Sweden Formally Recognizes Piracy as Religion

[3AM]

I agree with you. Not about Swedish law - I'm ignorant of those though I always thought of Sweden as a more progressive country than the US - but about using religion for political ends. It pisses me off and scares me.

So if a law currently being proposed runs contrary to your religious beliefs, you can't attempt to justify those beliefs using your religion, despite it ostensibly being the basis of your moral compass?

Considering that religions often feature a heavy dose of "do this, don't do that", it's natural that they'd come into conflict with the law of a land that takes a different view. The strongly religious are often so deeply influenced by the tenets of their faith (or more likely, their own personal interpretation of the tenets of their faith) that they can't not use religion in a political fashion, because it's the basis of their political opinions. I'm not saying I like it, but I do understand that for many people their political views are directly descended from their religious beliefs; anti-abortionists, anti-gay marriage campaigners and so on.

How can they avoid using their religion in a political fashion when their politics are religious? It's a bad thing that people do it, but it's also an unavoidable thing.

You raise a valid point and one that's at the root of most political/religious conflicts, don't you think? I don't know how to fix it except with how I live and with my vote - the old 'think globally act locally' axiom. I'm a strong proponent of the separation of church and state and I cringe when I see religion creeping into my government.

 

[Neonit]

one thing about laws - they make no sense. and im pretty sure its just so they can "protect their religion" in court, should someone try to take their "freedom of religion"

still, it looks like they are trying to troll other nations. nope, im not going to name them....

 

[Biodeamon]

at least they aren't unitoligists.

praise altaman

 

[orangeban]

Eh, so what if they're a religion, piracy is still illegal. You can believe whatever you want, but you can't do whatever you want.

 

[Varya]

I like this. The Swedish Humanist Blog has been following this issue for the last year and the significance of it has to do with why believing in zombie Jesus could grant you a government funding, but believing in the importance of spreading information couldn't.
Hopefully, this is a step in the direction to stop governmnets funding supersticions

 

[Varya]

Eh, so what if they're a religion, piracy is still illegal. You can believe whatever you want, but you can't do whatever you want.

The thing is, as a religion, they can get stae funding, so while the state is against piracy, they must still suport it. The importance of this is lampshading how ridiculous it is that the state funds religions that have values that directly opose the values of the state.

 

[GoddyofAus]

What I find funniest is the people that are Christians or otherwise thinking THIS is ridiculous. How is this any less ridiculous then any mainstream religion?

 

[Varya]

I agree with you. Not about Swedish law - I'm ignorant of those though I always thought of Sweden as a more progressive country than the US - but about using religion for political ends. It pisses me off and scares me.

The thing is, why should religion be treated as better than views based on, say politics or just your own sence of morality? Today, this is how the law looks. You can get state funding for your hate agains the gays aslong as it's not based on reason but the imperical word of God. This is, in my oppinion, f**ed up, and this is a good lampshade on how messed up laws like this really is. I don't think the founders had humanitarian ideals as their goal, but that is why I think this is brilliant.

 

[The_Echo]

Kopimism is not any more about piracy than bit-torrenting is. Its a philosophical standpoint that happens to coincide with some piracy. Their thoughts about information are interesting to say the least, but they are not pirates.

Quite. And in that regard, I totally support the decision to recognize Kopimism as a real religion.

After doing a little searching to read a little more about their actual belief, it seems just about as legitimate as any other religious philosophy.

 

[LilithSlave]

Kind of reminds me of the 'internet as a group consciousness' idea.

Basically the opposite of what those "internet is serious business" jokes are about. The idea that internet ideas are starting to become a big part of the culture of each individual country and the world at large. And that things said on the internet can be important and influential as anywhere. That the influence of the internet is far reaching and powerful. And that the internet is an important influence on our own minds, almost to the point the internet becomes much like a group consciousness of interconnected minds. To the point the individual almost becomes absorbed into the opinion of the internet as a force.

Which is kind of true, actually. We may not be able to upload our brains to the internet yet. But we share information, things we create, things we believe, on a constant basis En Masse. Millions and millions of people do this, input personal information, feelings, primary motivations and desires in life out onto the internet in some form or fashion.

In many ways, it could be like a religion. What I do on the internet, if I am not able to live to see hardcore life extension, is the only thing that will exist permanently after I die.

 

[Chutnik]

aha, I bet that this is the first step towards getting a clergy or priesthood. that could mean that you could get/take a Vow of Silence or whatever its called in English.(that thing that gives you legal protection about confidentiality when you take a confession.)

meaning that you could protect information sent from seeder to priest or viceverse
if this flies, then its genius!

 

[orangeban]

Eh, so what if they're a religion, piracy is still illegal. You can believe whatever you want, but you can't do whatever you want.

The thing is, as a religion, they can get stae funding, so while the state is against piracy, they must still suport it. The importance of this is lampshading how ridiculous it is that the state funds religions that have values that directly opose the values of the state.

Can they? I don't actually know how Swedish law works, so I couldn't say. But from your post you say that the state *can* give them funding, so I imply that the state doesn't have to. Since the Swedish government has battled with these guys for a long time, I'd guess that they don't plan to fund them.

 

[ShaneGunWolf]

Good God. What the hell is this world coming to?

 

[newdarkcloud]

There are times where I legitimately have no idea whether or not real life is trolling.

This is one of those times.

 

[Helloo]

And I presume this song is their Holy Gospel; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBoOLR7WoN8

I can't tell if they did it because they were bored one Friday afternoon and thought "Why the hell not" or because they wanted to prove a point against religion in general, but it's a massive PHAIL for the Swedish government.

Political correctness where anyone and anything is welcomed and accepted gone too far.

Why is there such a fail for swedish government for not discriminating against a religion?

Because it's not a religion?! I don't care who or what or when or why or how categorises this as a religion, it's not a bloody religion.

My god. Don't tell me they've fooled you too as well as the good people of Sweden.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

They are not an offshoot of Swedens pirate party.

"Kopimistsamfundet delar postadress med Piratpartiets ungdomsförbund men i övrigt finns det inga kopplingar mellan de olika organisationerna."

Lemme translate that for you because Google couldn't.

"Kopimistsamfundet shares postal address with the Piracy Party's youth association, but overall there is no connection between these organizations."

Just as I was getting proud of the Swedes pushing the limits of artillery with the Howitzer ARCHER, I find this. I'm sorely ashamed of my neighbors and anyone else in the country who have to put up with this paper-thin excuse for Christianity. I suppose it's a multi-theistic religion where every hacker who ever broke the FBI's firewalls are Gods?

 

[RJ Dalton]

Bah, next thing you know they'll be founding a "church" based on whatever fiction some strung-out pulp SF author couldn't get his editor to accept.

Oh, wait . . .

On topic: I wanted to find a video of a spit take for this, but all of the videos I could find and long, uninteresting lead ins.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Maybe there is something to all this 2012 nonsense after all. ¬_¬