I have worked for and with a JW for over twenty years. For the last three years he has not attended church in any way.......that is except one.......the yearly Memorial meeting. Prior to this inactivity he was a staunch supporter in every way a witness is expected to be. ie. weekly meetings, door knocking etc. Since then however, he has completely stayed away from church activities but remains a loyal and faithfull apologist ( defender of the faith).
My question is as follows:
The January issue of the Watch Tower in the yearly report, lists over fifteen million people in attendance at the yearly Memorial world wide. The U.S.A. attendance at the meeting, more than doubled the average of the of publishers for the year 2001. as well for the world wide publishers. The significance to all of this is baffling if you compare this once a year activity to similiar activities of other religions. It is my contention that no other church or organization could literally double their attendance by any meeting no matter what the drawing card may be.
Now I understand that many in attendance of this meeting are investigators and vistitors. However, a significant number are the inactive members of the church which hardly ever attend, or never attend, except for this one yearly meeting, as does my friend. Further, it should be noted, ( and please correct me if I'm wrong) that if you are not at least a publisher the hope for living in the next life is next to nil. Granted, this meeting is the one and only celebration the Watch Tower Society recognizes as declared valid by "jehovah", but even so, without the lure of some other "hook" I don't get it.
I could well imagine that if by attending this meeting, even if you don't do one other thing, "jehovah" would recognize at least this effort and there would be a place for those in "the here after". The embarressment alone, seems to me, would be a deterrant for not attending. If one does'nt go to church all year do they attend this one to be pointed out and possibly scorned and ridiculed? The vast majority of inactive members of my church, you could'nt get them to attend a meeting no matter what you told them.So it at least has the appearence that something else is going on.
One of the reasons for my questioning this to begin with are the comparisons my freind and I have made between our separate churches. The church I attend has a membership of nearly twelve million, world wide. About half of those are what you would call active members. We also have some very strict doctrinal forms which could be equated in some regard with JW's. nevertheless, no meeting or special announcement, with the possible exception of the second coming, would stir these people. We have made other comparisons with are religions and the conclusions with regards to this once a year meeting remain unresolved...I asked him this same question the other day and the best answer he could or would give me is that it is a commandment and the only day celebrated by the witnesses....not a valid enough answer as far as I'm concerned!
So what's the deal??????
QUANTUM