the god-squadders here in Cheongju. When she informed them that she didn't share their Christian faith and had no desire whatsoever to convert, rather than giving up, they maintained a sustained campaign of annoyance and in one instance they forcibly entered our apartment. On another they simply walked in when the door was open. Being Australian and not sharing the civilities of the Indonesians, I asked my wife to get their phone numbers and rang them up to tell them should they ever contact my wife again that I would shoot them in the kneecaps.

What am I trying to say? Well, I know these people are convinced of their religion and the fact that they hold the key to eternal life, but at what point do they take no for an answer? My wife and her friend were both disturbed by their experiences, the friend particularly so as she was home alone with her baby. If I didn't fear going to jail, I would rush the next lot with the kitchen knife, but surely it doesn't have to come to that. All we want is to be left alone.

[pdx]

Well..

I'm a Christian, and I'll just say that that type of behavior always shocks me. Among any Christians I have known, that kind of thing is not normal and would not be accepted. I feel horrible when I hear things like this. I wish you could tell your friend that sort of thing is not thought of as "okay" by many Christians.

Since your friend has already, I'm sure, quite plainly and politely stated that she is not interested, I don't know what else to tell you. If someone told me that, I'd get the picture and not bother them anymore. I don't know how people don't understand that if you keep pestering someone, you will only make them annoyed and angry, not eager to join your religion.

My apologies.

[jaganath69]

You have no need to appologise as you are a decent person, obviously. I probably shouldn't even tar all missionaries with this brush as most of them do understand the words 'no thanks', just as the nice bloke outside Homever did this afternoon. It's just these few who seem to eager in their zealotry.

[rednblack]

Sympathies Jaganath.
I worked with one, and his sole purpose at work was to convert me. He was a a great guy, easy to work with and very humble, but, I dreaded down-time with him. For 6 months I said 'no thanks', but this seemed to be only encouragement. I really didn't need the threat of 'hell' if I wasn't prepared to have Jesus save me.
The strangest thing was, I told him I was bought up 'Church of England', was baptisted and confirmed, but rejected 'organised religeon at 15. Not good enough!

[djsmnc]

Bless their hearts for trying to save lost souls as quickly as they can in great capacity. AMEN!

[ChopChaeJoe]

Sharing the same hill I live on is a pretty big church and on the bottom of the next hill is an Emart. Sometimes the godsquaders hang out at the sidewalk where the drive meets the sidewalk. Without fail they try to engage me in discussion, oblivious to the fact that I don't speak (well barely any) Korean and they don't speak English. And it's always the same people. And each time that i tell them I don't do korean korean they give me the 'tchal hasheniyo' as I walk away.

I hould be more polite, but these folks should get a clue as well.

[mindmetoo]

I was on the subway the other Saturday. It was packed, hot. There was some guy just shouting at the top of his lungs about some crap. I asked my GF what he was shouting about. He was inviting people to come to his church on Sunday. I guess for those people who find their Sundays a bit too quiet and peaceful... you can pack yourself in a small room with a man and let him shout at you for 45 minutes.

WTF is up with Christians? Are they all this stupid and ignorant? Is god deaf? Can't they just keep it down to a dull roar?

[RJjr]

Rig up some cameras in your pad and tell them behind the door that you live an "indoor nudist" lifestyle and invite them in with the stipulation that they're as tolerant of your lifestyle as you are theirs.

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

I remember working with a Mormon fellow at my last hogwon. Good guy. He never once tried to convert me. He talked about Star Wars instead (the Sith movie was coming out). I never met someone so wrapped up in "the saga" before or since.

Anyway, I'm currently reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. The book is an interesting and thought provoking book about religion. I certainly know a few people who would benefit from reading the translated version.

[blaseblasphemener]

Tell your wife to baptise them into the Muslim faith. Get a bucket of water, add some green food coloring, and when they come in the door, throw it at them and say "Praise Allah!!! That should scare 'em.

[jeffkim1972]

why don't you just call the police if they come into your apartment. I see no difference what the motive is to forcefully enter your living space, it should still be a crime.

[kigolo1881]

Dont you guys have an intercom system with cameras?

if not why not make a peephole or an indoor chain before opening the door to them.

until you guys get either, just tell them to ask who is at the door before opening, where is the common sense?

[jaganath69]

[kermo]

I'm a Christian, but those missionaries aren't just happy that my soul is saved. They want to make sure I've been saved by their particular branch, and apparently their pews are in need of my particular bum, even though I'd understand very little of the goings on in a Korean service. I had to close the door on one woman who wouldn't stop going on about the "Mother of God." No amount of annoyance or pushiness is going to inspire any interest in your special little sect, whoever you are, but thanks for trying, guts.

[caniff]

I used to live near the Jehovah's Witness psy-ops ward here in Ilsan.
The same two women would continually show up early Sat mornings attempting to teach me The Way. (Or maybe they just thought I was hot ).

Anyway, I was initially pleasant but firm when I spurned their "advances".

The last time, they were ringing the doorbell while I was in the shower. I shut the water off, grabbed a miniscule towel, flung open the door, and (at medium-to-high volume), asked "WHAAAAT???"

They never returned. The sight of the nearly naked, dripping whitie did the trick.