Interesting! Door to door distribution of religious literature mass produced by the Watch Tower Society, solicitation of donations, and recruiting new group members is a "requirement" for being recognized as a Jehovah's Witness according to the Watch Tower Society's web page. "MEMBERSHIP" * While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work. http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htmA Jehovah's Witness who refuses to go in "service" will have sanctions enforced on them.
Number one, the Witness people will loose their religious promises of immortality if they refuse to do "service". It's a hope, it's intangible, but it has a real purpose and it has value to those people who do comply and do "service". It certainly is used as a compliance enforcement tool.
Number two, the Witness people will experience social ostracisms if they don't do "service". They only can hold group prestige positions if they do "service". All service is arranged for by the guidelines, and direct management of Watch Tower Society full time employees called Circuit Overseers who travel from congregation to congregation and establish, review, participate in, and observe the meetings for "service".
Number three, the Watch Tower Society holds a perceptual first mortgage on the Witness people and the Witness people make payments by doing "service" and attending Watch Tower Publishing Conglomerate sponsored meetings and conventions.
All "service" involves distributing exclusively, literature produced by the Watch Tower Society, collecting donations to be forwarded exclusively to the Watch Tower Publishing Corporation(s), and recruiting new members to attend Watch Tower Society sponsored events and eventually to do "service". "Service" is an obligation. It's not a free choice. Refusing to do "service" could result in Watch Tower Society appointed representatives called "elders" conducting an inquisition and possible sentencing the errant Witness to shunning by friends and family.
"Service" is a secular activity in nature using established sales tactics, tangible materials, and Jehovah's Witnesses are only representing the interests of the Watch Tower Society at both meetings and in service. Jehovah's Witnesses are agents of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania, INC. and sub corporations.
