What's Christians take on pirating authors books, software, movies etc?

score:7

Accepted answer

There are several arguments sometimes made why "piracy" as OP calls it may be sinful. The Bible itself does not directly address the issue.

Some say that it is stealing and therefore forbidden by the Ten Commandments. Stealing in the Bible refers to someone taking something which belongs to someone else. It means the stealer obtaining something he ought not to have, and at the same time depriving the victim of something he ought to have. In the case of piracy it is not clearly the case that it is stealing as meant in the Bible since it does not deprive the owner of that which is his.

Some say that it is important to obey the civil law and that if something is against the law of the country then doing it is sinful simply because it is disobedience to the civil authorities. Not all countries however have such laws and where they exist may apply only to certain other countries. For example, in the current circumstances, the civil and Islamic authorities in Iran may not forbid "piracy". In that case this particular argument fails.

Another argument against piracy is that it effectively deprives a workman of his wages. You are benefitting from his labour without paying for it. Here, the particular circumstances may also be a factor. Due to sanctions it may be illegal for the author, according to the laws of his country, to sell you the software etc. The author therefore has no legitimate right to any payment from you for using his software or reading his book, so you are not therefore depriving him of any entitlement by not paying for it.

A similar argument to render to everyone his due may help in some circumstances, but it does not help address the question of whether anything is due to the author of the "pirate" software. According to the law of his country, nothing is because it would be breaking sanctions, and according to the user's country his government may allow or encourage it anyway.

Islamic scholars have looked at the question of "piracy" in general and come to different conclusions.

In short, where there is no hard and defnite rule in the Bible, the circumstances are always relevant.

Then, too, would not usung "pirated" software have an adverse effect more generally? If so, one would need to be very sure before doing anything drastic.

In Romans Chapter 14 we read of moral dilemmas where different people had different ideas.

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him

In this case there was contention in the church between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Paul urged that in such matters everyone's conscience should be respected.

Upvote:-2

You're already saved, so it doesn't matter. In fact, by even contemplating the morality of using pirated software, you are demonstrating a lack of faith in the salvation that you already have. The fear of "doing the wrong thing" suggests that you feel like you will be less deserving of salvation, or that God would be less justified in saving you. But He has already saved you in your sinful condition. Your works are as filthy rags to him - you can't be a "better" person by not pirating software. God saved you regardless, according to His grace.

You should not be fretting over what is or is not sin. You have been freed of sin by Christ! Do you believe Him? If so, why are you continuing to worry about sin?

Upvote:0

It is a sin because some people will hate you for it - so you will lead others into sin. But the sin is much lesser than the sin of refusing to help people save their lives (e.g. for $100 you can buy few Personal flotation device and food rations for people who try to escape from Libya to Europe), instead of giving them to those who already have mountains of money.

Upvote:2

What you are describing boils down to stealing. It matters not whether such things are acceptable in the society in which you live. Here is what God's word, the Bible, has to say:

Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness." (Matthew 19:18)

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:7)

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(Romans 13:9)

The Christian life is not easy because we have such high standards to live up to. Christians are called to live lives that are “holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). But help is always at hand:

“the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

It is essential that Christians spend time studying God's Word, not just so we can learn how to behave in Christian fashion, but also so we can battle against the schemes of Satan and the temptations that befall all of us.

To call oneself a Christian means we have to act in a Christ-like manner. We can't do that by our own efforts - we need God's wisdom, grace and strength to enable us to overcome temptations. That is something you can take up in prayer the next time you speak to God. Meanwhile, trust in this promise:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:16-17)

Upvote:3

Here is a possible argument. What does the Bible mean by theft? We have "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maid servant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour's". This sounds like tangible property to me. I imagine that it included not cutting down the neighbour's crops. I am not convinced that the concept of intellectual property existed in the Ancient World. According to Wikipedia:

The earliest recorded historical case-law on the right to copy comes from ancient Ireland. The Cathach is the oldest extant Irish manuscript of the Psalter and the earliest example of Irish writing. It contains a Vulgate version of Psalms XXX (30) to CV (105) with an interpretative rubric or heading before each psalm. It is traditionally ascribed to Saint Columba as the copy, made at night in haste by a miraculous light, of a Psalter lent to Columba by St. Finnian. In the 6th century, a dispute arose about the ownership of the copy and King Diarmait Mac Cerbhaill gave the judgement "To every cow belongs her calf, therefore to every book belongs its copy." The Battle of Cúl Dreimhne was fought over this issue. ...

The first copyright privilege in England bears date 1518 and was issued to Richard Pynson, King's Printer, the successor to William Caxton.

So there is a case to be made that Christianity doesn't have a position on copyright. IMHO the OP is doing the best he can, if he uses Open Source whenever practicable.

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