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Enemies
This is a new release of the original 1937 edition.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1937
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18 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Rutherford
72 books11 followersJoseph Franklin Rutherford, also known as Judge Rutherford, was the second president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) from 1917 until his death in 1942. His appointment was disputed by the Society's board of directors, 4 of which accused him of an autocratic leadership style. This controversy lead to a schism in the Bible Students movement. In 1918 Rutherford and seven other Watch Tower executives were imprisoned briefly on charges of sedition. Following his release from prison, Rutherford began a major reorganization of Bible Student activities.
At a May, 1919 convention in Ohio he announced the publication of a new magazine, The Golden Age (later renamed Awake!). In 1920, Rutherford published a booklet, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, and a year later published his first hardcover book, The Harp of God. This was followed by a further nineteen hardcover books, each with one-word titles, such as Creation (1927), Jehovah (1934) and Children (1941). His publications reached a total printing of 36 million copies.
In 1925 he gained full control over what doctrines would be taught in Watch Tower Society publications, overruling the refusal by the five-man Editorial Committee to publish his article, "Birth of the Nation", which contained significant doctrinal changes. At a 1931 Bible Student assembly in Columbus, Ohio Rutherford proposed a new name for the organization, Jehovah's witnesses, to differentiate them from the proliferation of other groups that followed Russell's teachings.
Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. Cause of death was "uraemia due to carcinoma of the rectum due to pelvic metastasis."
At a May, 1919 convention in Ohio he announced the publication of a new magazine, The Golden Age (later renamed Awake!). In 1920, Rutherford published a booklet, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, and a year later published his first hardcover book, The Harp of God. This was followed by a further nineteen hardcover books, each with one-word titles, such as Creation (1927), Jehovah (1934) and Children (1941). His publications reached a total printing of 36 million copies.
In 1925 he gained full control over what doctrines would be taught in Watch Tower Society publications, overruling the refusal by the five-man Editorial Committee to publish his article, "Birth of the Nation", which contained significant doctrinal changes. At a 1931 Bible Student assembly in Columbus, Ohio Rutherford proposed a new name for the organization, Jehovah's witnesses, to differentiate them from the proliferation of other groups that followed Russell's teachings.
Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. Cause of death was "uraemia due to carcinoma of the rectum due to pelvic metastasis."
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October 18, 2016
In his later years, Rutherford wrote horribly. This book belongs to his later work, and like Riches, it is poorly-written. Instead of just writing generalizations, like I did with the former, I have specifically written down quotations from the book in order to show that Rutherford had a persecution complex with regard to his organization.
p.67
In this book, Rutherford believes that religion is one of the villains of God. He continues, in pp. 99-100, by saying:
He later on expounds, in page 130, that
He later on clarifies that religion is represented by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.
In page 187, Rutherford again sticks to his notion that Jesus was nailed to a tree. His most horrible transgressions, however, against proper debate starts from page 200 onwards.
In page 206, he states:
He further continues his attack on most of the Abrahamic religions in page 276:
Page 281 continues Rutherford's assault against the Jews, which is a 180-degree turn, considering that in 1925, he also wrote Comfort for the Jews, claiming that Palestine was going to be the world's capital and that it would be returned to them. In this book, however, he wrote:
When a debate debases into ad hominem territory from your counterpart, the one being attacked may have just won it. The JW also have a Governing Body, who leads people known as Elders, who lead the 'sheep.' Is that not a hierarchy, too?
Rutherford continues, in the same page:
He even predicts something that never happened - and claims this prediction to be scriptural! In page 291, he wrote:
In page 300, Rutherford reveals the characters in Revelation to be the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and the like, but he does not have one reference to Scripture in the entire page. He continues later,
I'm sorry. The past two quotes are undeniably wrong, especially with the hindsight provided by the present. I ranked this as marginally better than Riches because his attack against the Catholic purgatory were well made. Purgatory is really not a Biblical concept. His allusions against the horrible Catholic inquisition of the past also gave his arguments some weight. If he focused on these historical and factual mistakes it would have been a better book arguing his religion.
Yes, I just did that.
As it stands, though, this is just mostly a pot calling a kettle black.
It's not very good.
p.67
Religion has been the chief instrument employed by the devil to reproach the name of the Almighty God and turn the people away from the most high.
In this book, Rutherford believes that religion is one of the villains of God. He continues, in pp. 99-100, by saying:
Religion has been the devil's chief instrument by which he has beguiled people and blinded them to the truth.
He later on expounds, in page 130, that
There's no such thing in existence as 'Christian religion', because all religion proceeds from God's enemy the Devil.
He later on clarifies that religion is represented by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.
In page 187, Rutherford again sticks to his notion that Jesus was nailed to a tree. His most horrible transgressions, however, against proper debate starts from page 200 onwards.
In page 206, he states:
All religious systems called 'Christian religion' properly take on the name of 'harlot.'
He further continues his attack on most of the Abrahamic religions in page 276:
The Jewish rabbis and so-called 'Protestant' clergy fall right into the old harlot's arms, receive a few lessons from her, and take their place in the show.
Page 281 continues Rutherford's assault against the Jews, which is a 180-degree turn, considering that in 1925, he also wrote Comfort for the Jews, claiming that Palestine was going to be the world's capital and that it would be returned to them. In this book, however, he wrote:
Among [the harlot]'s instruments are ultraselfish men called "Jews" who look only for personal gain, and who therefore yield to and join with the [Roman Catholic] Hierarchy in any unrighteous schemes
When a debate debases into ad hominem territory from your counterpart, the one being attacked may have just won it. The JW also have a Governing Body, who leads people known as Elders, who lead the 'sheep.' Is that not a hierarchy, too?
Rutherford continues, in the same page:
The Catholic organization in fact controls the motion-picture business.
He even predicts something that never happened - and claims this prediction to be scriptural! In page 291, he wrote:
Will Great Britain and America become fascist under the dominating control of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy? The Scriptures and the facts appear to fully support that conclusion.
In page 300, Rutherford reveals the characters in Revelation to be the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and the like, but he does not have one reference to Scripture in the entire page. He continues later,
Both the chronology of the Bible and the prophecy show that it was in 1914 the world ended.
I'm sorry. The past two quotes are undeniably wrong, especially with the hindsight provided by the present. I ranked this as marginally better than Riches because his attack against the Catholic purgatory were well made. Purgatory is really not a Biblical concept. His allusions against the horrible Catholic inquisition of the past also gave his arguments some weight. If he focused on these historical and factual mistakes it would have been a better book arguing his religion.
Yes, I just did that.
As it stands, though, this is just mostly a pot calling a kettle black.
It's not very good.
Displaying 1 of 1 review