Report about Norway/Sweden

[MJ1]

ongoing case in Sweden.

https://bitterwinter.org/shunning-subsidies-and-the-secular-state-jehovahs-witnesses-in-the-courts-of-norway-and-sweden/

 

I find it odd that the world finds it odd when our organisation disciplines its members. If you work in an office and get caught stealing what happens..do you not fired ?  Rest assured you dont get an invite to the next office party. One famous actor accused of something , was brought to trial in usa and found not guilty  - then brought to trial in uk and also found not guilty. The reporter said of his case, that in the three years of this legal process and I quote "he had been shunned by Hollywood"

Edited 3 hours ago by MJ1
spelling

[secondofseven]

The world finds it odd when "friendships are conditional" which they are in a lot of ways, even for them.

But for them the choice of religion rarely is a condition to end it, while for us it often is.

I think the case hinges on a couple of other points tho:

 

- Are we entitled to funding by the government if our values don't align with them? Norway constitution / laws says YES, we are, despite verdicts from lower courts. If I may guess the effect: this will stimulate the legislative branch of government to change to the laws. In a way this is fair. If a religion doesn't deserve funding according to Ceasar, then those rules need to apply to all 150 religion (that are on the register for funding).

I don't mind particularly about this, because for a lot of us it was a complete surprise that we receive government funding in SOME countries. From a global perspective its the exception, rather then the norm.

 

- Do we have the right to do psychological harm to minors? They didn't find evidence so it was a moot point. But we all know examples from past 5 decades or so, of young children getting baptised (9, 10, 11 year old), which left the organisation by the age of 16, 17 or 18. Some of them have not spoken with their parents in years. True it is a grey area now, to what extend we keep a relationship. But all in all a lot of those minors were not aware of the long term effects of breaking a commitment, made at a young age.