Norway gets rid of it's official religion

[Gimli]

Norway is distancing itself from its Christian past. The Storting -- the country's Parliament -- will amend the constitution so that the state no longer has an official religion, ending the 1,000-year tradition of the Church of Norway.

A parliamentary committee report presented Tuesday contains a unanimous recommendation to have the state permanently separate from the church.

All 169 members of the seven parties in Parliament, including 10 representatives from the Christian Democratic Party and 30 from the Conservative Party, are said to be behind the move, according to a report from TV2.

The government will no longer have a minister of churches, and the state will no longer be responsible for the appointment of bishops and deans.

Instead, Norway will treat all religions and philosophies equally.

"The state will no longer engage in religious activities, but support the Norwegian church, national church and other religious and belief communities in line with it," reports NRK.

The Church of Norway is evangelical Lutheran and says on its website around 86% of the population are baptized members.

The amendments are expected to be formally passed Monday.

Source: http://www.lfpress.com/news/world/2012/05/15/19761421.html


Being an agnostic atheist, I see this as a positive thing, as it will decrease government spending and stop those that don't believe in the Christian god from being forced to indirectly (through taxation) support something they don't believe in.

[Jcstodds]

Very modern and sensible.  :hurray:

[Gandalf]

If it is not instigated by pressure from other religions, I applaud the move.
Unfortunately in many countries the reverse seems to be happening.

[Hevar.]

Norway? Bitch Please !!! Sweden runs the world =)

[Dolfagr]

That can be said as a good start. I hope there won't be extreme responses by right wing - ethnicist / religious groups seeing Norway had one of the worst of incidents with the Norway bombing / Utoya massacre. On the other hand the church should be treated by the people instead of giving it a minister to run itself. This is how it almost works in Greece and our church could pay up the whole debt if it wanted to but they use it for business in the name of church. I don't however deny that there are good hearted priests and religious fathers.

Norway? bad girl Please !!! Sweden runs the world =)

What does that have to do with the topic anyway  :trust:

[Mikal]

Good old religion and politics help the world so much. :roll:

[TheRock]

That can be said as a good start. I hope there won't be extreme responses by right wing - ethnicist / religious groups seeing Norway had one of the worst of incidents with the Norway bombing / Utoya massacre. On the other hand the church should be treated by the people instead of giving it a minister to run itself. This is how it almost works in Greece and our church could pay up the whole debt if it wanted to but they use it for business in the name of church. I don't however deny that there are good hearted priests and religious fathers.

What does that have to do with the topic anyway  :trust:

If our Church was taxxed, civilians wouldn't have to pay a single cent. Church is even worse than politicians, they make so much money in a day...
Good move for Norway!

[Leon.]

[Cofiliano]

I don't like it.

[Julio.]

People can now pick a religion.

It's all good, how can you not like it.

[Dolfagr]

People can now pick a religion.

It's all good, how can you not like it.

They were always free to pick one.

[JayL]

Either the Norweigan Church lost its political relevance or there is better competition around.

[Squeak]

Either the Norweigan Church lost its political relevance or there is better competition around.

Norway, 2030

[nikos]

All of the flags from Scandinavian country's are based on the cross,which used to have some meaning to them,as it show's some kind of a bastion.
Its sad to see this.
Church preserved my nation in there darkest moments ,so we got to thank her for that,and that's just one of the reasons why it should always be there.
You lose you're faith,you lose you're nationality,whats next after that you're family.

[Gimli]

Church preserved my nation in there darkest moments ,so we got to thank her for that,and that's just one of the reasons why it should always be there.

Then thank the church by donating to it. But don't force it on people that have different beliefs.