Torrenting

[myfathergodinheaven]

Torrenting is a sin because it is stealing. I only realized this not that long ago. Yeah I know it took awhile. I have a question. I use torrenting to get Christian books as usually that is the only way I can due to various reasons. I use these books to strengthen my faith and defend it. Is it immoral to do this? Is it possible to morally steal something? I don't share these books with anyone.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

It it still stealing.
(Yes I have used torrents myself ... until I found out my hard drive was probably virus infected and gave it up).

I know books can get expensive. Try searching through second hand book shops or yard sales or something if you can't afford them new

 

[trofimus]

Depends probably on the law of your country.

In my country sharing or posting a copyrighted work is not legal, but to download it is legal

It is not stealing in the meaning that the owner will miss that work. Only his money will be less. If you cant buy it on the market or if it is really difficult to find where and how, I do not think its wrong, to download it.

Regarding the Christian works - we got everything for free from Christ, even our lives. There should be no payment for anything in this area. If anyone wants to get paid for what he got from God, I always automatically search a different work, because I do not trust this one anymore.
This is about ideas, about "electronic" releases. Regarding books and other physical media, I am aware that it needs money for every copy to be created so I have no moral problem buying a Bible in a print.

 

[Depleted]

Torrenting is a sin because it is stealing. I only realized this not that long ago. Yeah I know it took awhile. I have a question. I use torrenting to get Christian books as usually that is the only way I can due to various reasons. I use these books to strengthen my faith and defend it. Is it immoral to do this? Is it possible to morally steal something? I don't share these books with anyone.

Turn this around. YOU write a book and put in the effort to get it published. The publishers give you an advance on how much you'll make on that book, and once enough people buy it to make up for that advance, you start getting royalty checks every six months, completely dependent on the amount of people who buy YOUR book.

Can you imagine that? Good.

Now, is torrenting stealing? (And truthfully, I'm still in the 20th century so had no idea there was such a word. And now that I know it is, I still don't know how to do it, and don't want to learn. lol)

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Regarding the Christian works - we got everything for free from Christ, even our lives. There should be no payment for anything in this area. If anyone wants to get paid for what he got from God, I always automatically search a different work, because I do not trust this one anymore.
This is about ideas, about "electronic" releases. Regarding books and other physical media, I am aware that it needs money for every copy to be created so I have no moral problem buying a Bible in a print.

What do you mean by Christian works?
Shouldn't we do all things for God's glory?
Should we all work for free?

as for this "I always automatically search a different work, because I do not trust this one anymore."
that can easily be interpreted as exploitation - you wanting people to work for you for free.
and if you do a favour back , well dunno about where you live, but in Norway that is illegal (trading a job for a job without exchanging money, since it means the government can't grab a share of it....)

 

[DavidvanHolten]

Quite an interesting topic. I asked the same question back in 2011 on this forum and I still dont know if it is a sin or not. It is illegal to distribute copyrighted stuff in my country, but to download is not illegal because it is not you who is distributing.

 

[trofimus]

Quite an interesting topic. I asked the same question back in 2011 on this forum and I still dont know if it is a sin or not. It is illegal to distribute copyrighted stuff in my country, but to download is not illegal because it is not you who is distributing.

Yes, distribution is illegal, but using the work is not illegal. Distribution is stealing, using it is not stealing.

Most of countries have the law set like this.

People should always check the law in their country.

 

[maxwel]

Torrenting is a sin because it is stealing. I only realized this not that long ago. Yeah I know it took awhile. I have a question. I use torrenting to get Christian books as usually that is the only way I can due to various reasons. I use these books to strengthen my faith and defend it. Is it immoral to do this? Is it possible to morally steal something? I don't share these books with anyone.

Torrenting is not a sin because it is stealing.

Torrenting is a sin because it is copyright violation.

How can you be sure?
If you get in trouble with torrenting, you don't go to jail for stealing, you get sued for copyright violation.

Why am I making these distinctions?
Because most people who've downloaded things illegally would never "take another person's property"... but they are unwise enough to "copy someone's property."
I mean hey, we call killing a baby "a harmless choice" and we call a move download "a heinous act of theft."
It's still sin, but it's ok to put things in perspective.


That said, you should NEVER download things illegally.
Not only is it a sin to do something illegal, but there are attorneys out there just ACTIVELY SEARCHING for harmless small-time copyright violators to SUE!
The penalties can be ENORMOUS.
Right now, the penalties and fines are WAY higher than they should be... it's not even reasonable.
You can literally lose everything.

Never do illegal downloads.
It's not theft, it's copyright violation... but it's still sin, and you can still get in a lot of trouble.

 

[notuptome]

It is never right to do a wrong to do a right.

Torrenting is pirating which is not an approved practice.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[myfathergodinheaven]

URL="https://www.gotquestions.org/amp/sin-copyright.html"]https://www.gotquestions.org/amp/sin-copyright.html[/URL]

I found that article on it helpful. I believe it is illegal in NZ. It does take money from the pocket of who made it even if you are just taking it and not putting it on the torrent website . It is like going to a store and taking it without paying for it.

 

[tourist]

Torrenting is a sin because it is stealing. I only realized this not that long ago. Yeah I know it took awhile. I have a question. I use torrenting to get Christian books as usually that is the only way I can due to various reasons. I use these books to strengthen my faith and defend it. Is it immoral to do this? Is it possible to morally steal something? I don't share these books with anyone.

I would say that it is only morally possible to steal something if you are Robin Hood. Never heard of the term torrenting.

 

[Magenta]

Never heard of the term torrenting.

Torrents are files that people can share over the internet... movies, songs, books etc.

 

[trofimus]

It is like going to a store and taking it without paying for it.

It is not, because the difference is, that the store will still have it. You both will have it.

When somebody produces shoes, he will get paid for it and for another payment he has to do another pair of shoes.

When somebody creates a pdf with something, he expects he will be paid for it to the end of his life without doing anything...

I do not judge if it is right or wrong, just pointing out the difference.

 

[trofimus]

What do you mean by Christian works?
Shouldn't we do all things for God's glory?
Should we all work for free?

as for this "I always automatically search a different work, because I do not trust this one anymore."
that can easily be interpreted as exploitation - you wanting people to work for you for free.
and if you do a favour back , well dunno about where you live, but in Norway that is illegal (trading a job for a job without exchanging money, since it means the government can't grab a share of it....)

Do you want to have your award in money or in heaven?

Therefore if any translator or theologian, pastor etc wants money and not the award in heaven for what he is doing for the kingdom of God, I do not trust him anymore.

You do whatever you prefer

 

[myfathergodinheaven]

It is not, because the difference is, that the store will still have it. You both will have it.

When somebody produces shoes, he will get paid for it and for another payment he has to do another pair of shoes.

When somebody creates a pdf with something, he expects he will be paid for it to the end of his life without doing anything...

I do not judge if it is right or wrong, just pointing out the difference.

It does take a lot of work to write something. And the worker is worthy of his wages. One free copy is one less copy paid for.

 

[trofimus]

It does take a lot of work to write something. And the worker is worthy of his wages. One free copy is one less copy paid for.

Sure. Pay.

My choice is not to use such things and to use open source things instead. You do not need to download the MS Office or to pay a crazy money for it.
You can use the Libre Office instead. For example.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Do you want to have your award in money or in heaven?

Therefore if any translator or theologian, pastor etc wants money and not the award in heaven for what he is doing for the kingdom of God, I do not trust him anymore.

You do whatever you prefer

Do you have a job?
Is it paid?
Maybe you should offer to work for free the rest of your life, since you feel that is the right way to do it

 

[myfathergodinheaven]

Sure. Pay.

My choice is not to use such things and to use open source things instead. You do not need to download the MS Office or to pay a crazy money for it.
You can use the Libre Office instead. For example.

Yes I get open office. Good books are usually not free though as the people have spent a long time researching and writing.

 

[trofimus]

Do you have a job?
Is it paid?
Maybe you should offer to work for free the rest of your life, since you feel that is the right way to do it

I have a wordly job.

I would never wanted to be paid for what I post on CC. And I think I am spending more time here than in my work

I hope you understand the difference.

 

[trofimus]

Yes I get open office. Good books are usually not free though as the people have spent a long time researching and writing.

Depends.... but regarding Christianity, I think there is always a very good work somewhere with authors making it freely available for public.

In a software world probably too.

Sometimes you must just search longer.