I don’t know how to add a video here, otherwise you will understand what I’m talking about....

I had a conversation with a neighbor who works in the gemeind, it seems that I’m not alone complaining.... even if weren’t the case, we all pay taxes and we have roles and responsibilities , we have the right to go for what we have that’s not ok....

If we speak about traditions, well there’s some traditions that don’t make sense anymore in nowadays. I don’t think that I need to provide examples...

Well, take it as a life experience. Next time you're looking for an apartment schedule the visit at a time the church clocks make all the noise.

Hundreds and thousands of people living nearby the clock show it's only a personal preference. It's OK, people have different preferences, if close to the church is not OK, you're free to live somewhere else. We already traveled thousands of km to be here in CH, what difference moving 1000 more meters away from the clock can do?

Actually unless and until you become Swiss you don't get a vote, despite paying taxes.

agree. I am not religious, but (while in Bruxels), i chose to rent a flat next to a church...and a cemetery. I knew that the bells would 'sing' during the day - but, oh man! was that peaceful by night!!! I would repeat, if possible! (better bells once per hour, than children playing and yelling outside of your window the whole day!!).
Yet, clearly, with the 'home-office' working schedule, a lot of people suddenly realise an alternative reality of their flats (and their relationships)

How do the tax authorities even know you've been baptised? Is this only in Switzerland or abroad too?

Probably they make it up, like this supposed rule.

Hi Axa,

We can have this view what’s valid, but don’t invalidate my
Perspective as well...

The world changed, it’s not being linked to old traditions that will make the old times come back....

Soon, I’ll be back to my home in Vaud and I will forget once per all this bell noise. :-)

If you registered as a member of one of the supported churches when you registered at your Gemeinde, then you are considered a member and will be liable for the church tax.

If you no longer wish to be considered a member of that church while you live in Switzerland, to get off the membership (and tax) role, you need to fill out a 'Kirchenaustritt' form or write a letter stating your decision.

You can read about the steps here:
https://frei-denken.ch/kirchenaustritt

There is a site that says it is the official Kirchenaustritt, be aware that there is a cost:
https://kirchenaustritt.ch/?gclid=Cj...RoC34gQAvD_BwE

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If you did not register as a member of one of the supported churches when you moved to Switzerland - that is, registered as Konfessionlos or as a member of a non-supported church - you are not liable for the church tax. This regardless of your whether you were baptised into (or wish to practice) your religion elsewhere.

Generally speaking, if you were baptised in another country, your leaving (or not joining) a Swiss church has no bearing on your relationship with your church outside Switzerland. So no need to write you parish at home, your decision to join, not join, or leave a supported Swiss church is between you and the Big Guy Upstairs.

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We've had many threads discussing this that go into more detail, a search for 'Kirchenaustritt' should bring these up.


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Now back to church bells.

The world may have changed in respect to churches but caveat emptor is still valid. Check the flat before signing the contract

Back in the day, my grandmother would have stopped from what she was doing and asked herself "Hmm. Church bells are ringing at this time of the day...who died?", crossed the street to the next house and asked around and then came back.."Found out who - is X, husband of Y who lives in the big house on the hill next to the forest. You don't know them but I'm gonna dress up, take a candle and go pay my respects...". Weird, no? But it used to be like this in that village of my grandparents, when I was a kid.
Church bells had plenty of practical use not necessarily a "Christian diversion"*. Even if they only used to call people to masses, I'd like people to be allowed to carry on their traditions and their way of doing things regardless of what some snobbish expats might think of.
*actually someone here has called it a "Christian oppressive action".....

Not true.

I just wrote a letter in English stating "I don't subscribe to your religion."

Tom

A friend of mine resigned from church and they wrote him a nice letter, saying he will be welcome back any time he wants.
20 years later I resigned from church in an August and got a letter saying "and do not think you won't have to pay the tax for September".


Originally I had not planned to bother the tax-people to deduct 3 months of the yearly church-tax. After that letter, I did.

When I die, I hope the church bells ring 5 minutes straight. 😇

Hurry then, before all EFers are naturalized.

If they do, I will recognize that you're not getting married, it's not Saturday evening and not time for Sunday service. I lived almost 20 years next to church bells, I speak their language. The protestant ones. The catholic ones are a killer, they never seem to stop.

I give you the new "Home Office Bells Olympics!"

Gold star if your bells can out bell everyone else on the call...

(I cheat a bit cos I got two churches in earshot and yes they do go on.. and on.. and on)

I bet your neighbours don’t. Even if the OP is not Swiss there is no reason why he can’t suggest to his town council (in whatever form it is) that the bells be moderated. If he is not the only resident with the view perhaps something can be done.

I miss the sound of the bells from the church at Clara when I lived in Kleinbasel. I guess I just like church bells because in Scotland I only ever heard them on a Sunday. My sister was in Saudi for 10 years and woke up very early every morning to the sound of the call to prayer from the mosque.

Rumshot, if you are new here there’s another tradition that you might not be aware of:

On New Year’s Eve the area churches - at least out my way - ring in the new year, ending at midnight. That’s 2021 peals!

As you can imagine, ringing that many peals takes time, IIRC it starts about 22:00 or so.

I love the sound...

Now, this doesn’t happen everywhere. You might want to check to see if your neighboring church rings in the new year, or not, and plan accordingly.

But fear not. Chances are that you won’t hear the New Year peals over the cacophony of exploding fireworks.

What do you do for target practice?

I’ll be at my canton of origin, then I should be ok...

Maybe this corona thing where we should be working from home, it making me a little bit more picky and grumpy...

Tomorrow I will begin my vacation, then, I will return ok.... :-)