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The morality of free music downloading
- Thread starter Jules C
- Start date
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Guest
Guest
This is a good topic. What have the Christian Jurists said on this matter? For us Muslims only religious music is permissible, but the question still arises, whether its permissible?
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Gabe
Guest
Jules C said:
I think its wrong. In my opinion, whether the music industry is corrupt or not, its the Artists that lose out. In theory a band may sell one CD (pocketing maybe 2 or 3 pounds) and through the use of the internet their entire fan base could download that same file free of charge.
I must admit that this is something I used to do but not any more. Its the same as getting your hands on copied CD's, DVD's or video games and I would consider that to be a crime, in fact it is a crime. One of my brothers buys copied DVD's and I have watched a few while over his house but if I like it and want a copy for myself, then I'll buy it off the net or from a store. If I haven't the money to do so then....that's my problem, not the music or movie industries and i will go without.
Its hard sometimes though. (Concerning Games/DVD's)
For example, yesterday i wanted to play UT3 on my newly upgraded PC, I searched all around town for a copy, after hours of searching and calling i came up with nothing, this left me with 3 choices, 1 order form store and wait upwards of 4-5 weeks. 2, order online and wait 4-5 weeks, or 3. download in 2 days.
You see for me i would have bought it legit, but it was not made available to me so i downloaded it.
The same scenarios often happen with movies, If a new movie comes out my local theater may not have it so i would have to drive to the closest other one...130kms away. So i would have to drive 230kms pay for gas and admission, take time off, to see a movie that i might not even like...Or i can download in 2 hours.
If move/game/MP3 theft is a sin, its 100% the hardest thing to repent from.
For example, yesterday i wanted to play UT3 on my newly upgraded PC, I searched all around town for a copy, after hours of searching and calling i came up with nothing, this left me with 3 choices, 1 order form store and wait upwards of 4-5 weeks. 2, order online and wait 4-5 weeks, or 3. download in 2 days.
You see for me i would have bought it legit, but it was not made available to me so i downloaded it.
The same scenarios often happen with movies, If a new movie comes out my local theater may not have it so i would have to drive to the closest other one...130kms away. So i would have to drive 230kms pay for gas and admission, take time off, to see a movie that i might not even like...Or i can download in 2 hours.
If move/game/MP3 theft is a sin, its 100% the hardest thing to repent from.
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Gabe
Guest
I can understand your frustration and honestly, I am not trying to have a go at you but theft is still theft and a sin is still a sin no matter how one may justify it, of course if someone's life was at stake then that may change things.
I used to buy stolen goods. To get their hands on the goods for sale, these people rob homes, cars and mug people on the street. I eventually came to my senses and realised that it was because of people like me (who are willing to buy these stolen goods) that they continue to commit their crimes. Just because it wasn't me who beat up a kid to get my hands on his mobile doesn't make me any less guilty of it. I think the same applies to music etc its robbing the artists of what's rightfully theirs.
I used to buy stolen goods. To get their hands on the goods for sale, these people rob homes, cars and mug people on the street. I eventually came to my senses and realised that it was because of people like me (who are willing to buy these stolen goods) that they continue to commit their crimes. Just because it wasn't me who beat up a kid to get my hands on his mobile doesn't make me any less guilty of it. I think the same applies to music etc its robbing the artists of what's rightfully theirs.
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Allen1901
Guest
I used to repair Computers. I was shocked to see how many Church Computers were
loaded up with stolen software.
loaded up with stolen software.
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kenan
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Gabe
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It is theft when you think of the money that is being lost/stolen through piracy.
Ignore my post if that was meant as a joke.
Ignore my post if that was meant as a joke.
Yeah, I thought it was an interesting subject and I can see both sides of the argument.
You're taking something without paying which, at first sight, I would not hesitate to label theft.
But - bigwigs like Simon Cowell who lives in a mansion and has made an obscene fortune by selling cheapo five-minute-wonder music to poor gullible kids...he's not exactly blameless either.
You're taking something without paying which, at first sight, I would not hesitate to label theft.
But - bigwigs like Simon Cowell who lives in a mansion and has made an obscene fortune by selling cheapo five-minute-wonder music to poor gullible kids...he's not exactly blameless either.
If you're taking something from someone and not paying for it, how is that not a sin?johnmuise said:
This really is a one-sided argument. It doesn't matter how rich someone may get off of music, movies, software, etc., if they've created it, then they have every right to charge how much they want and market it in any way they choose.
Our impatience or lack of finances does not justify theft.
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Gabe
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Joshua said:
But that is not a valid reason for us as Christians to lower our moral stance, when it comes to the illigal downloading and copying of THEIR music. I'm not saying that this is what you're trying to get at but i know that some Christians think like this. When a Christian begins to pick and choose which sins matter to them, how are they any different than the rapper?