Da Judge: A Few Thoughts

There has been a renewed interest on Joseph ("Grudge") Rutherford lately among newer ones here.  This is good.  The entire current WT culture was shaped by him and his stooge, Fred Franz, and that culture exists to this very day.

Da Judge believed (or said he believed) that when he and others of the first-class WTS elite died, they would be instantly transported to heaven to live and rule forever as immortal beings.  That being said, one has to wonder why it was SO important for him that he be buried in his Beth Sarim mansion.  What difference would it make if he was buried there?  What difference would it make if he was even buried at all?   I mean, afterall, his body would no longer be of any use to him.  He would be among the highest of angels when he died.

Why did he commission a burial crypt for his body in Beth Sarim?  I've been there.  I've been inside of it.  It's just a modest bunker, but nonetheless, it IS a burial crypt.  Why did he commission the building of a bomb shelter in Beth Shan, just across the Fairmont Canyon from Beth Sarim? 

WHY?

My thought is that since Da Judge believed that Beth Sarim would be owned by his own WTS forever (per the deed for that property), if he was buried in that crypt, there would be an eternal shrine to HIM.  His doting followers would visit his own self-made shrine and worship (or pay homage) to him for generations.

This leads to the obvious:  perhaps Da Judge didn't believe a single word of the bullshit he wrote, but longed for the admiration in death that he got in life.  This is not so unusual when one considers that J. Paul Getty didn't use any of his billions to help people after he died, but used almost all of them to build his own Museum and Shrine in Los Angeles.

Such people are so petty and selfish that they deny the worst in our imaginations.  Who gives a rat after death WHAT people think of you?  After all, you are not there to enjoy it if they continue to worship you.  And if you are in a higher and better place, then it would be logical to say that such things wouldn't even be of interest to you.

Da Judge was a poor, delushional demi-god who had his 25 years of fame, and then wanted to be remembered forever with a shrine containing his body.

None of his books are published today and most of his teachings are now discardced and his writings are only of interest to people who want the world to know what a liar and asshole he was.

What a pathetic human he was, and what incredible damage he did to generations of JWs and JW leaders who followed him and continue to put forward his crap.

Farkel

Interesting. The exploitation by Judge of a few believers was incredible, and incredibly successful. If you take away the idea of him being anointed by God, and replace it with a concept of a selfish, manipulative power hungry man; then his actions require less rationalization. It explains the mansions, the new cars, the women, the booze, the doctrinal shifts, the new power structures in the borg...

Yuk.

CZAR

Farkel, do you think Rutherford really believed everything he wrote or was he just a bull*hitter?

Personally, I believe the Judge was an opportunist, from day one.  He saw an opportunity as took it.  When one considers his political aspirations before he joined the Society, one can see that wanted glory and praise.

RR

If he never believed in any of his writings he was the most shallow man on earth.

There is proof to show that as early as 1914 he mae a pact with VanAmburgh and MacMillan to take control. I think he went crazy after his release from prison, and made up his theology as revenge against those who put him in prison.

RR

A lot of his "crazy" theology came from Russell.

Very little Min, very little. He might have started out with Russell, but he changed everything to suite his needs.

RR

P.S.  Stop stalking me!

 

Visions of Grandeur

Seems to me Da Judge fits the description quite well. He had a plan for his organization that would live on after he died. He was far more interested in the almighty dollar than the Almighty's followers. He had no problem twisting words and meanings to suit his goals. he had no problem lying and manipulating to make people think exactly what he wanted them to think.

Seems to me the recent posts about the Sociopathic Personality fit in many ways

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Profile of a Sociopath

A number of mind-manipulating cult leaders may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of a sociopath--an outstanding ability to charm and seduce followers. Since they appear apparently normal, they are not easily recognizable as deviant or disturbed. Although only a trained professional can make a diagnosis, it is important to be able to recognize the personality type in order to avoid further abuse. These traits also apply to a one-on-one cultic relationship.

Glibness/Superficial Charm

Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.

Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality

Pathological Lying

Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion, it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

While they talk about "God's love" they are unable to give or receive it. Since they do not believe in the genuineness of their followers' love, they are very harsh in testing it from their devotees and expect them to feel guilt for their failings. Expects unconditional surrender.

Need for Stimulation

Living on the edge, yet testing the beliefs of their followers with bizarre rules, punishments and behaviors. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy

Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. Their skills are used to exploit, abuse and exert power. Since the follower cannot believe their leader would callously hurt them, they rationalize the behavior as necessary for their (or the group's) own "good" and deny the abuse. When devotees become aware of the exploitation it feels like a "spiritual rape" to them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature

Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. The followers only see them as near perfect.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency

Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability

Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blame their followers or others outside their group. Blame reinforces passivity and obedience and produces guilt, shame, terror and conformity in the followers.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity

Totalist leaders frequently practice promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. This is usually kept hidden from all but the inner circle. Stringent sexual control of their followers, such as forced breakups and divorces, removal of children from parents, rules for dating, etc.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle

Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future. Many groups claim as their goal world-domination or other utopian promises. Great contrast between the leader's opulent lifestyle and the followers' impoverishment. Support by gifts and donations from the followers who are pressured to give through fear and guilt. Highly sensitive to their own pain and health.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility

Changes their image and that of the group as needed to avoid prosecution and to increase income and to recruit a range of members. Is able to adapt or relocate as needed to preserve the group. Can resurface later with a new name, a new front group and a new twist on the scam.

Other Related Qualities:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them

Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them

Authoritarian

Secretive

Paranoid

Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired

Conventional appearance

Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)

Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life

Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)

Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim

Incapable of real human attachment to another

Unable to feel remorse or guilt

Extreme narcissism and grandiose

May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.

NOTE: In the 1830's this disorder was called "moral insanity." By 1900 it was changed to "psychopathic personality." More recently it has been termed "antisocial personality disorder."

http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/socio.htm

minimus,



I pretty much agree with everything said so far on this thread.



: Farkel, do you think Rutherford really believed everything he wrote or was he just a bull*hitter?



I totally agree with RR on his comments. Rutherford was out for Rutherford and damned be the truth or the Bible! Both truth and the Bible were merely props for him. Isn't it interesting just how many "props" the WTS uses to justify their nonsense? They use "Jseus" as a prop, too. They couldn't care less about Jesus or what he said. If they did, they would do what he said to do. They don't, and they won't.



They sell books which are supposed to explain a book that GOD himself gave to mankind and a book in which THEY say God doesn't possess the talent to explain Himself and what He wants from us. By so doing, they are saying that God is an idiot and HIS book cannot be understood without THEIR books.



This is the ultimate insult to God and shows the ultimate arrogance of the Watchtower Printing Corporation.



Farkel

What Rutherford wrought has carried trough into modern-day JWs, whether they believe it or not.

It is a heritage, just as are Waterloo and the Declaration of Independence and the Civil War and WW1 and WW2 and the Korean War and Vietnam.

The more I read, the more the pattern emerges.

Frequently I just have to stop, because the gag-reflex wells up.

The main word that comes to mind: PATHETIC.

Knorr and Franz could have rectified that. Granted it would have taken another generation to fix it, but the Society wouldnot be in the mess it is today, had they reverse the process.

RR

RR, do you have any documented proof of Rutherfraud, Amberg and macmillans subterfuge or pointers to where I could find it? Thanks

Farkel

Thanks!   I had never thought of it that way.    Great point to bring up with my dub family.

Sirona

The only documented proof I have are the one recorded by those who were there. RR - that'll do :) Are we able to see/hear it. Is it uploadable?

Check out the BIble Students website at biblestudents.net and click on "history". In fact I was just talking to a Bible Students who when growing up knew all of the old timers of Russell;s day and W.T. Baker told him thatRussell dismissed Rutherford from Bethel in 1915.

He just gave a talk about the BS's history from 1916 to the present, not very detailed, just somke jumbled unknown facts.

I can send you the mp3 file.

RR

Farkel,

A very interesting post.

I wonder how much Rutherford modelled himself on the political Fascists of the day especially Mussolini, who actually had great support among many factions outside of Italy? The march of the Blackshirts into Rome in the early twenties was the focus of a plan baked years before. Rutherford's modus operandi in taking control and yielding authority was remarkably similar to the way Mussolini, and later Adolf Hitler and Stalin, ingratiated themselves within the hierarchy of an idealistic movement with a long term and ruthless plan.

After his takeover of the Organization he put into practice all the precepts of a dictatorial Fascism using many similar, though it has to be said, more benign ways,  of cementing his position. Whatever is said about Russell, I think he would have been mortified that his cute little Frankenstein of a movement turned into such a lumbering monster.

Incidentally, does anybody know if the Adam Rutherford who chaired 'The Institute Of Pyramidology' and wrote on Biblical Pyramidology was any relation to the Judge? I have never been able to clarify this

Best regards - HS

 

Hillary,

Adam Rutherford was no relation to Joseph, and I think he was a Bible Student.  I'm unable to supply you with a reference at this time.  RR may know more.  If you want to start a new thread on this subject, you may be able to get his attention.

The early days of any faith/sect/religion are VITAL. If strict fundamentalism and control takes place early in its beginning (JW's, Mormonism) then the results can be frightening.

If the reaction is instead an allowance of differing schools of thought within (Protestantism, Islam) then the result is a growing faith looking for ways to attract newcomers.