Norwegian Jehovah's Witnesses demand subsidy despite their loss of religious status.

J&P said:
JW sues Norway: Verdict
www.vg.no

Staten frikjennes etter å ha blitt saksøkt av Jehovas vitner

Jehovas vitner får ikke tilbake statstilskuddet. Vedtakene om å nekte trossamfunnet støtte er kjent gyldig, og staten frikjennes i en fersk dom i Oslo tingrett.
www.vg.no www.vg.no


Jehovah's Witnesses lost to the state - will not get state support back
Jehovah's Witnesses do not get back the state subsidy. The decisions to deny the religious community support are known to be valid, and the state is acquitted in a recent judgment in the Oslo District Court.

NTB
1 hour ago

According to the judgment, the exclusion practice of Jehovah's Witnesses involves "serious violations of the rights and freedoms of others", writes Dagen on Monday afternoon.

The trial went before Oslo district court in January, and now the district court has concluded that the state is acquitted. Jehovah's Witnesses are also ordered to pay court costs of just over NOK 1.1 million.

Jehovah's Witnesses filed a lawsuit against the state of Norway after being deprived of the right to state subsidies and registration as a religious community, writes Vårt Land.

Last year it became known that the religious community will lose both the state subsidy for 2021 and the registration as a religious community. Jehovah's Witnesses disagree with the decision and have filed a lawsuit against the state.

The decision has also been upheld for the rejections of state aid in 2022 and 2023.

The demand for subsequent payment of a total grant of NOK 35 million was also rejected by the court.

The reason for the revocation of the state grant is that the Ministry of Children and Families and the State Administrator believe that the exclusion practice of Jehovah's Witnesses involves negative social control and prevents free expression from the religious community.

"Through the guidelines and practice of exclusion, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage members who are ostracized or withdraw, so that with few exceptions they are exposed to social isolation from those remaining in the religious community," concludes judge Ole Kristen Øverberg.
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Sorry friends I just couldn't resist.

 
Watchman said:
This is what happens when a lowly publishing company begins amassing millions of $$$, then billions of $$$, then the lawyers and financiers begin making decisions based on financial considerations. The truth gets pushed out of sight.
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With this judgement and perhaps other nations following suit against the .org, I predict the gov body will soon be receiving
flashes of “new light” to adjust their present shunning policies.
 
kenmuldoon55 said:
With this judgement and perhaps other nations following suit against the .org, I predict the gov body will soon be receiving
flashes of “new light” to adjust their present shunning policies.
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Meditator and I ran into an Elder from our old congregation this morning at Costco. Of course he is growing a beard. I thought it funny that Meditator said to him that it was great he was growing a beard now that he has “permission“ to do so. And the Brother smiled broadly like he enjoyed getting “permission” from the dictator’s of Sodom, I mean the Governing Body. He really didn’t realize the irony of it. Meditator then said that we were going to Memorial to see how many brothers have beards. His reply is that they all have beards now.
 
SusanB said:
Meditator and I ran into an Elder from our old congregation this morning at Costco. Of course he is growing a beard. I thought it funny that Meditator said to him that it was great he was growing a beard now that he has “permission“ to do so. And the Brother smiled broadly like he enjoyed getting “permission” from the dictator’s of Sodom, I mean the Governing Body. He really didn’t realize the irony of it. Meditator then said that we were going to Memorial to see how many brothers have beards. His reply is that they all have beards now.
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I love it Susan😂
What next, tight pants and man buns?
 
SusanB said:
Meditator and I ran into an Elder from our old congregation this morning at Costco. Of course he is growing a beard. I thought it funny that Meditator said to him that it was great he was growing a beard now that he has “permission“ to do so. And the Brother smiled broadly like he enjoyed getting “permission” from the dictator’s of Sodom, I mean the Governing Body. He really didn’t realize the irony of it. Meditator then said that we were going to Memorial to see how many brothers have beards. His reply is that they all have beards now.
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Ha yes I say to the bros wearing beards” I see you’re growing a number 8” in reference to the update number giving permission to a flogged body of men to do something which is a God given right😂
one or two looked shifty and got my point. Maybe the GB find it thrilling to bend men to their will?
 
Wide Awake said:
We did look and it wasn’t there! Not surprising!
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Isn't it funny how they only report the favorable "stuff". Stands in contrast to the Bible writers who were candid about their shortcomings.

BTW, we're glad you're here and decided to speak out. Enjoyed your introductory comments and, like many on the forum, we have had similar experiences. For us, the vax was the final straw but the cracks started appearing long before. It's just not the same organization as it was in the 70's and 80's. Look forward to hearing more from you.
 
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J&P said:
It's isn't funny how they only report the favorable "stuff". Stands in contrast to the Bible writers who were candid about their shortcomings.

BTW, we're glad you're here and decided to speak out. Enjoyed your introductory comments and, like many on the forum, we have had similar experiences. For us, the vax was the final straw but the cracks started appearing long before. It's just not the same organization as it was in the 70's and 80's. Look forward to hearing more from you.
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Yes, we had seen cracks too, but rationalized Jehovah will take care of it and wait on Jehovah. Well, we should have known Jehovah was trying to help us see things, but we just clearly weren’t ready. Thank you for your kind words!
 
Soul Sage said:
Br. Lett is emotive in his talking because he grew up as a child with his parents that were practically deaf. He's been that way long before being a GB member.
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According to his niece Brandy, he's actually not that way when he speaks to people in real life. There is a video on JW.org where he is talking very softly with minimal facial expressions.

After Gage Fleegle got appointed at a GB member, he was very subdued in his first interview with Jeffrey Winder and Kenneth Cook. Then, later in the videos, he got the same eyebrow raising exaggerated expressions. They are using the same coach.
 
Ms_ladyblue said:
The final verdict is in! WT lost. Find out the amount of money they lost and have to pay.

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Kim Mikey made a video today about this and said that WT is going to spin it as "they governments are persecuting us" and she made a good point that WT can still worship freely, they just aren't going to get free government money anymore so it's important to keep that in mind.

The lawyer for WT cost about a 1/2 a million alone, so now they have to pay the opposing counsel's court fees as well. They brough this on themselves for being so bold to ask for it.
 
StopTheInsanity said:
Kim Mikey made a video today about this and said that WT is going to spin it as "they governments are persecuting us" and she made a good point that WT can still worship freely, they just aren't going to get free government money anymore so it's important to keep that in mind.

The lawyer for WT cost about a 1/2 a million alone, so now they have to pay the opposing counsel's court fees as well. They brough this on themselves for being so bold to ask for it.
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I hope other countries follow suit. Another forum member told me that it will depend on whether other countries are under the ECHR which is against shunning.
 
SusanB said:
Meditator and I ran into an Elder from our old congregation this morning at Costco. Of course he is growing a beard. I thought it funny that Meditator said to him that it was great he was growing a beard now that he has “permission“ to do so. And the Brother smiled broadly like he enjoyed getting “permission” from the dictator’s of Sodom, I mean the Governing Body. He really didn’t realize the irony of it. Meditator then said that we were going to Memorial to see how many brothers have beards. His reply is that they all have beards now.
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2024 watchtower slogan: Monkey see, monkey do! Is meditator going to attend the memorial “full Levite“ or just a smatter of “rebellious stubble” or go “Holier than thou” “Clean shaven“ just in case Jehovah “has got it wrong again“ with another non-disclosure of “Winderism”? I take it that you Susan will be sporting your best stick-on Father Christmas Floor Length white beard? Photos please!! ( Love the “Dictators of Sodom”. Another diary entry!! )
 
StopTheInsanity said:
Kim Mikey made a video today about this and said that WT is going to spin it as "they governments are persecuting us" and she made a good point that WT can still worship freely, they just aren't going to get free government money anymore so it's important to keep that in mind.

The lawyer for WT cost about a 1/2 a million alone, so now they have to pay the opposing counsel's court fees as well. They brough this on themselves for being so bold to ask for it.
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I thought watchtower had their own lawyers so they did not have to pay them?
 
BARNABY THE DOG. said:
2024 watchtower slogan: Monkey see, monkey do! Is meditator going to attend the memorial “full Levite“ or just a smatter of “rebellious stubble” or go “Holier than thou” “Clean shaven“ just in case Jehovah “has got it wrong again“ with another non-disclosure of “Winderism”? I take it that you Susan will be sporting your best stick-on Father Christmas Floor Length white beard? Photos please!! ( Love the “Dictators of Sodom”. Another diary entry!! )
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Woohoo B!!
 
imagine if they had gone out and stated - we jw are not interested in money only to be recognized as a legal faith and religious society to be able to practice our worship as Jehovah wants us to do - imagine what a good testimony that would have been to stand out from the rest of the moneygrubbing pseudochristianity.. oh well
 
Arctic Cat said:
its been a rough period.. feel like a flower trying to get back up after the storm🤗 but im still here
just not felt like commenting for a while
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Try not to be like that. I know that at times I feel the same way, but we just have to make ourselves because we need to encourage one another on here. The time is getting near now where we need to draw closer to one another. I can relate to how you feel though, believe me.
 
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