Jehovah's Witnesses demand 25 million from the state - Sweden

[Srecko Sostar]

3 minutes ago, Arauna said:

Croatia is catholic.

Perhaps some of this will be interesting to read.

Croatia is secular state. All religions in Croatia (including JW) are separated and have autonomy.  The Republic of Croatia can be classified as a country in which between the church and state, practices the model of separation and cooperation, ie cooperation between religious communities and State.

The Croatian Constitution stipulates that all religious communities are separate from the state and equal before the law.

The legal status of the Catholic Church in Croatia is based on agreements between the Holy See and
Of the Republic of Croatia which, as international agreements, are legally above the laws of the Republic of Croatia. The model that was originally set for the Catholic Church was later applied to all other religious communities. 

Religious communities in the Republic of Croatia can be divided into five types:

1. The Catholic Church, whose position is regulated by international treaties and which has a special,
sui generis status within the Croatian legal system and to which, to the greatest extent, no applies ZPVZ (Law on the Legal Status of Religious Communities)
2. religious communities that have signed special agreements with the state
3. registered religious communities
4. unregistered religious communities that have the legal form of religious associations, the so-called
emerging religious communities
5. unregistered religious communities that do not even have the legal form of religious associations 

Financing of religious communities in the Republic of Croatia as a model of financing directly from the state
budget is finally regulated by the Agreements between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, the Act
on the legal status of religious communities and special agreements concluded by religious communities with
Republic of Croatia.

 

 

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

Quote @Arauna  JW's do not buy buildings for their value. We do not take income from the properties 

https://ibsaproperty.com/

Browse a selection of Residential and Commercial Opportunities in North London & Chelmsford.

IBSA London Properties is part of IBSA (International Bible Students Association) a registered charity acting on behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain and Ireland. For more information about Jehovah’s Witnesses please follow this link. 

[Arauna]

 

1 hour ago, 4Jah2me said:

JW's do not buy buildings for their value

I was actually talking about the buildings we meet in.  

[lentaylor71]

On 8/29/2020 at 1:48 AM, Arauna said:

It sounds like a lot of money 2.5 million dollars is not that much when other religions were receiving subsidies but we were discriminated against for  12 years.   Divide it by twelve and it is just over 2 million per year.  They are, I think, just asking what was due to them including costs.

Its all about Money,Money!

[Arauna]

17 hours ago, lentaylor71 said:

ts all about Money,Money!

We are still living in the real world you know.  We use money like everyone else for our needs.  Manna not yet falling from heaven again - only spiritual food.  And one needs a computer and a roof over your head for that too!

[Srecko Sostar]

1 hour ago, Arauna said:

We are still living in the real world

In a "real word" people should be careful and have critical thinking about "food" placed/offered by their leaders. Leaders in WTJWorg are not completely honest in their intentions and plans. Their theological doctrines and other maneuvers in the “real world,” past and present, are proof that they cannot be trusted.

[Arauna]

16 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

"real word" people

So you think I cannot think for myself - think again.  

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

If 'spiritual food' is falling from heaven it is no where near the CCJW or Watchtower orgs that's for sure. And the GB admit to not being inspired so the spiritual food is no where near them either. 

As regards money, i used to find it funny when the meetings were all about 'simplify your life',  'work less hours',  'no need for a decent education', do a part time manual labouring job,  BUT the Org still wanted donations every week and people still needed cars to get to meetings and were expected to drive around picking up other people that didn't have transport. And as more Kingdom Halls closed people had to drive even further and now, as @Arauna says, people need computers and internet and mobile phones / cell phones. All JWs are expected to have these things. But remember, keep your life simple  . 

[TrueTomHarley]

11 minutes ago, 4Jah2me said:

i used to find it funny when the meetings were all about 'simplify your life',  'work less hours',  no need for decent ed.....BUT the Org still wanted donations

This indicates that your entire overstated point is nonsense.

If they were as hung up on money as you insist, they would NOT want members to simplify and work less hours. 

They would want them to work around the clock and make as much dough as they could, so they could say like the Big Bad Wolf to Red Riding Hood, “All the more for me to take, my dear.”

Their enemies want to keep them penniless and disrupt their organization so that they cannot get preaching of the good news done. It is as simple as that.

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

It was and still is all about control of people. It was about the leaders giving orders and the congregants obeying without question. 

That can clearly be seen when proper research is done about the late 1960's and early 1970's, when people sold their houses and possessions and moved into tiny accommodation, just following instructions from their leaders in the Org. Many people were in big trouble financially when Armageddon didn't happen. 

If they were not hung up on money they wouldn't be closing so many Kingdom Halls, Halls that were built on 'free labour' volunteers, just to sell for profit. And they wouldn't have real estate offices in different countries either. 

Keep the people poor, keep the leaders rich. keep control. No different to worldly governments really. 

[Witness]

The uniqueness of JWs’ form of preaching door to door, has come to a halt; even though the organization has stated that nothing would stop them from actively preaching, not even crocodile-infested waters.   Many had put faith in that proclamation.  But now, JWs are using computers to reach people, in the same way those who are not JWs, are doing.  I remember resident Tom scoffing at the idea of preaching and reaching people in this manner.  I also remember quoting Zech 4:6 and it was down voted by someone, which totally baffled me.  How could anyone downplay the power of God’s Spirit to see His will accomplished?   

 The identity of truth, and those who desire it, are under the guidance of the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. (John 6:37; 14:6; 15:26) The identity of falsehoods, and what necessary evils are needed to spread them, are under the guidance of the evil one.  To create the discrepancy between both “preaching” efforts, requires Satan to magnify not only the lie, but the manner in which it is spread. (Matt 7:15,22; 24:24)   It becomes “lust” of the eyes – settling into the heart as a wicked desire.    Luke 6:45

 Whereas truth is pure, not needing regulations, rules and ‘tampering’, to make it palatable by men, to spread it. (James 1:17; Col 2:8, 20-23) The only effort needed, is the love of truth. It does not need massive visual aids to convince the hearer, that it is truth.  It doesn’t need the corporate legal watchdog to preserve it.   Along with Satan’s spiritual influence, his lies rely on large sums money to produce them, and defend them; lies that “tickles the ears” of one lusting after, the desire of the eyes.  (1 John 2:16; 2 Tim 4:3)

 God’s Truth reaches the hearer by Holy Spirit, through Jesus, his teachings, and those who speak it. (John 13:20; 2 Cor 1:12,20)   That is all one needs to not only live by truth, but by preaching it.  If it takes massive efforts to grab money and hold onto it, all to maintain an organization and its visual effects, it is not the source of truth!  It is a powerful deception. 2 Thess 2:9-12

Right now, JWs will either stubbornly uphold their organization with its belly full of “iniquities”; or they will leave it behind and either follow Christ, or perhaps their own desires, just to get away from the regulations and falsehoods of an idol.  Rom 1:25; Rev 13:4;18:4,5

God’s “Temple” of truth, is not an organization that produces lies. (how can any JW refute his or her's organization's falsehoods?)  There are anointed “living stones” of that Temple who speak truth, and do not demand money to provide it. (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22)(Matt 10:8; 1 Cor 2:12)  There is absolutely nothing in Christ’s teachings that says we need to adhere to an earthly organization, stationed in the world where exploitation thrives...to receive salvation. (James 3:13-16; Phil 3:18,19)

 

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:24-28

 

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”    James 5:1-6,19,20

 

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Acts 3:1-6

 

“He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the Lord is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the Lord’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.”  Micah 6:8

Matt 6:19,20

 

 

Where is the "True Religion" -- Christ's Body -- God's Temple?  -  https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2012/05/where-is-true-religion.html

 

 

[TrueTomHarley]

1 hour ago, Witness said:

But now, JWs are using computers to reach people, in the same way those who are not JWs, are doing.  

Actually, very few are doing it this way.