Watching this brings up so many feelings. As a born in JW, I did experience coercion and negative social control. Unbeknownst to my mother, she was psychologically manipulating me in a way that is abusive and neglectful. She thought she was being a good parent and a good JW. She was following their guidance - straight from the books, magazines, talks and counsel. But the JW guidance does not allow for support of healthy transitions through normal developmental stages of a child’s life. Instead it suppresses and shames them. Control comes from threats of “discipline” in the form of private and public reproof as well as complete social ostracizing and in general, making Jehovah sad and giving a bad witness for his name and the congregation. Not to mention the embarrassment to the family. I feared God and Satan. I monitored my thoughts and actions out of fear that Satan would discover ways to tempt me and the God would know that I was a terrible person on the inside even though I was doing all the right things on the outside. I did not make this up. This was the picture of the spirit world that was painted for me in the literature from the time I was a baby. To listen to this “legal advisor” negate entirely my experience and the experience of every single JW child I have ever known is infuriating. Yes, many who are brought up in this manner stay in the religion and choose to pass down this trauma on their own children. Another generation of hurt and suppressed people. The cycle continues. I, too, stayed faithful and raised children this way for over 45 years. It wasn’t until the full weight of the emotional neglect pressed on me that I had to investigate why, if I was living the “best life ever” did I want to cease to exist? What I folded was an understanding of proper human development and what good parenting looks like. The world needs to know that this kind of behavior is harmful. JWs do it as well as many other high control religions and groups. What can be done to bring it to light on a larger scale? Thanks so much for sharing. And thanks to the brave former JWs in Norway for standing up for human rights. We need more of this 💪🏼

Wow, he actually managed to stand & tell one lie after the next for 25 minutes & 42 seconds, with a straight face.

Thank you so much for your activism!❤

Thank you wow the denial and lies are just incredible.

@queruvim

5 ай бұрын

So all the veredicts are false and u are the iluminated guy! Get a job delusional!

Ben Elder said that the European Association (of Jehovah's witnesses) was grateful for the opportunity to intervene in this case. Continues to tell the court how other countries have dealt with similar cases in their countries. Does this feel arrogant to anybody else because I'm thinking so what has that got to do with Norway's court.

I heard that JW are not baptizing children. That's what they saying all the time. But directly at the beginning: "I was baptized when I was about 13." (00:30) So JW says you are an adult when you are 13?

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

The court has seen plenty of evidence that they baptize children. Also the lawyer for JW has said that anyone over 15 is not a child in religious settings.

@yvonne3903

5 ай бұрын

​@@larchwood20did the solicitor give any authority for that statement, I didn't hear any just a statement.

He said it himself it's a frequent complaint by anti-cult organizations. Isn't that a good thing? Knowing what harm and coercive control cults are known for. Why would they want to disrespect and stand in opposition to anti-cult organisations...unless they are a cult

Looking forward to the continuation

Thank you very much Larchwood20, I have seen and heard how they like to twist things in their own way once against and continue lying

Ben Elder a director of the Freedom of Worship Office based in Germany. In conjunction with that one of his roles is a representative of the European association of Jehovah's witnesses. Basically freedom of religion trumps human rights. Thank god they don't claim it trumps the law only human rights or we might see human sacrifice or the likes, who knows where their belief in what is covered by freedom of worship might end. They make out that by deregulation (from this particular Norwegian law) they are deprived of religious freedom, this is not so, they are allowed to continue in the practice of their religion, they simply do not qualify for the money 💰

It's just incredible how this guy lies again and again just to beg for money.

Please enable it to be able to view it in South America, since I live in Uruguay and when we try to view the video, it tells us that viewing in the background is not allowed.

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

I don’t have any control over that I’m afraid.

@guanmidel

5 ай бұрын

Don't worry, I'll fix it. Would you allow me to take it and upload it on a South American channel (ComunicadoresUy) with subtitles, granting you the corresponding credits for your great work and work? Thank you so much

So, is the main accusation that the organisation's leadership , the GB and hierarchy, employ coercion, intimidation and psychological violence or that jw parents use these on their children? I thought it was the former and that children are mainly affected through their parents who are thrmselves coerced by the organisation, etc. Is he distorting things?

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

From an article on Avoidjw: “A new law entitled, the Religious Communities Act, came into effect on January 1, 2021. This law outlines the conditions that religions must meet to register as a religion and receive grants. It also specifies several grounds for when the state can refuse state subsidies. The new law clearly states that the use of violence, coercion, threats, violation of children’s rights, or the serious violation of the rights of others may lead to a grant being reduced or denied entirely. Broadly speaking, the law is there to ensure “resources are used … to achieve socially beneficial purposes”. In its decision, the Norwegian government pointed out that Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publications make it clear that members are not to have contact with expelled members. It claimed that such a practice pressurizes members to remain in the group. The information contained therein indicates that shunning involves a strict form of negative social control and psychological violence. Furthermore, the shunning affects not just adults but also children under the age of 18 who have been baptized and subsequently disfellowshipped. This is an alarming revelation for the government of Norway. It is for these reasons Norway has suspended grants to Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

@Rupunzelsawake

5 ай бұрын

@larchwood4761 Thanks. I have only watched the start of this video so far. So, it seems this guy is distorting the accusation . He said the accusation was against "adherents" of the religion, (ie. all jws) whereas the Norwergian government pointed the finger at the jw publications. ie. leadership responsible for instructions/policies.

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

@@Rupunzelsawake that’s right. The state is saying their publications etc instruct adherents.

@tomilheirobarbalho6117

5 ай бұрын

⁠@@larchwood20excelent 22:04 excellent explanation

I believe in freedom of religion, but I don't believe that this freedom should be used as a license to practice abusive behavior, such as shunning of children and minors for celebrating holidays, or former Jehovah's Witnesses who were sexually abused as children, just because they reported their sexual abusers to police. That is the point that Norway was trying to get across to the Watchtower Society.

He's gaslighting by confusing persecution with discipline by the Norwegian government. Also, the actions of some ex members, like harmful actions do not reflect on the whole community nor does it honestly represent all ex jw people. Individuals who have retaliated with violence against congregations probably did so because of harmful organization policies. This of course does not excuse the violent actions but he cant stand up there making broad assumptions about what this trial might cause against the organization.

This fellow Elder refers to courts of law in other European countries. How were the complainants represented ?? By a legal representative with previous court actions against Jehovah's Witnesses ?? Jehovah's Witnesses are a slimey group of people as I personally see them which I see by the language used by Mr. Elder. His language sounds like the language of the serpent in the garden of Eden. Surely the justice sitting on this case would be able to see THROUGH him and his closing statements. Those who gave evidence of being disfellowshipped and the ensuing UNSOCIAL treatment sadly lacking in filial love would count a lot for justice in this exposure of the WTS (WARLOCK'S and Wicked Tower of Sins) conditional love.

LIARS

He admits they just a minority religion 😂. They not with bothering over!

lier

Professional liar!

Ben Elders HAVE TO end up behind bars. An WILL end up behind bars. Others than he is now.

whoever might be interested in a more different and neutral perspective on JW, pls see jz.help.

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

Thanks. This is also neutral. I haven’t edited this statement or added commentary/ criticism.

@notenjongleur

5 ай бұрын

@@larchwood20 There was a cut 9:16 ... what happened there?

@larchwood20

5 ай бұрын

@@notenjongleur nothing. I had 2 screen recordings which I edited together. I joined it where there was a natural pause. You’ll see from other recordings that I didn’t edit anything out. I think the cut is like a millisecond or something!