[sword-devel] GNU and OS ideologies and indulgences

[Jerry Hastings]

At 08:15 AM 12/11/2001 -0600, Jerry Kreps wrote:
>I am not sure I follow you on this....  aksing payment of license
>fees in exchange for permission to use copyrighted material is the
>same as granting permission to commit sin without fear of God's
>retribution?

If I was asked this question out of the blue I would say no.

>  Or, are you saying it is a sin to copyright God's Word
>in any form?  The latter statement I agree with because all
>versions/translations of God's Word are "derived works."

First, let me say that I don't want to encourage anyone to violate 
copyrights. Also, derived works can be, and often are, copyrighted.

To the point. Consider Peter's words, "May your silver perish with you, 
because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! "  The 
context of course is the giving of the Holy Spirit. But, is it any better 
to buy and sell the gifts and fruit of the Spirit? So, the selling of 
forgiveness is wrong. (The fact that they totally perverted the idea of 
forgiving sin before the Reformation is another matter.) If the Holy Spirit 
gave you prophecies, or teachings, or other gifts, would it be ok to market 
them, and then limit those receiving them from doing their own 
distributions? If I lay hands on someone or anoint them and they receive a 
gift, should I be entitled to a royalty when they use that gift?  If the 
Holy Spirit gives a translation should it be marketed? (Of course this 
raises the question of the involvement of the Holy Spirit in translation.)

Consider also, the permission that John the Baptist had. Consider also Mark 
9:39, "Jesus said, "Don't forbid him..." If the Holy Spirit is moving 
someone to do a work, it would be wrong to have permission requirements in 
the way. Don't hinder the Holy Spirit in any way.

>Exactly!  It is the advantage of all GPL & Open Source projects!
>May the Sword forever remain so in all regards.

To quote Tyndale, (sort of), Lord, open the copyright holders eyes.

>Jerry

People are going to think I am talking to myself again. ;-)
Jerry