[sword-devel] GNU and OS ideologies and indulgences

[Jerry Kreps]

On Tuesday 11 December 2001 12:01, Jerry Hastings wrote:
> 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

Maybe you/we are..... your views seem to mirror mine on these topics.
Jerry The Older  (assuming that you are not older than 60!)