Blog 365 – 08.04.2016

From time to time there is a big news story about someone using someone else words without giving them credit or getting their permission. I’d like to look at this from a different angle. Is it really a crime or is it the highest form of praise?

I grew up in a Fundamentalist Christian tradition that believed and taught that the Bible is God’s Holy Word in whole and in part without error. Be that as it may or may not be, much of the Bible is plagiarized from older sources. Several ancient societies far older that the Bible have creation and flood stories too close to the Bible version to be coincidental. Much of Jesus teachings seem to be influence greatly if not copied from the Essenes of his day. In a couple of places other books are actually mentioned. But some of these referenced books did not make the cut – the canon. I have hard time believing that any book that was voted on by men could be the Holy Word of God any more than any other book on The New York Times Best Seller List.

When the books of the Bible were written books were attributed to someone famous to get someone to read them much as great authors today like James Patterson and J. K. Rowling add their names to books written in their style to give new authors credibility to readers.

Many not so well known authors, like myself, are tempted to be afraid someone might steal their works. Some believe that many of William Shakespeare’s works were “borrowed.” But real authors are more afraid of not being read than having their words borrowed. Borrow anything you like. And thanks for the compliment.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White