File-Sharing Officially Recognized as a Religion in Sweden
- Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:01pm by
Liz Klimas
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(Image via Facebook Kopimism)
A religion that just recently become officially recognized in Sweden holds CTRL+C and CTLR+V as sacred symbols.
According to TorrentFreak, the Church of Kopimism considers copying and file sharing a sacred act. The church leaders have been trying to get recognized by the country since 2010.
TorrentFreak explains more:
All around the world file-sharers are being chased by anti-piracy outfits and the authorities, and the situation in Sweden is no different. While copyright holders are often quick to label file-sharers as pirates, there is a large group of people who actually consider copying to be a sacred act.
TorrentFreak goes on to state the church, founded by Isak Gerson, failed twice in its quest to gain official recognition. Now, according to TorrentFreak, Gerson believes more people will come out as “Kopimists”:
“I think that more people will have the courage to step out as Kopimists. Maybe not in the public, but at least to their close ones,” Isak tells TorrentFreak. “There’s still a legal stigma around copying for many. A lot of people still worry about going to jail when copying and remixing. I hope in the name of Kopimi that this will change.”
TorrentFreak notes that violating copyright law is still a crime, but Gerson thinks that with official religion status their beliefs could be taken into account. TorrentFreak also includes that the church grew from 1,000 to 3,000 members within a six month period.
According to the Kopimism Facebook page, the group believes sharing information would be a “gigantic Boosting Knowledge for humanity.” Here are more of the group’s beliefs as posted on Facebook:
Throughout history, various groups around the world have been persecuted by oppressors. It has since taken refuge in religion and wanted a peaceful coexistence. Without threats and harassment.
In our belief, communication is sacred. Communication needs to be respected. It is a direct sin to monitor and eavesdrop on people.
The absolute secrecy is holy in the church of kopimism.
In the individual pastoral care and confession with the kopimist priests (the Ops), priests are protected under Swedish law by an absolute professional secrecy.
Copyright Religion is our absolute opposite – Ongoing obstruction of copying.We challenge all copyright believers – most of which have a great deal of influence in politics, and who derive their power by limiting people’s lives and freedom. What they most of all want to limit the knowledge. We need to steel ourselves for their hatred and aggression.
If you’re wondering, Wired points out that Kopimism is pronounced like“copy me-ism”.
[H/T Gizmodo]
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Comments (47)
garbagecanlogic
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:34pmDem seweeds, dey is not berry intelligent. Matter of fact, dey is downright stoooopid.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
Searchingforthelight
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:24pmLudicris. Join a religion that can legally rip you off? Naaaa. I’ll stick with Jesus.
Report Post »He knows whats in my heart and won’t violate my confidence.
theaveng
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 9:53pmIn RUSSIA copyright law is used to silence dissent (police make the accusation of infringement and then swipt the cmputers).
Copyright laws such as SOPA could be used in the same fashion here. Imagine if the ACLU or Glenn Beck or your local church was silenced, simply by accusing them of priating movies or software, and then taking all their stuff.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:13pmFrom what I Gather from a few posts on here is that Conservatives would rather have Government intervention of the internet than to have a crazy religion that I see as a way to fight Government intervention of the internet. Guess that makes it ok for Al Gore’s Crazy religion to dictate what kind of car we drive and how often we can fart.
Report Post »beverlee
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 9:43pmLook up the definition of copyright.
Oh, and Freak is a good name for individuals who join this. Then again, it doesn’t say much for the country.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 1:59pmLegally sanctioning software piracy is a seperate issue than government control of the internet. You don’t even need the internet to pirate copyrighted material. You just need something to exist and to have the means to copy or reproduce it.
Under this system where piracy is a legally protected religious right once something is produced it is legally available to be copied at will. Everything would legally be freeware. So any software, music, book that anyone produces would basically be being produced for free purely out of charity. How long do you think that’s going to last, until people simply stop wasting their time and money producing material that everyone is just going to steal?
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:18pmSo they’ve officially recognized software piracy as a religion. Maybe the world is ending in 2012.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:16pmThis totally makes sense. Now pedophiles can share kiddie porn and not be breaking any laws.
Normalizing the immoral and abnormal.
Report Post »LANE131
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:15pmLibrals, just bending the laws, so they can think they are honest and moral as they steal.
Report Post »Kind of like so call medical marijuana in the USA. They just want to get high, but think they are moral when doing it, for their health. Oh but their are pills made from marijuana that does the same thing, but not get you high, which have been around since the early 70′s.
HeavyMetal
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:58pmIf you think liberals are the only ones smoking your an idiot, and I bet you drink alcohol and think that’s fine well I got news for you alcohol will trash you pot wont ever hear of a pothead having a hangover from weed? No. Alcohol? Every person who has drank before except prudes who have 1to beer.. you don’t count… Ever hear of potheads getting weed poisining or do you hear about alcohol poisoning? Do you hear about potheads crashing cars being stoned? No but you obviously do with alcohol so I think I’ve said enough. Think before you speak and find facts don’t not even consider other possibilities because then your only limiting yourself
Report Post »Collegeboy
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:28pmI am a strict conservative and I smoke Marijuana… Maybe if you did more research you’d put down the beer and cigarettes (both more deadly and poisonous) and pick up a joint.
Report Post »Collegeboy
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:30pm“that pill” that has been around since the 70′s, Marinol, has killed more than Marijuana itself and has SEVERE side effects.
Report Post »Mizurax
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 12:58pmSorry bud, marijuana should be legal, whether it be for medical use or whatever. Prohibition of alcohol took a constitutional amendment. But prohibition of weed doesn’t. That makes no sense. If you’re a conservative, you should recognize this.
Plus, I’d be willing to bet you or your loved ones take some sort of pills…. Sleeping pills, anti-depressants… something. Not sure how that’s any different than smoking weed.
Report Post »DudleyDoRight
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:13pmThis IS a joke, right? Right?
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:50pmwhat was I saying when who…oh yea dope is good….what.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:10pm1. Soon Atheists will be protesting CTRL+C and CTLR+V being used on government keyboards.
2. Hey “Kopimists” – there’s a text message from God you can download, copy and share: http://www.biblegateway.com/
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:06pmGreat idea, screw with M$ and $ony, A$TT, etc. The government can mess with your religiously protected right so share their “Imaginary Property”.
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 9:33pmIf Microsoft’s & Sony‘s property were imaginary you wouldn’t be able to down load it. Thievery is thievery. Amen.
Report Post »Annika2011
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:01pmMUST be a gag!
I, myself, LOVE my daily bath.
Feel very sacred about it.
BATHTUBISM.
There! I’ve started a new religion!
Nut cases!
Report Post »Stiggs
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:52pmI prefer the bathtubism – it’s much more cleansing.
Report Post »GandolfTheWise
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 9:48pmWhy Not? It only takes you a few bucks to register your non-profit religion with the state. There is even a “religion” that is based on worshiping BEER! At the time of Christ, there were over 500 registered religions found in the records of a dig about 15 miles from Jerusalem over 20 years ago. So strange religions are nothing new, and should be tolerated unless they are dedicated to hurting others.
Report Post »…Rev.Ray
christos
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:00pm,,,And they worship “File Sharing” Communication and possibly a copy machine,,,o.k.,,,yea they should be seeking +JESUS+GOD+ the Living +HOLY+ONE+ who created all frequencies it is 2012,.
Report Post »junior1971
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:56pmThis reminds me of a song from an old band called Rush. “You have entered the twilight zone”. Good song! Where the hell am I!!!!!!!!!! All I can do is laugh. HEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHHEHEEH-ugh, oh Dear Lord help us.
Report Post »Icnivad
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:52pmThe lands of Sweden are beautiful, but the folks there seem really freaking creepy…
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:45pmRaising up the tower of babble, no doubt!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:44pmhahahahaha…
Report Post »Obama>Jesus
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:37pmMakes just as much, if not more sense then, oh say Christianity. At least we can prove that file sharing is real, unlike a magical sky wizard.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:43pmwhatever loser
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 8:15pmI thought you Commies worshiped Al Gore’s Green god?
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:28pmCrazy and creepy.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:27pmThis is idolatry. People are worshiping the creations of man as sacred. That’s idolatry by definition.
Report Post »trueblueday
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:27pmAlt+Ctrl+Delete
End
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:25pmHA ha…I think this is more of a religion of peace than Islam…….just me thinkin
Report Post »SuperSuineg
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:24pmthis is my offical notice that im adding Kopimism to my religion.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:19pmSometimes I wonder if we have evolved or went backwards. DAH!!
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:18pmIs this a joke?
Report Post »A Conservatarian
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:14pmAll Hail, The Torrent.
Report Post »ME
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:04pmMy bother true believers have moved to or been at newsgroups:) Let the young and weak of faith mess with torrents:) We also are very well versed in porxy and every day I am more and more convinced that even messaging here requires it. Speak but everything online is recorded and will one day be used to judge you…
garylee123
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:08pmOh good God!!
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 6:20pmIt’s so cold there, their brains have frozen,yah?
Report Post »