Q: I know buying pirated DVDs and such is not right as it is stealing, but many hong kong, china (etc.) movies are not available for sale (the real version) in Canada, and my parents are afraid to buy online for security reasons. What should I do?

A: Well, you kind of answered your own question. You know that one the one hand, buying pirated DVD's are stealing, but you can't get the real copies in Canada and your parents are hesitant of buying online.  So thus, you cannot get real copies and you don't want to steal...what should do - don't steal!

Yes, I understand that annoying you cant watch the DVD's, but sticking to your guns is apart of having integrity and holding onto your values.  Bottom line is that you know it's wrong, but there is still a temptation to do it...what are you going to do?

Buying online is quite safe nowadays as long as you buy from reputable sites.  I shop on eBay, Amazon and other Internet sites quite frequently and have never had a problem.  They are secure and convenient to use.  For example, Amazon.ca is a large company likely has some Hong Kong titles you may be interested in. 

Another option is to subscribe to a multicultural channel through your local cable company.  Rogers has a value pack that you may be interested in, you can find it HERE.  Another suggestion is to find a place that rents the DVD's.  You can usually find them at a local Chinese Mall, but just be careful for every 1 legit place, it seems like there are 7 illegal ones!  Or, you could always get friends/relatives that travel to HK often to pick you up some!

I do commend you for venturing to find other ways to satisfy a hobby without sacrificing your integrity.  I hope you find a solution to dilemma!

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: If it is considered illegal to buy pirated DVDs... then isn't buying them considered a sin? My Christian parents do that, and I feel uncomfortable because when more people buy these products, the more there is a need for the producers to create more illegal ''goods''.

A:  Buying pirated movies is perpetuating the industry and giving those who pirate movies or other forms of media a reason to continue what they are doing.  Hence, I would consider this a sin as it:
1.  is stealing
2.  being a stumbling block because it provides a reason for others to continue sinning

In terms of your Christian parents buying the DVDS, I'd suggest that you talk to them about it!  Many people simply have not thought about their actions in the way that you have and perhaps just having a discussion can open their eyes to something else.

I think that buying pirated DVD's is very prominent in our Chinese culture as many of the sources stem from China and the availability of them at malls such as First Markham Place or Pacific Mall.  It's cheaper than buying the real thing (which, who doesn't want to get "a deal"?) and therefore you can buy a lot! 

Pirating anything is illegal and sinful.  Fake LV handbags, software, clothing, DVDs...it all cost producers and manufacturers to create and make.  Thus, if we are getting them at a "discount", we are essentially stealing away their business, not to mention their creative ideas and R&D. 

For those reading about this for the first time, please go HERE to see a previously answered question.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is the downloading and viewing of Anime Series a sin?...

...Anime are Japanese-language cartoons, it is a very large cultural export of the nation, and is enjoyed by many Chinese-Canadians. Unlike North American ones, they are very professionally created within studios and enjoy very high viewership and fanbase. A common problem for English-speaking people is that Anime is in Japanese, dedicated groups translate Anime into the English language for all to enjoy. The question of ethics arises from the fact that while Anime Series do not have copyright protection outside of Japan, the more popular ones are 'licensed' to companies in North America such as Viz Media and Bandai for dubbing (i.e. voice overs), thereby gaining a 'license' to distribute the Japanese-copyrighted work.

The rationale for fan-subbing groups are that their work is purely voluntary (for free) and most of them (except for a few more audacious ones) drop projects once they are licensed for fear of possible legal implications (no one has yet bothered to send a cease-or-desist e-mail) and their desire is true to support the original authors and studios who created them in Japan (they are willing to post notifications to purge all traces of their hard work on their websites and IRC channels). Fansubs are however preferred, as it is universally accepted that they contain more accurate translations (passing through multiple rounds of quality checks) and do not adulter the original content, so to fit the English-translation into the animation. What they do is not too different than recording television shows onto V.C.R. tapes and then redistributing translations of them to another people of another country - free of charge, it is in my opinion very different than the downloading of movies, as Anime is never (or exceedingly rarely) released into D.V.D. format for sale. According to Wikipedia (which is contrary to popular belief very very reliable), the North American companies handling the translations are actually in support of these groups, and have never been in conflict with them. Would their actions, and our acceptance of them be considered sinful?

A.  I see where you see the gray area in this.  But first, I think that you could get a more black and white answer about downloading in a previous post that deals with downloading.  Click HERE.  This post deals with licensed music or movies that are available for purchase yet people are essentially stealing from the companies that own the rights.


Basically, it's like any other digital copy out there.  If a company owns the rights to the specific Anime series and also has the English subtitled version for it...and you go out and download an unofficial fansub of that series, than you are technically stealing from the company.  Those fansubbers have not received permission from the Japanese creators to translate and distribute those shows/movies.

On the other hand, if no such license exists, than there technically is nothing wrong with downloading the fan sub.  This then becomes a matter of the heart and your personal conviction.  The actual law says that it's okay, but the spirit of the law (Biblically, your conscience, your conviction), may say otherwise. This decision is for you to make with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In any case, if you like the series and appreciate the art of Anime or Manga, than you should support the creators by purchasing their products.

This answer was answered in consultation with Liane T., who is an Agape counselor.  In my correspondence with her, she brings forth this noteworthy challenge:  "Whether or not that it's sinful [downloading], I'll leave it up to you. I think God would find some of the content more offensive than the actual act of acquiring it."

[answered by Pastor KJT, with the help of LT who enjoys Japanese culture very much]

Q: What's the deal with downloading and should we be downloading as Christians?

Before reading on, please watch this video about piracy. Click HERE.


A: To answer honestly and bluntly...no, Christians (or anyone for that matter) should not be downloading. Let me explain to you why.

When I was about 11 years old, I was out with my mom and we went to a Bi-Way (which is like a discount store and no longer in business). In the store, I got hungry. So I took a Sesame Snap, went to the back of the store, opened it and started eating it (basically, I was stealing...and was fully aware of it). Well, my mom found me with my mouth full and in a furious rush, grabbed me, took me out of the store and proceeded to lecture me. In the midst of this lecture, she said one sentence that has stuck to me to this day and I apply it to my stance on downloading and pirating. She said, "if you cant afford it...than you cant have it".

1. Anything that you normally have to pay for and you are getting for free, means you are stealing it.
The fact that you just got that cd for free on the internet, when it should have cost you $15.99 at HMV, means that you are stealing it. The product costs money for the artist and the producers to make...and you just got it for free. This is stealing.
The proper order of sequence should be:
(a) you want cd, (b) you go to store (or iTunes), (c) you pay money, (d) you receive goods.
Instead, you went from (a) you want cd to (d) you receive goods. You've skipped the whole money transation part.
If you wanted a pair of jeans at American Eagle, the transaction is that you pay money to receive it. But if got the pair of jeans without having to pay for it (and it wasnt a gift), than you've stolen it. If you wanted to eat at a restaurant, and you leave without paying for it, than you've stolen it.
It's really as simple as that.

2. mainstream culture vs. righteousness
If you watched the video above, you would see that our mainstream culture says that it's okay to take from large corporations. In fact, it's almost encouraged. The justification is that no one gets hurt if we steal from companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Sony, etc. There are TONNE of people doing it and the general consensus is that it doesn't hurt anyone. Downloading is culturally acceptable...and what's more...those who are paying for their software or music are laughed at because "they could have gotten it for free".
Well, Biblical righteousness almost always goes against the wave of culture. As Christians, we are called to uphold the name of Christ, live a worthy testimony, to be holy as God is holy. I dont believe that stealing can be categorized as any of these. And furthermore, think about this: downloading is almost always for entertainment. It's not even a matter of putting food on the table.
Like my mom says, "if you cant afford it, than you cant have it."

3. downloading = stealing = sin
There are no excuses and no justifications around it. You just cant spin this in your favour. God was quite clear when He gave out those 10 Commandments - thou shall not steal. A sin is a sin, and unrighteousness is unrighteousness.


I'm not tooting my own horn here...but I dont download (toot toot) and have figured out some ways around it. It's called Open Source.

I use Open Office instead of MS Office (click HERE to download)
I use Picasa instead of Photoshop (click HERE to download)
[GIMP is another good one, click HERE to download)
I go to websites like CTV, CBC, or MuchMusic to watch shows if I missed them
I get my music from iTunes. I sample the songs that I want, and only pay for the tracks that sound good. If you want to upgrade to the whole album, you can later on. There are also weekly .99 cent movie rentals. What a steal! (no pun intended. haha.)

There are a TONNE of practical solutions to getting around this downloading thing. Bottom line is that we have to be firm in what we believe in, and not allow the temptations of this world to dictate what we can or cannot do. That line ultimately, is to be drawn by God and Biblical truth.



[answered by Pastor KJT]