Posting A Text From the Bible - Is This Plagiarising Or A Pious Act?
By M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
Germany
January 7, 2016 10:41am CST
The fact that I'm not a religious person doesn't mean that I don't know the Bible. I feel everyone living in the part of the world where Christianity is the dominant religion should because it's the basis of our culture and traditions. How frustrating it is to look at Gothic or Renaissance paintings without having the foggiest idea what they depict! But that is not my topic here.
I've found posts which consisted solely of texts from the Bible. Why did I read them at all? In general I avoid religious posts. I hate being preached at. I haven't come to online sites to learn how to lead a holy life agreeable to the Christian God. (up to now I haven't come across missionaries advocating a different religion). Well, as is so often the case, the title didn't reveal what was following. With the help of google I found out that it was taken from Genesis 1:26 - 28. No personal word added. No interpretation given, no reason why the member chose it. I left this comment, "Is that supposed to be a post? If I want to read the Bible, I'll take it and do that."
This is plagiarism in its purest form. Nothing could be more obvious - or so I thought until a member descended on me with this comment. "He is allowed to post what he wants to. If you do not want to read it, that is fine. But this is a forum where we can post what interest us. By the way there are a lot of people here who enjoy scripture posts. Not nice."
Of course, I had to respond. "...Since when are we allowed to post a text from a book without a single word of our own? The fact that the book in question is the Bible should be of no importance. Either it's a rule or it isn't. I haven't said anything against the content but against the form. If the member had given an interpretation or a reason why they had chosen this, things would be different."
This conversation took place on a different site. But I've seen the same kind of text here. Because of this I'd really like to know myLotters and admin think about this topic. Is breaking the rules allowed as long as the post is dressed in a religious coat so-to-speak? You mention God or Jesus and plagiarise away?
21 people like this
17 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 16
Posting any quotation on its own and without any original comment added by the author is considered a violation. In the case of text where there is no intent to deceive others into thinking that it is 'original work', the question of plagiarism doesn't arise.
4 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 16
@MALUSE No, it's not OK to post a discussion which is only quotations from the Bible. It must be accompanied by a significant amount of original comment.
A 'discussion' which involved no more than "[Quotation]". What do you think of this?" would almost certainly be removed.
My point is that it is incorrect to call it plagiarism.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
7 Jan 16
Is it plagiarism if they aren't claiming it as their own? If they are then it is plagiarism regardless of copyright. If they aren't then it still isn't original content, which violates the rules of this site, and I would strongly hope that the admin here would remove such a post once it was reported.
I have seen a number of bible text posts on here but, to be fair, they are normally accompanied by some words relating to what that text means to the person or how they interpret it, which is fair enough.
To some extent there can be a fear of being labelled as some sort of rabid, anti-theist which may stop people reporting pure biblical plagiarism but I would hope that the admin are above all that!!
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 16
The definition of plagiarism involves the intent to deceive by passing off someone else's words (whether copyright or not) as one's own. Usually, quotations from the Bible don't involve any such attempt, so they are not plagiarism. Just a quotation is, nevertheless, against the Guidelines here, so should be reported and removed.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159474)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Jan 16
I think that many times people in their zealous attempt at solving an argument or just excited about something they found in the Bible, they have plagiarized a portion of it. But, did they put quotes around it or forget to do so? It is plagiarism. If it is explained as such then I would think it would be alright. It depends on whether the writer says the quote is from Bible.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12926)
• Nairobi, Kenya
7 Jan 16
I think posting a Bible quote and nothing more is added is a bite questionable but i love the style of this lady who post Daily Bible study
@Missmwngi (12926)
• Nairobi, Kenya
7 Jan 16
@MALUSE I love the way she explains the verses she quotes
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I think the reason people think it is okay to quote the bible and other religious text is because it in the public domain, meaning there is no copyright (not exactly). BUT it IS still plagiarism.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jan 16
Copyright in the Bible resides in the translation. Some versions (such as the KJV) are out of copyright, others are still in copyright but usually free to use, provided that an appropriate copyright attribution is made. If there is no intention of passing off the words as one's own (which there would not usually be, especially if the chapter and verse reference were quoted), then it is not plagiarism.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459148)
• Switzerland
8 Jan 16
No matter what you post that is copied from a book (no matter which book, from the Bible to the "Divina Commedia") without original text is a violation. I do not see how citing the Bible could be seen as an "original work", not to mention that I hate to be preached. I would report a post with only Bible quotations and no original content.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
8 Jan 16
It is plagiarism as far as I am concerned. They should be reported.
@Tampa_girl7 (49130)
• United States
8 Jan 16
To only post a Bible verse or scripture does not seem right. It should be incorporated into a discussion.
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
8 Jan 16
I have a friend that posts a bible verse and then gives her response and a little prayer every day - i love reading her posts and never feel that her quotation of the BIBLE VERSE is plagiarized - its spreading the Good NEWS - However I would like to ask - Is the Bible Plagiarized by quoting it? I suppose only if you call the writings your own.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
12 Jan 16
I certainly see your point and I agree. I think any post should contain more than a quote, no matter what is quoted. The idea of writing here should be to share your personal thoughts and ideas concerning anything that you wish to quote, whether it comes from the Bible or any other source.
@TheHorse (206469)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Jan 16
It's certainly plagiarism if they don't say where the text comes from. If it's quoted, but there's no further text, then I'd assume it's still a violation of another sort, as there's no thought from the writer. All they really need is a few sentences commenting on why they like this Bible quotation to make it OK with me personally.
@ThankyouLord (698)
• St. Petersburg, Florida
7 Jan 16
I think that any time we rely on another work to fill our pages, it is laziness at best and plagiarism at worst. We can do a Bible study without doing that.
@antonbunot (11092)
• Calgary, Alberta
7 Jan 16
I never write any thing from the Bible. In fact I don't even read the Bible these days. I pray. My wife and I attend holy mass every Sunday. That's it. But there are people who talk all the time about what the Bible says. . . Often times people come knocking on our door holding a bible. One day, I let them in and told them that I studied in a Catholic seminary for 8 years. Just a couple of years more I would have been ordained a priest. I think I don't need anyone to lecture me about what the Bible says. I told them I know the 10 commandments and I follow them. I attend mass every Sunday. And above all I love my family. I am a catholic . . and will remain a catholic till the end. They never came back!
