Hi, firstly, I would recommend checking out what the bible says and go with your conscience. But it is good to get other CHRISTIAN advice which is obviously what you were seeking when you came to this site. How sad to come here, and not only get non- christian but anti-christian advice ( to those people concerned, its blaringly obviously as to why you come to a Christian site to deliberately decieve and mislead people). I have thought alot about this issue recently as I had to make a decision about it myself, so I would like to share what I think with you. I admit, I did toss and turn about it, but made a firm decision awhile back NOT to pirate/steal music and software and I have no regrets about making that decision. I knew deep down that I had come to a crucial and pivotal decision; it was really a matter of was I going to obey the God's Word, or take the other option. I made up my mind not to pirate/steal because my relationship with God is most important thing in my life, far more than a bit of money. When you think about the bigger picture and what is at stake, its quite an easy decision to make! There are many verses in the Bible about the consequences of honoring God in our decisions and obeying God's word and the consequences of not. Example "Anyone who listens .. and obeys.. is like a person who builds a house on solid rock.. it won't collapse" Mathew 7:24-25.
We do face some pretty tough decisions and serious temptations in life. Jesus never promised it would be easy being a Christian. But He does promise to help us through those moments giving us guidance, strength, courage and grace. "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" James 4:7. I have found this to be absolutely true. Although temptation to do wrong is from Satan, we don't have to give in. Its just as much an opportunity to make the right decision and grow in strength as a Christian!
Anyway, what I think about this issue and some other people's comments in this forum are below.
1 Firstly, call it copy infringing, pirating whatever you like. I believe that it IS STEALING.
*I remember someone on this site said that stealing is defined as only when you are taking someone of someones and as a result that person loses something or is disadvantaged. For example, software and music are not physical, the company are selling the intangible elements of design, development, intellectual property, licencing etc. You are taking/stealing those intangible things when you illegally download/burn it. Also, if I download some music or software that is worth $XXXX then yes, I am TAKING that amount of money from the company concerned, in effect, stealing. I am stealing the license to use the software or CD which is what people actually buy. Many people justify it by saying "If I didn't take it I wouldn't have bought it" ... ahhh LAME. Imagine a thief standing up in Court and saying to the judge "If I didn't steal that car I wouldn't have bought it anyway"... funny, isn't it?
Most people feel bad about taking stuff illegally from the internet no matter how they try and justify it to themselves or "relabel" it. Which is what so many people on this forum are trying to do. Deep down, they know it is stealing. God gave us a conscience and a specific feeling that lets us know when have sinned/are sinning and going against God's Word. It's called GUILT. See the Bible - Romans 1-2. This a quote from the journal of business : "There are four reasons you shouldn't pirate software: It's wrong. I believe stealing is on the Bible's top 10 list, if not Letterman's. " This is written by a non-christian. Its a good idea not to ignore your conscience, but of course, if you do this often enough, you will desensitize yourself to it.
2 Even it isn't stealing as some people say, it's still pirating, copyright infringing etc in other words an illegal activity.
As Christians we are to obey the Law set by the country we live in unless it conflicts with God's Law (revealed to us by divine revelation - the Bible and general revelation - our conscience or Natural Law.) So most of the time, doing something illegally is wrong in Bibical AND always in secular/consitutional Law. Most constitutions are based on Biblical Law so rarely conflict with it. See Romans 13;3-4 and 1 Timothy 1. What is our witness like as Christians if we can't even do a straight forward thing like obey the Law?
3 Excuses and justifications for pirating/stealing.
*Everybody is doing it so why shouldn't I? If everyone else was jumping off a cliff would you? Sometime, everyone has to come directly before the Lord God ALONE. Also - just because you CAN doesn't mean you should. If you apply that philosophy to yourself, how are you any different from an opportunist thief plundering and stealing after an earthquake or flood etc? Scary.
*Whether they (the artists, software companies etc) are ripping you off or not, are talented or not, have alot of money or no money is a null and irrelevant point, let alone making it anymore justifiable to take their stuff! I'll use my Court metaphor again; imagine an man accused of car thief saying "I really wanted that Mercedes - but they charge too much money, so they deserved it anyway!" to the judge. It's a ridiculous justification - yet this type of excuse is repeated often on this forum. As the lyrics to an old song goes " you can't always get what you want!"
Lastly, I encourage people who are thinking about this to be strong and do the right thing - you won't EVER regret it.
