Jehovah's Witnesses in Sweden

Last updated
Jehovah's Witnesses in Sweden
Riketssallund1b.jpg
Classification Nontrinitarian Restorationism
Orientation Jehovah's Witnesses
talesman (Speaker)Georg Svensson
Headquarters Denmark
Origin1899 [1] or 1909 [2]
Members23,000 (1992) [1]
Publications Vakttornet

The Jehovah's Witnesses in Sweden (Swedish : Jehovas vittnen i Sverige) is a branch of the international Jehovah's Witnesses organization, which is directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York. The organization has been active in Sweden since 1909, [2] or 1899. [1] The Swedish branch had 23 thousand members in 1992, of which roughly one tenth were immigrants; immigrant members often conducted religious activities in other languages. [1]

Contents

The Swedish branch maintained its headquarters in Arboga, [1] before it moved to new Scandinavian headquarters in Holbaek, Denmark, in 2012. [3]

Criticism

The Swedish government and civil authorities have criticized Jehovah's Witnesses for their pacifism and refusal to become involved in military struggles. Conflicts were particularly severe during World War II. [2]

Swedish Jehovah's Witnesses have also been criticized for allegedly not following the Convention on the Rights of the Child. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Jehovas vittnen", National Encyklopedin, Volume 10 (Issm-Kik), Bokförlaget Bra Bocker, 1993, page 114.
  2. 1 2 3 "Värnpliktsvägrarrörelsen" (PDF) (in Swedish). SOU. 2002. p. 156. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. "Därför lämnade Jehovas vittnen Sverige" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  4. "Stark kritik mot barns situation i Jehovas Vittnen – svenska myndigheter maktlösa" (in Swedish). Metro. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

(in Swedish)