Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith alone...For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" - James 2: 24, 26

Al Capone vs. Judge Rutherford

Al Capone gained his power by exploiting the weaknesses of people.
Judge Rutherford gained his power by exploiting the weaknesses of people.

Al Capone lived and acted like a King using his own money.
Judge Rutherford lived and acted like a King using everyone else's money.

In 1923, before the Great Depression, Al Capone bought a very nice house on a small plot of land for $5,500.
At the start of the Great Depression in 1929 Judge Rutherford had a mansion built for $25,000, excluding the 100 acres of land he possessed around the home. As soon as his mansion was built, Rutherford bragged he was offered $75,00 for it.

Al Capone eventually had two homes, including a 4,000 square foot mansion in Florida.
Judge Rutherford eventually had five homes, including two 5,000+ square foot mansions in California, a luxury apartment in Manhattan (worth millions today), a home on Staten Island, and a residence in Germany.

Al Capone was one of the very few elite rich people who bought a 1930 V-16 Cadillac.  That car cost between $5,400 and $9,200 and that was during the Great Depression.  A new Ford that year only cost $600, which means one could buy about 15 new Ford automobiles for the cost of that one Cadillac.
Judge Rutherford was one of the very few elite rich people who did not own one of those V-16 Cadillacs: he owned TWO of them.

Al Capone had 1 yacht.
Judge Rutherford had 2 yachts.

The finances of Al Capone's city-wide empire were known to no one but himself and his accountant.
The finances of Judge Rutherford's WORLD-wide empire were known to no one but himself and his accountant.

Al Capone lived with his wife and son.
Judge Rutherford would not live with his wife and son or even visit them or cause them to visit him.

Al Capone had at least one mistress.
Judge Rutherford had at least one mistress.

Al Capone was very close to his son, Sonny.
Judge Rutherford's son Malcolm despised his father and wouldn't even attend his father's funeral.

Al Capone smuggled illegal whisky and sold it.
Judge Rutherford smuggled illegal whiskey and drank it.

Al Capone got all of his money illegally.
Judge Rutherford got all of his money immorally.

Al Capone did not pay enough taxes on his ill-gotten fortune.
Judge Rutherford did not pay ANY taxes on his ill-gotten fortune.

Al Capone assassinated his enemies.
Judge Rutherford assassinated the character of his enemies.

Al Capone sold a tangible product which gave value and cheer for those who drank alcohol.
Judge Rutherford sold failed promises which had virtually no value or cheer, and gave only disappointment and bitterness for those who believed him.

Al Capone never claimed to exclusively represent the interests of God.
Judge Rutherford always claimed to exclusively represent the interests of God.

Al Capone had personal bodyguards.
Judge Rutherford had personal bodyguards.

Al Capone always traveled first class.
Judge Rutherford always traveled first class.

Al Capone never wrote any worthless books.
Judge Rutherford wrote dozens of worthless books.

Al Capone wasn't an alcoholic.
Judge Rutherford was a first-class alcoholic.

Al Capone's friends attended his funeral.
Judge Rutherford had no friends.

Al Capone never incited people into riots.
Judge Rutherford incited thousands of people into riots.

Al Capone once had a charity that helped the poor.
Judge Rutherford never had any charity for the poor, and he spent his life doing his best to make and keep everyone associated with him poor.

Al Capone never spent months of his time visiting Europe.
Judge Rutherford spent four months of every year visiting Europe.

Al Capone bluffed his whole life, but at least he didn't brag about it.
Judge Rutherford bluffed his whole life and bragged about it.

Al Capone scorned and disobeyed the Law of the Land.
Judge Rutherford scorned and disobeyed the Law of the Land.

No one dared to question the orders of Al Capone.
No one dared to question the orders of Judge Rutherford.

Al Capone got syphilis brought on by his sexual exploits.
Judge Rutherford got colon cancer brought on by his alcohol excesses.

Al Capone lost his sanity due to his syphilis.
Judge Rutherford lost his sanity without any outside help whatsoever.

Al Capone paid his dozens of workers handsomely.
Judge Rutherford didn't pay his tens of thousands of workers squat.

Al Capone did not hate and vilify the government that gave and protected his freedoms.
Judge Rutherford spent his entire life hating and vilifying the same government that gave and protected his freedoms.

Al Capone was a very wicked man who never pretended to be otherwise.
Judge Rutherford was a very wicked man who claimed to be the personal spokesman of God himself.

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. " - Matthew 24:4

Farkel

 

Farkel, Farkel,

I is fast becoming a fan of yer work.

Thanks

This is a great posting that mercilessly exposes the worthlessness of one of the JWs greatest idols and real founding father. I didnt know he had two yachts and took long holidays in Europe so often. And all that luxury during the great depression, it makes it look much worse.

Another very significant thing about Rutherford is that he was not just a big liar, manipulator and exploiter as all JW FDS have been after all to this day, but he was also a demon communicator (if not worshipper) since he admitted that he was getting all his religious information from angels. Given the fact that most if not all of the things they told him turned out to be lies or absurdities, that makes them fallen angels. And he no doubt knew this but he chose to go on playing with them because he needed their protection and guidance.

The ever ticking mind of Farkel, classic!

Farkel,

I have a lot of respect for you but this whole comparison is beneath you. It is silly and contrived.

Sure both men were not the best people.  But Al Capone was a criminal and a killer who eventually went to jail.  Rutherford was no angel, but he was incarcerated unfairly and unconstitutionally for his beliefs and actions.  He may have been a "bad person" but he was no Al Capone.

Your post looks like one of those cheap and moronic "forwards" that get passed around the Net by imbeciles because they think it is "neat" with an "oooh"  "aaaah."

Your superior intellect is better spent on constructing your usual scapel-like flayings of Watchtower doctrine.

-Eduardo

Nice to hear from you again Farkel.

Good comparison.  Al Capone is viewed by society as a criminal.  Rutherford is not viewed as such, just because he hides behind the veil of religion, but he did cause a lot of hardship for thousands of people...  He used all his followers one way or another....

Eduardo, LLD.

It's nice to see you posting again.

:  have a lot of respect for you but this whole comparison is beneath you. It is silly and contrived.

It's not at all contrived.  The parallels between Capone and Rutherford are real and become even more significant when you ponder what both men were supposed to stand for.

:Sure both men were not the best people.  But Al Capone was a criminal and a killer who eventually went to jail.

I consider the hypocisy of living like a King using money from people you intentionally keep poor and uneducated and spreading false prophecy a criminal act, if there ever was one.

Capone may have killed the physical body, but Rutherford killed the heart and spirit of tens of thousands of his own victims.

Farkel

My favorite among the comparisons.

This post was very funny - and it'd be funnier if it wasn't based on such a sad truth.

 

 

I wonder how many people died because of the blood policy? Or how many lives were ruined because of the watchtower? And it continues today, and the casualties number into the millions.

I don't think Al Capone could hold a candle to the evils perpetrated by Rutherford or the Society today.

Great post Farkel!

Walter