Looks like God in Human Form isn't more powerful than a VCAT member

Here's a Radha Soami Satsang Beas related newspaper story that came to my attention via someone's Twitter feed that I follow: "Opponents to religious group Radha Soami Satsang Beas' worship centre in Green Wedge at Carrum Downs score win at VCAT."

(VCAT stands for Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal)

A religious group’s plan for a large worship centre in Carrum Downs has been scuttled after opponents had a stunning win at VCAT.

In a decision handed down yesterday, VCAT member Michael Deidun overturned Frankston Council’s approval of a permit for the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) group’s new Australian headquarters in green wedge land.

Defenders of the South East Green Wedge secretary Barry Ross, who appealed council’s decision at VCAT, said he was rapt with the result.

Interestingly, the story says that the ruling hinged on whether RSSB actually is a religious organization. The guru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas is considered to be God in Human Form by devotees, yet RSSB also claims that it is more of a spiritual science than a religion.

So this seems to put RSSB in a tough spot, legally. Here's another excerpt from the story.

In his written decision, Mr Deidun said RSSB was “not a religion, nor is it aligned with one particular religion”.

He added: “A clear indication ... that RSSB is not a religion is the absence of any unique sacred texts or set of values and belief systems regarding the person and divinity of God and man’s relationship to God.

“RSSB Australia is not a religion and therefore does not conduct religious activities.

“As such it cannot be regarded as proposing a place of worship for the site.”

Mr Deidun said based on his finding that RSSB was not a religion, its proposal was actually for a “place of assembly, particularly a place where philosophical or spiritual meetings and instruction can take place”.

Comments

[777]

his indication is so easily to be overturned
in a serious court because
the root of RSSB is the Adi Granth Sahib
Sar Bachan
plus the 6 Gospels
Bardo Todol
etc

777

[MJS]

Hi Brian, thanks for the update.

Going on from 777,

You may be interested in update! Going to Supreme Court! on Earth!

http://baysidenews.com.au/2017/03/27/church-appeal-goes-supreme-court/

and see comments filed in article

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/opponents-to-religious-group-radha-soami-satsang-beas-worship-centre-in-green-wedge-at-carrum-downs-score-win-at-vcat/news-story/d547c8f78cf714021adce409d2a5e836

[MJS]

Hi Brian,

In your time when you followed and were a RSSB Secretary in the RRSB Beas group.
My question "was then Radha Soami Beas a religion in your time when you practised"?
Because: Lawyer Stuart Morris says that of course RSSB is a religion - Could this Lawyer QC be talking from practical experience's or just hear say? or a true believer and follower of RSSB?
I like the words "peace-loving" - by the journalist, - I wonder how true this could be?
Love to hear others on this debate, to see if the teachings have changed somewhat under the current spiritual guiding teacher, since no tape recordings, videos of discourses or books from the Master have been published.
Please do read following newspaper articles I came across.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/when-is-a-religion-not-a-religion-vegetarian-spiritual-group-in-supreme-court-fight-20170331-gvb2n7.html

http://www.theage.com.au/action/printArticle?id=1020043555

MJS

[Arjun dev]

Do you think people who leave rrsb should be part of the Sprexit (spiritual) - we have Brexit here. Thought it was amusing. All the best