Sweden Acknowledges "Kopimism" as Official Religion

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In summary: This is satire, obviously.In summary, the Church of Kopimism was registered by the Swedish governmental agency Kammarkollegiet, which - among other things - manages the purse strings on behalf of organizations linked to the state or the Church of Sweden. Advocates of the religion say that "kopyacting" - sharing information through copying - is akin to a religious service, and that the organization hopes to one day be able to live out their faith without fear of persecution. I don't see it as any more weird than beliefs that the US already classifies as religion (and some of them are even held by people who are running for president). It's just "differently w
  • #1
Gokul43201
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Sweden has acknowledged that online file-sharing can be deemed a religion, after campaigners fought to get their cause recognised for more than a year.

The Church of Kopimism was apparently registered by the Swedish governmental agency Kammarkollegiet, which - among other things - manages the purse strings on behalf of organisations linked to the state or the Church of Sweden.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/05/file_sharing_sweden_kopimism_religion/

The Church of Kopimism claims that "kopyacting" - sharing information through copying - is akin to a religious service.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16424659

I'm not a big fan of this religion, though perhaps for somewhat different reasons than why I'm not a big fan of most religions. But now that kopyacting is considered a religion, would the forum rules prohibit members from making value judgments on copyright violations? :bugeye:

I can't imagine anything even remotely close to this (the enchurchment of kopimism) being possible in the US in the near future. I think it takes a much more socialist leaning electorate to exert the pressure necessary for such an action.
 
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  • #2
Wow, Gokul! Just Wow!

There is a local church here that puts on seminars in fishing, ice-fishing, hunting, trapping, handgun safety... Anything you can think of relating to outdoor sports, but still they are fundamentalist Christians in their beliefs. It's kind of funny. You drive by the place and you never know if the sign out front is going to be featuring a bible verse, a clever saying, or a notice of some sport-related seminar. A few weeks back, the sign invited drivers to stop in and talk to Jesus, or alternatively, text while driving to meet him in person.
 
  • #3
I assume that the word "kopimism" and the word "kleptomania" have the same root.
 
  • #4
How does Sweden define religion?
 
  • #5
turbo said:
A few weeks back, the sign invited drivers to stop in and talk to Jesus, or alternatively, text while driving to meet him in person.
Off to the volcano with you.
 
  • #6
Jimmy Snyder said:
Off to the volcano with you.
I'll have to put you in touch with pastor, and you can pitch him in. I didn't come up with that one.
 
  • #7
phinds said:
I assume that the word "kopimism" and the word "kleptomania" have the same root.

kopimi is to be pronounce "copy-me"
 
  • #8
Evo said:
How does Sweden define religion?

Any organization where the aim is to have a religious community and there is some form of religious service. The latter can for example be any form of praying of mediation

There are a few additional rules (there needs to be a board of directors etc) but that is about it. There is also a SEK 500 annual fee.

(I looked up the rules on Kammerkollegiets website, Kammarkollegiet is a Swedish government agency which deals with things like this).
 
  • #9
Short Swedish lesson:
to copy = att kopiera
a copy = en kopia​

Gokul43201 said:
I can't imagine anything even remotely close to this (the enchurchment of kopimism) being possible in the US in the near future. I think it takes a much more socialist leaning electorate to exert the pressure necessary for such an action.
In the USA, religious organizations get special favors from the government. In particular, they don't have to pay taxes. In Sweden, they pay a small fee of about USD 70 a year to stay registered, and don't get any special treatment. They can apply for financial support, but I doubt this one would get any. About USD 7 million was paid to religious organizations last year.
 
  • #10
Gokul43201 said:
I can't imagine anything even remotely close to this (the enchurchment of kopimism) being possible in the US in the near future.

I don't see it as any more weird than beliefs that the US already classifies as religion (and some of them are even held by people who are running for president). It's just "differently wierd".
 
  • #11
What planet am I on?
 
  • #12
Now if anyone attempts to punish them for sharing copyrighted material they can claim persecution instead of prosecution.
 
  • #13
So, basically any group of people that wish to break the law in Sweden can just pretend it's a religion? I can see the Church of Sacred Embezelling, the Church of Stock Fraud...
 
  • #14
Am I the only one who think it's obvious that this is an attempt at religious satire?
 
  • #15
"For the Church of Kopimism, information is holy and copying is a sacrament. Information holds a value, in itself and in what it contains and the value multiplies through copying. Therefore copying is central for the organisation and its members," he said in a statement.

"Being recognised by the state of Sweden is a large step for all of Kopimi. Hopefully this is one step towards the day when we can live out our faith without fear of persecution," he added.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16424659

What train of thinking could induce anyone hearing this argument to accept it as sincere? I don't think there is one. I suspect the people who approved the "religion" were simply at a loss as to how to demonstrate it isn't sincere.
 
  • #16
disregardthat said:
Am I the only one who think it's obvious that this is an attempt at religious satire?
That crossed my mind, but I think they're actually just exploiting an achilles heal to be able to copy whatever they want.
 
  • #17
zoobyshoe said:
That crossed my mind, but I think they're actually just exploiting an achilles heal to be able to copy whatever they want.
What makes you think they'll be able to do that?
 
  • #18
I don't think being a member of the Church of Kopimism makes them immune to the Swedish law.

Whatever the intentions, I find it funny. Most likely it should be put in one drawer with pastafarianism.
 
  • #19
Fredrik said:
What makes you think they'll be able to do that?
Maybe I misunderstood. I thought the idea was to be able to share files that were actually not legally supposed to be shared.
 
  • #20
Fredrik said:
What makes you think they'll be able to do that?
They are a pro-piracy group. This is from the first article with a link to their website.

According to a statement from the Kopimists themselves, the pro-piracy outfit's church was recognised as a religious org "just before Christmas".
 
  • #21
Evo said:
They are a pro-piracy group. This is from the first article with a link to their website.
Yeah, the implication I got was that sharing of pirated files would be protected under freedom of religion.
 
  • #22
Evo said:
So, basically any group of people that wish to break the law in Sweden can just pretend it's a religion? I can see the Church of Sacred Embezelling, the Church of Stock Fraud...[/QUOTE

The fact that they've been recognized as a religion is just a formality, it doesn't give them any specific legal rights; and it certainly does not give them the right to break the law. The law is the same for all, regardless of religion.
 
  • #23
zoobyshoe said:
Yeah, the implication I got was that sharing of pirated files would be protected under freedom of religion.

It wouldn't.
Note that there are plenty of "real" religious practices that are illegal is Sweden (which ARE legal in some other countries because of freedom of religion), a typical example would be the traditional method of slaughter used for Halal meat.

As far as I can tell this is just essentially a prank. I had a look at the websites of a few Swedish newspapers, and none of them even mention it. This seems like another minor things that thanks to the internet has received far more attention than it is worth.
 
  • #24
f95toli said:
The fact that they've been recognized as a religion is just a formality, it doesn't give them any specific legal rights; and it certainly does not give them the right to break the law. The law is the same for all, regardless of religion.
Here in the US you can do things under 'freedom of religion' you couldn't otherwise do. Things that come to mind are sacrificing animals as part of a religious service, and dancing around holding venomous snakes. People have been exempt from charges of child abuse by the claim the abusive activity was part of an excorcism:

Details noted, "As many of these 'exorcism' abuses are inflicted upon children, some have demanded that the government intervene. But child welfare agencies and prosecutors have cited freedom of religion protections and have done nothing." As of now, there appear to be no legal cases in the United States challenging gay exorcism.

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/gay_exorcisms_religious_exercise_or_child_abuse/

I think that's the kind of immunity this group is shooting for. Otherwise, it's pretty pointless for a satirical pseudo-religion to be connected specifically to file sharing.
 
  • #25
f95toli said:
It wouldn't.
Note that there are plenty of "real" religious practices that are illegal is Sweden (which ARE legal in some other countries because of freedom of religion), a typical example would be the traditional method of slaughter used for Halal meat.

As far as I can tell this is just essentially a prank. I had a look at the websites of a few Swedish newspapers, and none of them even mention it. This seems like another minor things that thanks to the internet has received far more attention than it is worth.
You kind of pre-addressed my post while I was composing it.
 
  • #26
I think in UK it is whether a given number of people who attest to being part of a religion reach some critical value. However, I think the authorities pay no heed to that, making the whole matter of religion 'subjective' [and who'd have imagined that! :rolleyes:].

In the 2001 UK census which included a voluntary 'Religion' entry, 400,000 people put down 'Jedi'. Yet we still get examples of anti-Jedi-ism. Shocking! :redface: :

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/740264-jedi-leader-banned-by-tesco
 
  • #27
f95toli said:
It wouldn't.
Note that there are plenty of "real" religious practices that are illegal is Sweden (which ARE legal in some other countries because of freedom of religion), a typical example would be the traditional method of slaughter used for Halal meat.

As far as I can tell this is just essentially a prank. I had a look at the websites of a few Swedish newspapers, and none of them even mention it. This seems like another minor things that thanks to the internet has received far more attention than it is worth.
So religion doesn't receive protected status there. Thanks, that changes things.
 
  • #28
f95toli said:
I had a look at the websites of a few Swedish newspapers, and none of them even mention it.
The first place I heard about this was dn.se. It's still on the main page, but you have to scroll about half way to the bottom. This is the article (in Swedish).
 

1. What is "Kopimism"?

"Kopimism" is a belief system that celebrates the value of copying and sharing information. It is based on the principle that all information should be freely available and accessible to everyone.

2. How did Sweden acknowledge "Kopimism" as an official religion?

In January 2012, the Swedish government officially recognized "Kopimism" as a religion, granting it the same legal status as other faiths in the country. This decision was made after the Kopimist Church applied for recognition and fulfilled the criteria set by the Swedish government.

3. What are the beliefs and practices of "Kopimism"?

Followers of "Kopimism" believe that copying and sharing information is a sacred act and should be practiced as a form of worship. They also reject the idea of intellectual property and copyright laws, instead promoting the free flow of information and knowledge.

4. Are there any conflicts between "Kopimism" and other religions?

There have been no reported conflicts between "Kopimism" and other religions. In fact, the Kopimist Church welcomes people of all faiths and beliefs to join their community.

5. How many followers does "Kopimism" have?

The exact number of followers of "Kopimism" is unknown, but it is estimated to have a few thousand members worldwide. The majority of its followers are located in Sweden, where the religion originated.

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