– It is not appropriate for us to build a ladder and cut a cross

The church is being asked to remove the cross from the church because it appears “intrusive and threatening” to non-Christians. – The head of the church says it is not related.

The cross on top of Løten Church is “intrusive and threatening to those who do not belong to the chosen lifestyle” and should be removed. The Humane-Ethical Association believes so.

It was Easterner He was the first to write on the subject.

The Human-Ethical Association in Hamar has compiled a list of buildings and monuments with crosses located in burial grounds in the three municipalities of Hamar, Stange and Löden.

“Because everyone has their own ideas about life and death
The common areas in the burial ground should be designed in a neutral way of life (…) symbols should be removed to give a sense of neutrality to life,” writes Magne Kvalbein, head of the local group of human-ethics. Association, in a letter to the joint congregations of the Church.

In plain text this means that all the use of the cross must cease in these places.

Also, in Løten, the inquiry is answered in cash.

– I don’t think it’s appropriate that we set up the ladder and cut the cross on top of the church, Mona M. Nygard, Chairman of Lowton Parish Council V.G.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the noise and fury of using both Christian and secular symbols and concepts during Advent:

This year, therefore, the great cause of neutrality in life takes place in Lotan.

– There must be a way

And Nygaard didn’t think much of the Humane Society’s investigation.

– Then you will not comply with the request of the Humane Society?

– No, dear friend, there must be a way, she says.

The parish council chairman says the church is not legally required to offer rooms to humanists for their ceremonies. But they do it anyway, offering church and non-church rooms.

– Have you received complaints from respondents for having a cross in the church?

– No, never, she says firmly.

The Humanist Society’s inquiry also applies to chapels in Hamar and other cemeteries in Stange.

This is how Magne Kvalbein responds to the parish council president’s rejection.

– We will wait until the church councils in the three municipalities properly discuss the matter, and then I hope they will come up with a possible solution, he tells VG.

– Respect for the religion of the deceased

Qualbeen makes it clear that the inquiry is about the churches – not the churches.

– Do you understand that the church wants to protect its icons?

– Yes, but this does not apply to church buildings, but small buildings that have more purposes than Christian ceremony. And these are 100 percent municipally run buildings. But the church has administrative responsibility, and then they have to do it according to the funeral law.

According to the church’s own practice, chapels should be used exclusively for Christian ceremonies, while chapels and crematoriums should be open to non-Christian ceremonies, says Qualbeen.

– Funerals should respect the deceased’s religion and outlook on life. Those places should be ready for that use.

And by simplifying, Christian symbols can be hidden, pushed aside, or removed.

– The whole case explains a large lack of suitable open-minded festival buildings, says Kvalbein.

Cannot be ignited

The church in the church complex is 100 years old. The church has other churches, which are located elsewhere in the municipality.

– What is the church used for?

– Mostly funerals, and some choral evenings and other events. But due to the cost of electricity, this year we could not afford the lights in both the church and chapel. So now everything goes to church, Nygaard says.

He says that the state church has approx. 5,900 members in a population of approx. 7700 in the municipality of Løten. He believes that 60-70 percent of the youth in the municipality are confirmed annually in the church.