I used to say firmly “Thank you, but I have my own faith” or “I already belong to a Church.” My Jewish friends say that it’s a bad idea to say you’re Jewish because for some of these groups “saving” a Jew is a real coup. Apparently though, overall it’s much harder to entice young people who are involved in a faith community to join one of these groups than it is to convince someone who isn’t to attend a meeting. Or maybe campus chaplains are the group most likely to counterattack.
Whatever the reason, it always worked for me. This is a case in which it is IMO okay to “white lie” and say you belong to a church even if you are an atheist or agnostic.
“Thank you, but I have my own faith” still opens the door for them to engage you. Ignoring them totally is best.
Never ever give any personal information–and warn your own friends about them also.
Tell them that you’re recording them and that you will report them for harassment.
I don’t know why any orgn would think that THAT method works in any sort of way.
Reminds me of when I was in college and some nut would stand on a footstool yelling bible passages or some other “message”…often with some sort of doom message. lol I think these folks have something seriously wrong with them and will end up in some weird cult.
This kind of junk will happen in any large city you live in, so use the best approach: don’t even make eye contact and keep walking. Do not even respond to the person. The posts above saying “don’t engage” are the best.
I also agree: report them to the campus chaplain and, if they assaulted you, real police. No college chaplain who is a member of a “real” religion wants a cult on campus.
If they start by asking you what time it is and you tell them, if they persist with religious conversation, tell them its not time for them to leave you alone, and walk away.
They already are in a weird cult. One which grows by requiring members to get new members or be ostracized in many cases. The cult thrives on fear factor. Members harass because they are desperate to get you into the organization.
They often do not even mention religion or beliefs until they get you into a circle of what you may consider friends.
I was warned as a college freshman eons ago to avoid going to any “circle talks” --just a friendly get together on the outside but really part of the religion (which wouldn’t be mentioned for weeks until AFTER you made friends).
Freshman are the most vulnerable since they come to make friends in a new environment.
“Actually, they will. Any kind of engagement is a bad plan.”
I suppose it depends on your knowledge level about this type of organization, and comfort level with active engagement. To me, the most important thing is not doing nothing and letting this type of organization grow. They tend to be particularly aggressive with new freshmen who are the most vulnerable.
Video is also a good tool to use if you have a smart phone.
I had forgotten about this stuff. We were warned about cults in the 70’s when I was in college. I don’t think I talked about this to the older kids who are through college. Of course, they grew up in the Bay Area, so the kids were exposed to a lot of interesting people before college ever started. Might bring this up, though, with my youngest, who has had a comparatively more sheltered experience since we moved to Minnesota, and is applying to colleges now. Actually, when I travel with my older kids, they are the ones advising me, if some stranger acts oddly friendly in a city – no, Mom, don’t look at them, don’t talk to them, just walk past, don’t stop . . .
I’ve warned my kids about these religious groups because of my experience with these religious fanatics at work. According to these groups, you either go to hell or heaven, nothing in between. Steer clear of them next time you see them, but do report to police of the spitting.
Everybody, thank you all very much for your suggestions - I think the video/picture idea may work. Or actually just calling campus police. My mom flat out told me to not engage with them whatsoever - as in, don’t listen to them ramble about their religion. This is based on her experiences living in a country that was constantly targeted by these groups who were trying to recruit in other countries. She told me that these groups were very aggressive with their recruiting and would even be at airports, targeting young, foreign exchange students. Outside of airports, they would just target any student who looking like they were a college student.
Anyways, here are some updates/info I have regarding this group.
-The member who I gave my email address to eventually contacted me. The email actually kinda scared me - her talking about how God told her to “make an appointment” for me to learn about their religion. It was nearly identical to an email she sent to my Mormon friend who was also pestered by them. Anyways, I created a filter that will just delete her emails immediately.
-This group is officially recognized and allowed by the school. However, so far, all of members that I’ve seen around look like adults in their 30s, to be honest. I’ve seen them on several other occasions, standing around crowded sidewalks and blocking sidewalk paths where students were trying to pass, trying to stop people and talk to them (I’d just avoid them by going down an obscure path) but I’ve never seen “the average college kid” trying to recruit anyone.
-I’m not at campus right now, but I’m looking into how to file a complaint with the campus police about the spitting incident and a separate complaint with student life. I’m writing out a draft email. I’m also planning on emailing one of the chaplains at my school.
-Random observation, since I’ve seen this group around several times (even though I’ve only been directly in contact with them twice) - they clearly aren’t trying to just talk to “anyone”, because quite often, when they set up a booth, I will members standing around their booth, looking around a large crowd of people, and then they suddenly go up to a student. They won’t just talk to anyone who passes them or gets too close to them. To me, it seems that they are only trying to talk to people who look like freshman or people of a specific race.
“If they are purposely obstructing someone’s path and preventing their free movement, that probably against school policy too.” when was the last time students laying on the pathways or blocking buildings (in full view of the administration and sometimes aimed at them) have been suspended or expelled?
Well thats a huge leap. Who said anything about suspensions or expulsions? But there are rules about congregating and obstructing traffic (for lack of a better word). But yes, your comment caused me to have flashbacks of old protest days gone by. Disturbing the peace? Disorderly conduct? Are those appropriate terms?
jym626
I guess that kind of stuff has been happening since the 1960’s (maybe before??) but what can a school do other than suspension or expulsion? it is a difficult situation and one persons word against another. and “ratting out” a person or group can make for a very uncomfortable 4 years at a school. (it is a lose lose lose)
on a site note cult tactics 101 is have a female approach a male student to “break the ice” if that male student is a freshman who is lonely and away from home for the first time all the better.
I am not sure how much they really have a right to bother students, especially if the people doing the bothering are not students. I would think that a permit is required for non-students to solicit on campus. Do they have a permit for that?
Isn’t this just common sense protocol? Have some of you people never been to big cities and been harassed by street people or vendors or whoever pushing whatever agenda? You ignore them, don’t make eye contact and you MOVE ON. I would not engage at all. At the very most, a firm “no” delivered while not breaking your stride. Who cares what their agenda is - whether they are a “good” religious group, a “bad” religious group, a political group whose agenda you agree or disagree with, etc.? Don’t even give them the opportunity to block your path. They’re invisible as far as you are concerned.
If these folks are arrested, they’ll be another group right behind them. Been trolling campuses for decades, and the campus is not in a position to put security near every access point, particularly the large public schools.
In any event, better to learn how to ignore pushy people now, or the OP will soon end up with a complete set of Cutco knives.
