Norway update

The dispute is primarily financial but also involves legal and ethical issues related to religion. The Norwegian government has not prohibited the activities of the Watchtower organization, such as meetings, assemblies, conventions, or preaching. All these activities continue as usual. What actually happened was the loss of the organization's registration as a recognized religion because the practice of shunning (ostracism) was deemed to violate human rights and the guidelines established by the Ministry of Family.

Without this registration, the Watchtower organization loses its tax-exempt status and is required to pay taxes. This appears to be a central issue, as the Governing Body and the organization's directors seem unwilling to accept this financial burden. It is important to note that the Watchtower is, in practice, an American religious corporation, and this case serves as strong evidence that its primary objective is financial. If their activities have not been banned, why such insistence on reversing the decision? The answer seems evident: financial interests.

The Norwegian court's ruling was issued in early March this year, possibly on March 4th. Coincidentally (or not), on March 15th, the Governing Body released an announcement addressing the shunning of former members. Later, related changes were published in the August issue of The Watchtower, which was delayed in being uploaded to the official website borg suggesting that the adjustments were made hastily to meet Norwegian requirements.

These changes were presented as "new light" from Jehovah after much prayer and study, but the facts suggest otherwise. The Norwegian court's decision appears to have been the real driving force behind these changes, revealing manipulation of information by the Governing Body. They did not explain the details of the Norwegian judgment to Jehovah’s Witnesses that led to this adjustment, opting instead to construct a narrative that obscures the true motivation. This approach is dishonest and demonstrates a lack of transparency with their followers.

An update on the situation: last week, Norway rejected the changes proposed by the Watchtower organization and upheld the denial of its religious registration. In response, the Governing Body will send a delegation to Norway starting Monday to hold meetings and attempt to lobby the Norwegian court. This effort underscores the lengths the organization will go to in order to protect its financial interests.

It is unfortunate to see Jehovah's Witnesses being treated in this manner by their leaders, who, in reality, act more like representatives of a corporate entity than spiritual shepherds.