Should there be a fee on knowledge about God

[bassmansteiny]

I don’t really see an issue here, other than the ridiculous price. However that is ridiculous to me and you, but probably not to other people. The author has every right to be compensated for his labor, then there is printing, editing and distribution cost. The people whom work for the publishing company have to earn a living also. If you got the .pdf file then enjoy that.

I also happen to be a big music fan and a amateur musician. There are a ton of bass I would like to own, but can’t afford. There are a ton of KISS (rock band) collectables I would love to own but don’t have the money. I don’t stress it. I spend my money on what is reasonable and what I can afford and leave the rest for other people

 

[bassmansteiny]

Did he download it illegally? Not being a smartbutt, just curious. Author may have made it available for free, but charges for the book. I may have missed it if he did say it was an illegal download. Sorry if that is the case.

 

[Fauken]

That seems to be the implication:

Should there be a fee on knowledge about God Moral Theology

I suppose the larger problem I have is my knowledge of heavenly things is being restricted because of money which should not be a cause of denial to the heavenly realm, you must first have knowledge of these things to ascend or be choosen by God. I suppose the catechism states that taking bread when your starving is permitted what about getting a free book about the mysteries of seeking God.

 

[Nigel7]

OP,
By your logic then we could all go into Catholic book stores and help ourselves to whatever books we wanted and take them without paying.

 

[bassmansteiny]

I see, ok. Yup illegal download of the authors work is definitely wrong.

 

[CRV]

@bassmansteiny

they seem to have there own copyright laws.

I do not know if the poster has downloaded.

The impression I got was they were concerned this particular website may not have the appropriate copright permissions to store and make available to d/l book as a pdf file, and so were asking what the morality of the situation was if they did d/l it. (They were wanting to d/l it because they couldn’t afford to buy a paper copy, and in their opinion as it involved Gods Word and how to draw close to Him, it should be free and in the posters opinion they believed it was wrong to charge such prices for the same.)

But not knowing the title of this particular book it is almost impossible to establish if it is out of copyright and in the public domain. I suspect it isn’t as if it was - then there would not arise the question of either morally right or legally right to d/l a digital copy.

 

[bassmansteiny]

I see, thanks

 

[CRV]

You’re welcome @bassmansteiny

 

[porthos11]

I think the question of legal vs illegal takes a back seat to the OP’s actually thinking that this work is of value to his spiritual life. He has expressed that he somehow needs this to gain knowledge to “ascend”, an almost gnostic attitude. That somehow this book will give him some special knowledge of God, when we have much better and suitable sources, such as the Bible itself as well as the writings of the saints. You want “ascent”? Read St. John of the Cross. Or read the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. You want contemplation? Read St. Theresa of Avila.

Why someone would seek knowledge of God from a $200 book on post-rabbinical Jewish mysticism is baffling, especially while there are cheaper and more appropriate books to read.

 

[bassmansteiny]

Yeah I was quite sure what that was about. I just assumed it was an ok book. But hey, you know what they say Assuming means, lol.

 

[TheLittleLady]

And what an obscure sort of book for someone to have taken the time and energy to pirate!

 

[phil19034]

Example:-
I write a book on this subject. It costs me to buy a typewritter, paper (paper and pen or pencil, ) to write the book.

I spend 300 hours writing this book.

(I do not earn money to live on during this time. This writing is the avenue I have in which to earn my living. During this time I still have bills to pay and need to live.)

I have to pay an editor and a proof reader to read my draft-book. They expect to be paid for their time and expertise in making changes to my writings where necessary.

I have to pay for a company to print my book and bound it so I may sell it. This company expects to be paid to do this.

I have to engage a publishing house to sell and distribute my book, so finally it ends up in bookstores where hopefully people will buy it.

So to get to this stage, I have incurred say $10,000 to do all the above.

Surely I’m entitled to recoup my expenses in getting my book to this stage where others will benefit from my writing?

The same applies to anyone publishing or reprinting an edition of the Bible for example. Yes, it is the word of God, which He has freely given to us. But I’ve incurred expenses in bringing Gods’ Word to you .

Or do you expect me to starve and potentially incur debts which I cannot pay and go bankrupt, so that others may read the Word of God - which if I hadnt done all this as my writings would not be available - they may not have come to know God, and certainly would not have benefitted from my writings.

End of example.

@john121 - I would also like to point out that A LOT of these expenses still exist in publishing an eBook too (even if it’s PDF format).

Now, if someone was charging for a PDF of a term paper which they did NOT pay someone for professional layout, typesetting, proofreading, etc. then that would be an issue.

Just because an eBook lacks the expense of paper and binding doesn’t mean there isn’t publishing costs.

NOW - with all that said: is it possible that some people are over charging? Sure. And God will know who they are and they will need to answer for that in Purgatory.

I pray this helps.

God bless

 

[phil19034]

Perhaps the person should donate part of the money they make to a charitable group or to the Church.

Honestly, many do. Or they make it as cheap as possible or allow groups like the Augustine Institute and Dynamic Catholic, etc to sell their books cheap for a period of time in order to allow parish book giveaways or affordable purchase.

Also some allow for bulk discounts for parishes too and/or give large number of copies away for free to poor English speaking parishes in Africa, etc.

God Bless

 

[Hodos]

First of all, the prophets and seers of the Old Testament frequently did receive compensation for prophesying, and this was not necessarily considered a bad thing. There is no charge for salvation, but the Bible has no issue with “not muzzling the ox while it treads the grain”. In other words, the worker is worth his wages. Second, you do not have the right to compel the labor of another without compensation, which is essentially what you are asking for in your quest to justify copyright infringement or plagiarism. This would be equally condemned under the 7th Commandment.

 

[DeniseNY]

There isn’t. But a fee for the use of someone’s intellectual captial is just.

 

[Kaliaa]

I am with @porthos11 in my concerns.

The book was published in 2013 and the author, James Davila, is still living. I seriously doubt that he has given permission for anyone to just post a pdf for free download anywhere. This is apparently a very scholarly work on a rather obscure topic. (Read that it’s meant primarily for other scholars in the same field.)

Hekalot Literature in Translation

 

[Joe_5859]

This is apparently a very scholarly work on a rather obscure topic. (Read that it’s meant primarily for other scholars in the same field.)

Which further means that it’s not going to be on the New York Times Best Seller list. Every sale counts when it comes to obscure academic books.

 

[John121]

1] It’s a widely held belief in many religions that instructions of that religion not be sold for profit that’s my first point.

2] I’m not sure about the legal nature of the book store as I emailed them and asked them is it legal to download books that they are marking them free books.

In legal terms they are not being sold and they are not torrents and no were on the site do it say or other sites that the site is acting illegally.

I disagree with people saying it’s stealing as you are not taking a book from someone but copying it.

If that was the case that copying is some sort of crime then humans would not get very far.

The internet functions as a library in many cases and these books are very hard to find no library beside college library’s have them so it seems that there access is being restricted.

 

[Joe_5859]

In legal terms they are not being sold and they are not torrents and no were on the site do it say or other sites that the site is acting illegally.

Torrent sites are not going to admit and/or advertise that they are providing content illegally. Why would they do so?

Whether or not it technically qualifies as “stealing” because you are “copying” it instead, it is still (in all probability) illegal and unethical.

It would be a different story if, say, you went to the author’s website and he said, “I want everyone to read my book, here’s a link to download it for free!” It doesn’t sound like that’s what took place in this instance.

 

[Fauken]

1] It’s a widely held belief in many religions that instructions of that religion not be sold for profit that’s my first point.

An academic had to spend around a decade in university just to get his doctorate before needing who knows how many years to research the subject of the book in question (which isn’t even Catholic), and you object to his wanting money for it?

In legal terms they are not being sold and they are not torrents and no were on the site do it say or other sites that the site is acting illegally.

No website is going to openly acknowledge it’s engaging in illegal activity! That’s asking to get sued and/or shut down!

I disagree with people saying it’s stealing as you are not taking a book from someone but copying it.

You’re taking the words of someone else who spent the time making and researching the material without giving them their due. The laborer is owed his wages. That’s stealing.

The internet functions as a library in many cases and these books are very hard to find no library beside college library’s have them so it seems that there access is being restricted.

A library has to buy the book and allows other people to borrow it for some time. Only one person has that book (in their name) at any given time. The internet can upload the book just once and create a near infinite number of copies due to people downloading it. That is not the same thing.