Religions are not taxated here.
Actually, religions are not taxed in the US either.
Change in membership rolls Norway
by InquiryMan 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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blondie
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InquiryMan
Yes, exactly, that is why I was surprised that someone suggested that was the motive of reducing the number of members...
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Curtains
I rather think that the initiative has come from the Norwegian government, in its drive towards secularistion, than from Jehovahs witnesses. Inquiry man is there any way of checking if this is so?
Are other faiths in Norway alllowed to report non baptized children as members? major christian faiths do baptize infants - so this practice would make children, who are baptized, members of the faith and so qualify them to be put on the roll, early in their lives. Jehovahs withesses cannot claim this privilige as they do not baptize infants.
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InquiryMan
One can enlist children when the parents belong to a faith community. When they are 15 they can choose themselves according to law. There has been no reports whatsoever in the press that this is a move on part of the government.
This is an excerpt from their annual report written to the authorities:
In 2009, the religious community that we are from 2010 will only apply for grants for the baptized members. Reason for this change is that we want to do it the same way in Norway that Jehovah's Witnesses do elsewhere around the world, although we are aware that in accordance with Norwegian law we also have the opportunity to count non-baptized persons as members, as we have done until now. The new practice means, for example, that we no longer make use of the opportunity to to include children of baptized members as eligible members..