Vatican magazine says hackers do God’s work

[Judi Lynn]

Source: MSNBC

Vatican magazine says hackers do God’s work
Their 'joyful application of intelligence to problem solving' is cited
By Matt Liebowitz
SecurityNewsDaily
updated 2 hours 7 minutes ago 2011-04-06T20:26:11

Computer hackers embody classic Christian virtues, a Vatican publication says, and shouldn’t be perceived negatively.

In their passionate commitment to creating, and their openness to sharing ideas, hackers see their online exploits as “a form of participation in the ‘work’ of God in creation,” Jesuit priest Father Antonio Spadaro wrote in the Vatican magazine Civilta Cattolica, Network World reported.

Citing the “joyful application of intelligence to problem solving” they demonstrate, and their ingrained rejection of competition, profit and authority, Spadaro said hackers are aligned with the teachings of Christianity.

“Under fire are control, competition, property,” Spadaro said. It’s a mindset, he said, that has “a clear theological origin.” (However, citing technology writer Eric S. Raymond, Spadaro said hackers shouldn’t be confused with “crackers”— the former builds things and the latter breaks them, Raymond wrote.)



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42459193/ns/technology_and_science-security/

[virgogal]

1. What's Father S. been smoking?

[Sivafae]

40. That's Father SS to you!

[freshwest]

2. Gotta go that link and see if he likes Wikileaks,too.

[zbdent]

10. not if the Vatican's e-mails are hacked ...

"This e-mail from Father Joseph of Wisconsin, formerly Father Frederick of Maryland, formerly Father Phillip of Atlanta ...

hot young boys !"

[freshwest]

14. Lot of name changes, LOL. Did you see the Wikileak on the Vatican/Goldman Sachs relationship?

[rpannier]

19. Maybe he's doing the hacking

Post #12 by Random Guy gives the truth behind the Father

[Angry Dragon]

3. Strange article

[JuniperLea]

4. That's just weird...

I wonder how many other lawbreakers the Vatican would embrace?

[DeSwiss]

7. Jesus? n/t

[JuniperLea]

28. What law(s) did he break?

Except for that one public display of violence whilst tossing the moneychangers out of the temple, I can't think of any law he broke.

[nalnn]

30. Several in fact

Sanhedrin trial of Jesus

[PatrynXX]

17. Guess it's better than embracing Hitler

seriously I have a book on that. hard read. bleach white paper

[Plucketeer]

5. AWRIGHT!

This has GOTTA be a sign from God! :rofl:

[rpannier]

6. In 6 months we find out that Father Spadaro is part of Anonymous

I would laugh and applaud

[freshwest]

8. I think I'll laugh right now and...

:applause:

[Random Guy]

12. now we know...

Father Antonio Spadaro... Jesuit priest by day, anarchist cyber revolutionary by night.

[freshwest]

16. You violated the spirit of the confessional there. Now you...

Pick the penance of your choice. Welcome to DU.

[Random Guy]

21. ty

The welcome isn't necessary. I was a semi-regular poster a couple of years back before moving on to other forums. Sadly, I forgot my password so had to make up a new id.

[MadLinguist]

24. who were you? that blue paper clip avatar had a certain currency

back in 2004-2005, so it surprised me to see it with a newcomer. you recall the context of the blue clip back then?

[rpannier]

18. It would be a great cover

No one would expect

[freshwest]

22. And Guy Fawkes in his dreams.

[4saken]

9. Trying to co-opt hackers?...

“joyful application of intelligence to problem solving”
Christianity has only shows an inability to enter an open forum regarding its premises and thus apply intelligence to it. In fact the claims are so absurd that we have "apologists" who spend their lives trying to spin them into something people can choke down.

"they demonstrate, and their ingrained rejection of competition, profit and authority"
It's not a positive trait to not address the competition, that's known as copping out. No need to have a stable position based on reasoning, just reject opposing ideas...

Non profit? Is that some kind of ironic joke?

And authority? Isn't it the point of Christianity to submit to the authority of the God character and the Bible? And inform your actions based on an understanding of good and bad that derives from it(God's nature, sin), rather than the results of your actions.

[freshwest]

15. Or make this the Borg homeworld? Can't get 'em one way, get 'em another.

I am Dyslexic of Borg. Fusistance is retile. Your ass will be laminated.

[Random Guy]

11. um...

:wow: :wtf: :wow:

[Taverner]

Ahhh Jesuits...

shoulda guessed

[Recursion]

13. He's using ESR's definition of "hacker"

Which means "person skilled at programming and/or networking computers", not "person who gains unauthorized access to systems."

[4saken]

20. Programmers tend to have an "ingrained rejection of competition, profit and authority"?? n/t

[Recursion]

25. Good ones, yes

As distinguished from code monkeys, who do not. See http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/story-of-mel.html

See also some of the best programmers in the world, who spend time volunteering to offer you the best software in the world for free.

[4saken]

31. Non-profit isn't a standard for programmers... and neither are the other attributes described.

You really can't expect programmers to do their work for free. Yes there are non-profit programmers, but it is far from expected by the word "programmer". People spend lots of time learning those skills, why would anyone feel justified in expecting them to be free? Spadaro's description demonstrated quite well that he is using a standard definition of "hacker". "Programmer" does not suggest any stance on authority, profit, or really any philosophical stance for that matter. While the term "hacker" typically does.

[Recursion]

32. Read ESR on it

Spadaro is basically quoting him in parts.

http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/H/hacker.html

[4saken]

33. I see nothing at that link to suggest that.

That link shows you some various definitions, however there is not one there that encompasses Spadaro's description.

Spadaro is just doing a little self serving equivocation. On one hand he is drawing from a concept of hacker's ethics and mentalities for asserting inferences to his faith, and on the other hand trying to draw positive connotations from separate definitions of the word. A hacker's general mentality regarding authority, profit, and competition would not be accurately attributable to highly skilled programmers. And doing so here would just be more self serving equivocation.

[dimbear]

34. Spadaro responds:

http://www.gesuitinews.it/2011/03/26/roma-sugli-hacker-la-querelle-spadaro-e-possati/

In brief, his attackers misunderstand or purposely mislead.

You have to admit, the word hacker isn't well defined and probably means different things in different countries.

[and-justice-for-all]

23. would he just stop talking....nt

[Wednesdays]

26. I didn't think Jesus was into computers, but then I remembered

...the time when Jesus and the Devil were having an ongoing debate about who managed to get the most use out of his computer. This had been going on for days, and God finally had enough of it. So He set up a test: whoever could be the most productive after two hours on the computer would be the winner.
So down they sat at the keyboards and began typing. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They sent faxes. They sent out e-mail. They sent out e-mail with attachments. They downloaded. They uploaded. They made cards. They did every known job and several unknowns.
But just a few minutes before the two hours were up, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the rains came down hard. Of course, the electricity went off.
The Devil was furious. When the electricity came back on he screamed, "I lost it all when the power went off! What am I going to do?"
Jesus, however, just sat and smiled. He turned his computer back on. The screen glowed, and when he pushed "Print", all his files were still there, printing out.
"How did you do it?" The Devil asked.
"Jesus saves."

[freshwest]

37. Priceless. Droll. but still priceless. Thanks, needed a laugh today.

[Javaman]

27. This just in: Satan complains of "Denial of Service" hack!

:rofl:

[meow2u3]

39. Priceless!

:rofl:

[Matariki]

29. Wow. THAT is interesting. n/t

[unkachuck]

35. "...their ingrained rejection of competition, profit and authority,..."

....Father Spadaro, you're a man after my own heart....keep up the good work and may God bless....

[RedCloud]

36. Is God too busy to do God's work?

[freshwest]

38. Goes with the saying: "I am the Creator, not the Repairman!"