Comments from "30 Years a Watchtower Slave" that surprised me.....

by AK - Jeff 44 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  AK - Jeff

  I had begun to read Schnell's book when we first left - but in the 'fresh out of the borg' mental state, I had found it too caustic. Now I am reading it and find it quite interesting due to the time frame - In Judge Rutherford's era.

  One of the premises that he states repeatedly in the book, took me by surprise. I would be curious if any could confirm/deny the reality of his accusations here. He states that as a 'Zone overseer' in Ohio in the late 30's, he was sent in to 'instigate' riots among a peaceful community near Youngstown. He insinuated that this was a fairly common occurance in those days.

  I know that there were riots, and that some Witnesses were run out of town, some even tarred and feathered, others arrested. My point is this; Did the WTBTS, under the direction of the Judge, purposely put the witnesses out there as fodder in order to create these riots? Schnell claims that the Judge knew just what he was doing - picked the precise locations that he thought would lead to eventual court cases that would favor the witnesses, even to some of the Supreme Court victories. That once a community was 'stirred up' he would send in hundreds of witnesses to further agitate until it became a riot.

  Did Rutherford do this with the intention of gaining sympathy for religious persecution, thus setting the stage for the many legal victories that put the witnesses in the place they are today? I find this accusation to be facinating.

  Can anyone comment on this with firsthand knowledge? Or your perspective on Schnell's book?

  Jeff
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  looking_glass

  Hmm, it has been such a long time since I have read many of the books of people who have left being a JW. However, there was a site that I found not too long ago ... I think it was a site of someone who was doing a thesis on JWs. They looked into the historical accuracy of many of the books written by exiting JWs. Boy I wish I could remember where I say that .... Anyone here know what I am talking about???? I think that site would help you because he gave a lot of information about the author and the books contents. Boy this is going to drive me nuts. If I can find the site, I will post it's address.
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  AK - Jeff

  I will look when I return from my coffee this morning to see if you found it lookingglass - thanx, sounds interesting.

  Jeff
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  looking_glass

  Ak - I will keep looking so far I cannot find it. What I remember is that it is current, because it mentioned the recent release of the chick who wrote about her exodus from the JW religion. Frustrating that I cannot find this.

  You may want to pose the question to freeminds as well, because for some reason and I think there was a link thru that site? But again, when you research all day long, after a while it all starts to comingle and nothing is clear, just a vague memory of something. But, I will keep looking an let you know.

  L_G
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  lovelylil

  Jeff,

  I also have that book and what is very interesting about it is Scnell's perspective because he was around in the early days of the WT. It does seem that he was saying that Rutherford was orchestrating the whole event for sympathy for his movement. At least, that is the idea I got from the book. Since the WT from Rutherford on, has closely controlled information, it would be hard to prove it either way. But since Scnell was an "eyewitness" so to speak and was in the Org. during that time, I think his testimony would seem very credible. It does not surprise me when I find out about all the politics involved in the WT.
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  trevor

  Prison Bonds

  Having made so much capital out of the few years some of the members had spent in prison during the War years, up until 1919, the Society realized the publicity that could be achieved by clashing with the authorities. Coupled with the growing suspicion among outsiders that the Society was a moneymaking organization, they decided to embark on a campaign against the courts.

  The Witnesses were supposed to individually obtain permits to sell their books, so they broke the law and sold them without the permits. Whenever a Witness was arrested for this offence, the Society would take up the case. They argued that book selling was a part of their worship and refused to comply. To obtain permits would classify them as commercial booksellers and incur a tax liability.

  This publicly gave the impression that they were being persecuted for their religion. Public sympathy and interest helped to increase book sales. One of the techniques used was to swamp a city with Witnesses all selling books without permits. The number arrested would overfill the jails and cause uproar. The Society would pre-arrange for the press to be present at these publicity stunts.

  To increase the impression of persecution they adopted the slogan, “Religion is a Snare and a Racket.” The anger this generated among some religious people led to mob violence. The Society’s law-breaking activity was highly organized and a special squad numbering 12,600 was formed. When the Witnesses were arrested, they would phone the nearest division who would go into action. The areas designated for these protests were called “Hot Spots.”

  During 1936, 1,149 Witnesses were charged in court for disturbing the peace and selling books without a permit. Court case by court case, the issue was fought all the way up to the American Supreme Court. A few years later the Witnesses won the right to sell their books and literature without a licence, as part of their worship.

  The Watchtower Society claimed that this was a miracle - which summed up the feelings of their critics.

  Taken from the book, 'Opening the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses.' By Trevor Willis
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  looking_glass

  I don't know that a blanket statement can be made that the WTBTS arranged for the lynchings and mob actions that took place. I think that is another side of the JW conspiracy/persecution complex that is showing thru in Schnell's work.

  I am not an eyewitness, but I do have family members from down south that experienced this activity. We were told that the Klan supported the idea of quashing all religions they deemed unnecessary and they ran with it. I have a tendency to believe them because on the history of the Klan towards all things not deemed "right by white men".

  That being said, I can neither confirm nor deny Schnell's work. However, I think that it is wise to be opened minded to it all, all the while not being swayed by one man's anger over having wasted his life on something he now deems a waste and false.

  Ak - I will keep looking for that link that I previoulsy found. You may want to shoot your question to Randy at Freeminds, again, I think he has access to a lot of resources on this subject.
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  Amazing1914

  AK,

  Yes, I believe that they did use such strategy. When I became a JW in 1968, I read Schnell's book, but was unimpressed because the JWs had changed so much that it did not click. I read it again twice since I left the JWs and it makes more sense ... though it is still a poor quality work compared to other books out there, not the least of which is Crisis of Conscience.

  I recall that this strategy was still talked about in the late 1960s. Some of the Congregation Servants (Presiding Overseers) would hope that certain literature campaigns would bring about great agnst in the community. I also recall an older sister who knew Chucky Russell. She not only confirmed that this stratregy was used, she boasted about it with fond memories.

  In the early 1970s, when we thought that Armageddon was due by 1975, we went door-to-door with much more vigor and focus on getting attention. I recall the magazine size 2-page phamplets called "Kingdom News" series. These were delivered door-to-door in a blitz fashion. They were outrageously strong - at the time - and were designed to stir up a storm. They fell flat, and the Society abandoned the campaign. Many JWs talked about causing great persecution as they did in the old days.

  The last time I recall mention of these storm-trooper tactics was after we moved to Washington State in 1975. We would go into the City Hall of a town on South Whidbey Island to register out activity, and then go door-to-door in their community. I asked why we did this. The older JWs said that this was a compromise worked out with the city because of their ordinance agaist door-to-door solicitations. Then, on e of them said that in the old days, they would have ignored the city law, and gone door-to-door without permits so that they could stir up a court case. But, those days are gone now that the organization is well established ... and the Society no longer likes that kind of legal expense.

  But, a few years ago, the Society did get involved in a door-to-door issue in a town in Ohio. It went all the way to the US Supreme court. The Society won, mostly based on established case law.

  If you read my series on Rutherford and the trial of the Society's seven officers in 1918, you can see how this tactic was the mentality among the Bible Student leaders (though I did not focus on it that way) and how the Rutherford loved being in court, and sitting in the witness stand using the opportunity to push JW beliefs on the court. The whole scenario was obviously set up, unless these guys were extremely stupid.

  Looking_Glass said, "I don't know that a blanket statement can be made that the WTBTS arranged for the lynchings and mob actions that took place."

  Correct, the Society would not have arranged for mob action. This they did not really anticipate. They did arrange for causing trouble so that they could get their cause into the courts.

  Jim Whitney
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  lovelylil

  Jim,

  Thanks for those comments, I fully agree. I did not contribute any personal information about these tactics because I was not in the org. long enough nor privy to any of this info. So thanks for sharing that. I could not see why Schnell would have made it up or had an axe to grind. To me, his book did not come off that way at all. I also believe he was truly sorry for his involvemnet in the WT.

  You mentioned some writings you did on Rutherford? You have my email, could you forward that information if you still have it? Thanks.
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  looking_glass

  Jim - having studied law, the JWs are the basis for many freedom of religion issues established in the US. The constitional issues that still stand today. And as for many groups, they have staged certain actions in order to get in front of the cameras, courts or head lines in the paper. That is nothing new to JWs or other groups.

  Each person takes with them their own story and perception. That is what makes being a human such a fun thing. No two people take away the same experience. We have commonalities, but not the exact history/memory. That being said, I would rather read a book that states the facts and not the emotions behind it all. Anger can cloud a story, thus changing its "truth" along the way. In turn, that is why I am trying to find the thesis or dissertation that was done in order to allow people see what the historical back ground is/was and in turn, allowing the reader to either take the subject matter as fictional or accurate.

  AK-Jeff, I have sent Randy Watters a PM asking him if he can help you in your search. I will be off this thread for a little while, as I will be away from a computer for a while. But when I return I will keep looking and searching to see if I can find that darn site!!!