JWs in Norway lost to the state - will not get state support back

by BelisemDeBelimakom 18 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  DesirousOfChange

  Jehovah's Witnesses don’t comply with rules that members must freely be allowed to join them or leave. . . . The state had determined that those leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses suffered from strict bans on contact with other members, including their own families. The alleged exclusion policies violated state criteria for funding.

  Thanks, Gordon, for that informative post.

  IDK if all the rumors circulating about relaxing the pejorative treatment of DF/DA persons is true or not, but, the GB better get their shit straight about it. IF they do not institute the "Jubilee Policy" (as it was called by someone) to remove any sanctions (shunning) that those who leave must face, this will only be the first domino.

  

  BETHEL SPIES -- Are you reading this? The Tower will continue to crumble if the "inhumane" policies of shunning and the breakup of families are not repealed!
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  Vidiot

  TonusOH - “…The WTS can simply spin it as religious persecution…”

  Being cut off the public teat for failure to follow the rules is “persecution”?

  Good luck with that one.
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  Phizzy

  " Religious movements that threaten or engage in negative social control of their members are not in line with relatively new state rules regarding eligibility for funding. "

  As a previous Poster said, may other Governments and tax and charity Authorities take note !
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  TonusOH

  Vidiot: Being cut off the public teat for failure to follow the rules is “persecution”?

  I expect them to studiously avoid anything mentioning the loss of subsidies. They will focus on the recognition that is being withdrawn and the consequences of it. "Norway is slandering us and forcing us to pay their legal bills" will probably be the angle. It will play much better than "Norway won't let us feed at the trough alongside all of those false religions."

  I wonder how much of the recent changes are due, in part, to the realization that it is getting much tougher to shield the rank and file from useful information. They cannot dismiss news reports as 'apostate literature' that is to be avoided at all costs. What happens when members read about this and learn the part that isn't being reported on the JW website or magazines?

  This might be the first step in a complete revamp (if not outright rejection) of the shunning policy.
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  Lee Marsh

  The underlying importance of this ruling is that the shunning policy is a human rights violation and therefore any religion that practices shunning cannot in all fairness be eligible for government funding as a "religion".

  Groups or businesses or religions do not have basic human rights. HUMANS do.
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  Mikejw

  What are the odds they coincidentally get new light from Jehovah and lighten up their shunning policy ?

  Steve Let’s comes in next update and says the governing body does not have an issue with beards

  talking to disfellowshipped ones. Why not? Because the Bible doesn’t tell us this.
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  notsurewheretogo

  What are the odds they coincidentally get new light from Jehovah and lighten up their shunning policy ?
  Steve Let’s comes in next update and says the governing body does not have an issue with beards
  talking to disfellowshipped ones. Why not? Because the Bible doesn’t tell us this.

  This is exactly what will occur with all these types of doctrines, a softening of them to be more mainstream so they survive...next few years will be quite funny! As we exJW's can quote all their own quotes at them when the WT had a go at other religions when the WT will eventually do the same as them!
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  DesirousOfChange

  Groups or businesses or religions do not have basic human rights. HUMANS do.

  Nicely said, Lady Lee.

  For many years, WT has felt they are above Cesar's laws because they are God's representatives (government) and are only subject to what they perceive as God's Laws. They have always believed that HE would "protect" them and they would prevail.

  All those successful cases before the SCOTUS in the 1940's-1950's, while certainly historic and even critical in establishing religious liberty in the USA, have no meaningful consequence regarding the new charges coming against them from all directions in our society today -- especially from outside the USA. At one time I believe those old cases may have been studied by law students, but I doubt that is the case any longer. And again, that has no significance elsewhere (despite what narcissistic Americans might think).

  WT -- you better wake up and grab your A$$ET$.
  
  
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  Vidiot

  They’d gotten into the habit of crediting God’s favor for their successes in publishing, ministry, and court victories, instead of the hard work of talented creatives, savvy businessmen, and shrewd attorneys.

  Sure, it gave the appearance of humility, but over time, it became too easy to buy into the hype and believe that for real...

  …which can’t help but foster a mistaken belief that the Org is, for all intents and purposes, invincible and destined to prevail, no matter what…

  …which, in turn, can’t help but inspire increasingly catastrophic strategic decisions as time goes on…

  …to the point where they’re picking fights they have no chance at winning, and clueless as to why the fuck it’s happening…

  …i.e. the “Nightmare” stage of Wishful Thinking (Google it if you’re unfamiliar).