NETHERLANDS: Investigation into consequences of shunning former Jehovah’s Witnesses
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Den Helder. Photo Olaf Kraak Insular religious communities who shun former members is not a criminal offence. However, the House of Representatives calls it “medieval” and “psychological abuse”. Originally published May 17, 2022 in Dutch by Thomas Borst on NRC. The cabinet is investigating the consequences of shunning former […]
Norway – Funding Toxic Faith and Extreme Beliefs
“Toxic faith is a destructive and dangerous involvement in a religion that allows the religion, not a relationship with God, to control a person’s life.” – Arterburn, S. & Felton, J. (1991). Toxic Faith: Experiencing Healing from Painful Spiritual Abuse. Should State subsidies be used to promote and fund toxic beliefs and practices such […]
Dishonesty from Jehovah’s Witnesses
STATE SUPPORT: Chairman of the Board Jørgen Pedersen and I have served together as elders. We both know about the requirement to shy away from those who sign up. Originally published by vartland on March 27, 2022. Rolf Furuli, Jehovah’s Witnesses, debate I will not try to interpret the law on religious communities, nor will […]
NETHERLANDS: Chamber wants to stop ‘blackmail’ by Jehovah’s Witnesses
A House majority is against the practice of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The parties suspect that the religious community is blackmailing people who want to leave the faith. Originally published in Dutch on Pointer by J Koot on March 18, 2022. Jehovah’s Witnesses, known for their members going doo-to-door bringing the faith, have strict rules against apostates. […]
Ex-Witnesses open attack on ‘traumatic’ exclusion policy
After a successful lawsuit in Belgium, a group of Dutch Jehovah’s Witnesses is now also fighting the ‘discriminatory’ exclusion policy. “It’s a social death sentence.” Originally published in Dutch by Rianne Oosterom and Marinde van der Breggen on October 10, 2021 on Trow A group of thirty ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses wants the judiciary to intervene in what they consider […]
What it’s like to be seen as a ‘child of Satan’
Jim Winter lost everything and developed sleeping problems, the corona time became even lonelier for Gerda Gorter: what the ‘inhuman’ exclusion policy does to ex-members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Originally published in Dutch by Rianne Oosterom and Marinde van der Breggen on October 10, 2021 on Trow It was on an ordinary work day, now four years […]
NORWAY: Gry Nygård won in the Court of Appeal against Jehovah’s Witnesses
When Gry Nygård was expelled from Jehovah’s Witnesses, she lost all family and friends. After three years, she is now one step closer to her sons. Originally published on nrk.no by Trine Rognli and Torkil Stoltz “People say it has rained all day, but I have only seen the sun,” says Gry Nygård. The decision […]
NORWAY: Expelled from Jehovah’s Witnesses for Sexual Immorality – Going to court to get back in
A former member of Jehovah’s Witnesses says she has been sexually abused. Jehovah’s Witnesses say she was guilty of gross sexual immorality. Today, the parties meet in Borgarting Court of Appeal. Originally published in Norwegian on NRK by Inger Sunder on June 2, 2021. In 2018, Gry Nygård was expelled from the Ski congregation of […]
NORWAY: Gry (49) thrown out by Jehovah’s Witnesses – has not seen her kids for over a year
Mother of two Gry Helen Mollan Nygård has been a part of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ski throughout her adult life. After she told the elders in her congregation that she had been sexually abused, the congregation distanced itself from her. So has her immediate family. Originally Published by Østlandets Blad on May 25, 2012 It […]