Was "Purple Triangles" an attempt to put JWs on a level with the Jews? (page 2)

slimboyfat

Jehovah's Witnesses chose to stand up to the Nazis and many died as a result. Jews had no option in the matter and were targetted regardless of their views because of who they were.

daniel-p

Well, JWs were persecuted by Hitler, and as such, i find no reason why the WTS would not want to make every attempt to capitalize on that history in order to gain sympathy and respect.

The Watchtower Society's interest in promoting their history of persecution in Nazi Germany coincided with their campaign for legal recognition in Germany and various other (mainly European) countries. Purple Triangles was a short film about a Witness family made by a British television company. It was made independently of the Watchtower organization and it adopted it and promoted it later as part of their awareness campaign.

Germany finally recognised Jehovah's Witnesses as a religious body with the same standing as other major faiths in 2005. This may be seen as partly a result from their campaign to gain wider recognition about their opposition to and persecution under the Nazis. Austria however has so far failed to recognise Jehovah's Witnesses fully as a religious group. I find that quite remarkable given their history, and the fact that much smaller groups such as the Mormons have been granted religious status.

hamilcarr

Austria however has so far failed to recognise Jehovah's Witnesses fully as a religious group. I find that quite remarkable given their history, and the fact that much smaller groups such as the Mormons have been granted religious status.

Maybe it's not as remarkable as some may think. The most infamous JW in the entire world is an Austrian.

slimboyfat

The most notorious JW in the entire world is an Austrian.

In what sort of fantasy world is that? Most Jehovah's Witnesses have probably never heard of Loesch, never mind non-Witnesses who could not care less. So how does he get the title "most notorious JW in the entire world"?

Perhaps some apostates, mainly on this fourm, are slightly more aware of Loesch than other GB members because of a certain youtube video, as well as some comments he made about Amercian football being bad. That's about as far as it goes.

You are just trying to wind me up and I took the bait.

BluesBrother

What are we getting at here?

Nobody claimed that the number of deaths were on a par with the number of Jews. But that is hardly the point.

I have not checked the numbers but if the member above is right and it was around 4000, then that is a significant proportion of their numbers.

If you are one of them, you do not care whether it is 4000 or 4 million. The hardships in the camps are well documented and one important fact is that the J W's could have recanted , but chose to keep their faith and stay.

BTW The ones who survived but found themselves liberated to what became Eastern Germany under the Soviet Union had a particularly rough deal.

Having said that, do the modern WT dubs milk it for all they can? - Yes

Do they think they are on a level with Jews? - Yes

undercover

Hitler was an evil men supported by just as evil henchmen, no doubt. Anyone who was forced to wear a badge, no matter the color or shape, and those that faced the imprisonment, starvation, death, etc. deserve recognition and respect from the rest of the world.

But while certain people like the Jews and gypsies were singled out just because of their heritage, JWs were singled out, not so much because they were JWs or Bible Students but because Rutherford had made such an ass of himself. Little did he know that Hitler was more nuts than he was. Hitler was not to be bullied by a US preacher with delusions of grandeur so he banned the entire lot of them and threw them in with all the other "undesirables". If there is a burning hell or some other eternal damnation plan, may Hitler suffer its full fury...but Rutherford should be linked in the same chain gang.

yknot

Honestly I think it has become WTS persecuton spin post WWII........it also worked wonders to cover up Rutherford's screwing over German JWs by shifting sole blame on Hitler.

Remember persecution is a key factor in JWism, proof we are chosen by Jesus!

Most R&F have no idea about Rutherford's letter. They just know their German JW brethern were targeted for remaining neutral...... I doubt most German JWs knew either, they were just disposable pawns in Rutherford's larger game.....

choosing life

I agree Yknot. The jws who suffered and died in the concentration camps are similar to those who suffered and died in Malawi. They were expendable to the jw leadership who love a good story of persecution.

That does not negate the suffering of those caught in the mindset of jws in Nazi Germany. Their sacrifice was very real to them and their families.

drew sagan

The Watchtower organization effectivly used the stories of persecution during WWII to stir up their followers emotinoally. It is nothing less that explotination at this point. The Watchtower produces stories each year in their magazines that speak of this time. Additinally, there are the stories given at assemblies, convenctions, ect.

It has become (at least in the U.S.) a way for the organization to paint a picture of the world as they would like to see it. The ultimate case of us verses them. When taken in part (and not as a whole) it is an example of their storyline, that the world is against them (and them alone).

Another example is the way they speak of religious persecution in Georgia (the country). They always fail to mention that other religious groups are persecuted just as heavily in the area and not just JWs.

To acknowldge that others are part of the persecution would a cut in to the story line, mainly that Satan is attacking the "true reilgion". If other "false" religious groups are being persecuted as well it dosen't have the same "bite".

Was "Purple Triangles" an attempt to put JWs on a level with the Jews?

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