The cynic in me knew this would be the outcome because they win everything similar based on ECHR and how they clearly don’t want to touch religious freedom.
But the optimist in me was so hopeful that this time would be different, and maybe it would lead to a softening of this doctrine framed of course as ‘new light’. My reasons were selfish I guess, the second that new light came out that said members can leave if they want to and not be shunned, based on a new reading of 5 Obscure-inthians chapter 374:2849, I was gonna be out of here like a bullet from a gun. Because the pressure of that is all that’s keeping me in.
And now not only have they won but they’ve won because the court apparently came to the conclusion that we are all free to leave and face no pressure or coercion to stay… or worse, we know what the stakes are when we ‘join’ (not really relevant if you grew up in it-!) … it’s disturbing. The win was based on lies. They must have straight up lied all through court. And now it feels like they’ll continue to win using this as a precedent.
If there are any lawyers here who can give a glimmer of light to hold on to I’d be grateful. Can the ruling be appealed in Norway? Can the fundamental law be changed at a higher level so there’s a better understanding of what coercion and pressure actually is? Because they must be thinking it’s literal: elders holding our hands over gas stoves threatening us with unaliving us if we leave.. but any psychologist could explain how this pressure keg of a religion is deeply coercive and troublingly controlling. I don’t get why that wasn’t apparent in court.
Just venting. The sun will rise and all is not lost, I know. But I’m just surprised it’s hit me so hard.