“Riveting and illuminating. KNOCKING takes us inside the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a way that is utterly surprising and moving." —Anderson Cooper, CNN KNOCKING opens the door on Jehovah's Witnesses. They are moral conservatives who stay out of politics and the Culture War, but they won a record number of court cases expanding freedom for everyone. They refuse blood transfusions on religious grounds, but they embrace the science behind bloodless surgery. In Nazi Germany, they could fight for Hitler or go to the concentration camps. They chose the camps. Following two families who stand firm for their controversial and misunderstood Christian faith, KNOCKING reveals how one unlikely religion helped to shape history beyond the doorstep. Visit the KNOCKING companion site >>

Video Modules:

• Understanding the Religion and Politics of Jehovah’s Witnesses (8:47)
• Bloodless Transfusions (3:56)

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Educational Materials:

• Educator Guide (PDF, 344KB)
• Discussion Guide (PDF, 584KB)

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About ITVS Community Classroom

ITVS Community Classroom is an educational resource providing new documentary video content and accompanying curricular materials, lesson plans and homework assignments to high school and community college instructors and youth-serving community-based organizations. Content is grouped into subject -specific segments that correspond to lesson plans and educational activities. All CLASSROOM materials are designed with key education standards in mind.

Educational content was developed with guidance from the COMMUNITY CLASSROOM National Advisors: PBS Teachers, KQED Education Network, American Association of Community Colleges, National State Teachers of the Year, National Council for the Social Studies, National Association for Multicultural Education and National Council of Teachers of English.

KNOCKING was produced in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). KNOCKING premiered on May 22, 2007 on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.

ITVS Community Classroom is a product of the Independent Television Service with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.