I read a book this past week (I’m not going to say which one) where the author (Author A) clearly, consistently, and blatantly plagiarized the ideas of another author (Author B) without giving due credit. I guess it wasn’t “blatant.” It was only obvious to me because I have read most of the books by Author B and was shocked to see so many of his ideas and insights being written about as if they belonged to Author A.
While over the course of 50 pages or so, Author A did included two footnotes to the works of Author B, I didn’t feel that this was nearly enough.
When nearly 90% of your ideas are coming from someone else, I think more than 2 footnotes are required.
Ok… so it wasn’t exactly full-scale plagiarism. At least Author A reworded and summarized the ideas which are found in the books of Author B, but again, I feel that if most of an author’s ideas and content are being pulled from the ideas of authors in other books, it is only right and fair to give them more credit than two footnotes.
Part of the reason I am saying this is because it caused me to wonder about the origin of the rest of his book. If I was aware that the vast majority of his ideas in 50 pages of the book were simply the summaries of ideas from some other author, it made me wonder about the other 150 pages in his book. Where did those come from? Were they also “lifted” from others who didn’t get proper credit?
And now we get to the real point of this post …
… and this is going to sound quite arrogant … (Sorry about that) …
… There were two chapters of this man’s book which sounded shocking similar to several of the blog posts I wrote last year. As I was reading these chapters, the thought flow, argument structure, and illustrations were almost identical to what I had written on this blog in 2013. His book came out a couple months ago.
Needless to say, I didn’t get a single footnote in the book.
Can I be certain he read my posts and “borrowed” them for his book?
No. I cannot.
I know for a fact that I was reading a lot of books at the time I was writing those posts in question which led me to the beliefs and ideas I wrote about on my blog. Maybe this other author was reading the same books and coming up with the same ideas. That’s possible.
Maybe the Holy Spirit is at work around the world to bring multiple authors and pastors and theologians to similar ideas about similar things all at once, and so when I read something in someone else’s book that sounds a lot like something I have written, but they don’t give me credit, it is not that they “borrowed” from me, but because both of us were listening to what the Spirit has been whispering to minds all over the world. The Spirit blows where He wills….
All this sounds arrogant, right?
I’m either saying,”He stole his ideas from me!” or “Both of us are so spiritual, we have gained the same truth from the Holy Spirit!”
I wasn’t going to write anything about this, but then I decided to do a bit of Google research on this author, and I discovered that very early this year, he did in fact briefly mention my posts on one of his social media accounts. So this tells me he was reading my posts …
So OK … reading is still not the same as plagiarizing, and even though his book came out a couple months ago and he apparently read my posts about 10 months ago, this still doesn’t mean he “borrowed” my content for his book. I mean … for all I know, he submitted his manuscript to the publisher before he ever even read my posts …
I’m guess I’m not really upset. I suppose if I had some influence on him, I am thrilled that those ideas are having a wider impact on the world through what he wrote, and hopefully in his church as he preaches on Sundays. I am just saying that if he did in fact rely on my posts for the content of these two chapters in his book, some footnotes would have been nice …
Look, I will fully admit it: As a theologian, I also am a thief.
There are very few ideas bumping around in my head which did not originate in some form or another with other theologians and authors. Even the ideas which I think are original with me owe a large debt to the foundational ideas and writings of other authors and teachers.
In other words, even if I come up with “Idea D” it is only because I learned Ideas A, B, and C from someone else. I could be wrong, but I think this is true of every theologian. This is why I say that all theologians are thieves.
But that’s okay. It’s expected and desired. It’s wanted, even.
Theology is nothing if not the interplay of ideas and minds over some of the biggest questions about God in our day. Of course, the right thing to do when you steal an idea is to give credit to the people who taught it to you. It’s impossible to do this completely, but that is no excuse for not trying.
I honestly and truly try my absolute hardest to always reference and footnote and give credit to other authors, thinkers, writers, bloggers, and theologians when I know that what I am writing originated with them. It is not uncommon for me to spend hours trying to track down sources for where my ideas came from. I have re-read books, re-listened to podcasts, and spent hours scouring the internet, all in the attempt to remember where I read or heard something.
I am not going to call this author out. I don’t really care too much (Although maybe this post says I care more than I think? Ha!)
I honestly try to live by the principle that Harry Truman once said: “It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit.”
I am glad that if people find my posts and books helpful, that they turn around and teach the ideas they contain to others.
However, I am always delighted and encouraged when a blogger mentions my ideas in a post or an author includes a footnote to one of my books. I try to my best to do this for others, as I hope you all do as well.
Are you and author, blogger, or writer?
Please, do your best to reference and footnote those to whom you owe a debt of ideas.
You will always miss a few (I know I do), but if you develop this discipline early, it will serve you well throughout your writing life. (In case you are curious, one invaluable tool I use to help me with this is Endnote Software. What a time saver in my writing!)
Has this sort of thing ever happened to you? It happens more often than we think… If you have a story to tell, share it in the comment section below! (Try to refrain from naming names though!)
If you don’t really care then why mention it at all?
As an encouragement to others to do their best to give credit to others when you learn from them.
I’m sure this book will never be finished. It’s conception and gestation are bathed in fear, accusation and slander. Maybe it is a truth God wanted “out there” years ago. I’m sorry you had to ‘suffer’ at the hands of a life changing truth.
Renounce the vow and live in freedom. If other people are teaching it, you are free.
Jeremy Myers – this is an interesting topic. I have friends (a married couple) who have been writing a book for 30 some years – haven’t finished it yet though. In the meantime, they live in a sort of self-imposed spiritual isolation – never telling people what they really believe about various things, because those are the things they are going to write about in their book, and they are deathly afraid that anyone they share their beliefs with will take them and write their own book about them before they can get THEIR book finished. They shared their ideas with me, over 20 years ago, when I was 16 years old, and made me swear – an actual oath – at that age that I woudln’t tell anyone at all anything they had shared with me until their book was done. I had no way of knowing at 16 that I’d be 39 now and still stuck in silence, unable to share some of their ideas that changed my life. For most of my 20s, I didn’t date, because I thought their book would be done soon and didn’t want to be in a situation where I was married to a guy and couldn’t share with him what I believed. What a freakin mess. Eventually this couple became paranoid, constantly accusing me of writing their ideas (even though I didn’t) and other friends that they leaked the tiniest bits of their ideas to, they meticulously read their blogs, making sure they erased any sentence here or there that they felt gave away too much of their content inadvertantly. It became this freaky work of intense fear – another friend had to turn over her journals and all her paintings because she painted some of their ideas. What a crazy mind trip. I think if these people had worried less about what others might be sharing, and just stayed focused on getting their own book done, maybe we’d be talking about how great their book is because it would be published, rather than all the lives they destroyed in trying to control others and make sure none of their ideas leaked out.
Troubling story. I think ideas are intended to be leaked out. Ha!
And let me also say – I watched this couple, in their paranoia, regularly accuse people who had NO access to their ideas, of stealing their ideas, definitely NOT recognizing that the Holy Spirit really does reveal similar things to other people. Don’t fall into that trap Jeremy Myers – this other person who wrote two chapters of similar stuff to you might simply be getting affected by the same authors you have, the same spiritual climate, the same Holy Spirit. Case in point: I have actually had the Lord SAY things to me that some other person I met somewhere else had an exact same story of the Lord saying the exact same freaky thing to them – and I KNOW this person didn’t know my story, and now I’m feeling I’d be illegitimate to tell him that the Lord spoke the exact same thing to me, because he shared his story first.
Here’s what I think goes on: the Lord gives people ideas, and he trumpets those ideas from many different avenues…you through your blog, and this other guy through a book. In the Lord, this should enhance BOTH of your platforms and make you both more receivable to the body of Christ overall, because people who have read your blog will receive this guy’s book, and people who read his book will receive your blog.
I agree with you Max – God wanted it out there years ago. And now other people ARE teaching it but the crazy thing is that I still feel bound by this stupid vow.
You’re released, Heather. God told me that what I released on Earth shall have been released in Heaven; he didn’t clarify that it couldn’t be a person that somebody else bound. So I release you, because they are silly. You couldn’t have turned a hair of your head a different color anyway. They have no monopoly on God ideas, shouldn’t have told you anything at 16 that could be that immobilizing, and should think they will ever get something perfect. They’re in witchcraft, focusing on external things, manipulating people, whipping up some concoction they think will make them the answer. Idiots, them and not you. So you’re free.
As a theologian you can have many sound and original ideas. But most likely none of your sound ideas are original and none of your original ideas are sound.
Very true. I laughed when I read that. So true. So true. Never trust an original thought!
Ha! yes, very true indeed. May I quote you on that?
Harry Truman once said: “It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit.”
This is a great quote, Jeremy. As a writer I’ve often struggled with how much credit I really need. I look at Jesus, the greatest thinker of all time, and he never sought credit. In fact, he gave everything for free–his time, his wisdom, and up to and including his very life. I’m not sure I have the stuff to follow him in this, but it’s a thought I struggle with.
sounds just like when e w Kenyon started writing about word of faith and Kenneth hagin copied his stuff
Hi Jeremy! To be honest, I don’t think that there are too many ideas out there that are absolutely “original”. Although I could be wrong. When I teach I always try to make sure to give credit to those that I am quoting and if I can’t for some reason remember exactly who said it, I make it a point to say something like “of course this did not originate with me. I probably have very few original ideas!”
True point. There are no real original ideas developed by a single person. Even theology is done in community.
If he is still preaching, at least that tells us he’s not a certain infamous mega-church pastor who recently resigned, partly due to plagiarism.
Sharing great ideas we’ve seen posted in a public forum and giving credit for the source is one thing. Presenting material we’ve found elsewhere as our own with no credit to the source, in a for-sale book, is an animal of quite a different color.
Yeah, it wasn’t Driscoll. Ha! He wouldn’t read me….
Nobody owns an idea, so it’s impossible to steal one. Ideas are there for anyone to think of. That applies not only in theology, but to all ideas. Just because you thought of it doesn’t mean that it’s “your” idea, that no one else thought of it as well, maybe even before you did; or that no one else has a right to think of the same idea or to spread it around. Heather’s story shows how crazy that concept can get. I almost fell out of my chair when I read that her oath prevented her from dating out of concern that she would be unable to keep her promise. Her ethical integrity is admirable, though I agree with Max that she is no longer bound by her oath – which shouldn’t have been demanded of her in the first place.
I’ve sometimes had original ideas that I read somewhere else weeks, months or years after I thought of them. They weren’t copied from me because in all of those cases I hadn’t published them or discussed them much, but who’s to say whether I or the other writer thought of them first? Who cares?
Writers are free to write about whatever they want, as long as they do it in their own words. Crediting your sources is a courtesy and always a good idea, though not always possible.
Ideas themselves are free, universal and invaluable. It is the work one puts in to developing an idea which (possibly) produces something of tangible value. The writer couple in Heather’s story haven’t produced anything, so they own nothing in connection to the idea. There is nothing for them to be protective about. Whatever they shared with Heather was not theirs to begin with. If for some (selfish) reason they didn’t want the idea to spread around, they shouldn’t have shared it. But people share and discuss “their” ideas in order to get feedback and improve on the idea, because as Brian points out, original ideas aren’t usually sound.. So, Heather, if you made any comment at all on the idea, the final product will be partly “yours” and you will deserve at least an acknowledgement if and when the book is ever published!
I have had this happen to me, several times in several fields – to the point of seeing word-for-word copy (in the pre-computer age). One was in a research setting in which plagiarism had dire consequences for the plagiarist.
In my more recent life as an editor, I’ve seen highly paid consultants plagiarise other reports I’ve edited and (gasp) wikipedia!
So yes, it happens all the time.
Even if there are no, or few, new ideas under the sun, even a half-decent scholar should have the capacity to reference the work of others. If this so-called scholar can’t, then they should avoid publishing in a way that looks scholarly and stick to the popular media.
You know that you have new ideas of your ‘own’ (from God) all the time, but this so-called theologian has only other people’s ideas. You’ll never run out, he will.
Right. There are no new ideas, and as long as the ideas are reworded, it is not truly plagiarism. But for myself, If I am aware that I am relying heavily on the ideas or writings of someone else, I do try to give them credit.
I remember being horrified to discover that a phrase I used in some fiction writing was also to be found in The Hobbit. It was a relief to learn that Tolkien, in fact, took it from Cicero first – and who knows who Cicero stole it from.
I tend to agree with John Locke’s philosophy when it comes to originality. I think we steal everything, even if we cannot always recall where we learned it. It is all the more important, then, to make sure we give due credit whenever possible.
A funny story I heard when I was in college:
A famous artist was speaking with a fellow professional and he said, ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I copied the dog in my picture from the dog in your painting. But don’t worry, I flipped him, so no one will notice.’
His friend replied, ‘I don’t mind, but I copied the dog from someone else, and flipped him first…’
As a student I had lecturers who were really adamant about giving credit to the work of others, even if those works were secondary and not primary resource. Later in life I had an eight year period as lecturer in Correctional Management at one of South Africa’s tertiary institutions. Here I did not only co-write a textbook, but also many study guides/manuals. All this experience taught me to overdo the credit ethics rather than fall short.
I still try to adhere to that principle in all I write today. Therefore it was a disappointment when I researched a very important topic some years ago and came upon the following statement in Watchman Nee’s book about The Spiritual Man. After stating that the concept did not originate with him, he provided a list of authors whose work he used, ending with the following:
“Because we have received the same commission as they, I have freely quoted their writings. Because there are so many places where I have referenced them, I have not made specific reference to the sources.”
I don’t have any problems with Watchman Nee’s statement. He was honest enough to list his sources, and he was, inadvertently, honest enough to admit what we’ve all thought at one time or another: thorough and accurate citation is hard work that we would all like to be able to dodge.
Like you, I tend to over-cite where I can, but I wish I could have got away with Nee’s approach just to save the effort of double checking sources on some reports.
You are right – it is hard work indeed. On the other hand, it establishes integrity.
Yes, it is impossible to cite every person who has influenced our thinking. But if we are directly quoting someone, or KNOW that we are relying heavily on their writings, it is wise to reference them. I appreciate it when authors do this just so I can go read these other writings also.
You got it for free.so give it for free
Quote-Holy Bible
Jeremy, do not be discouraged. Taking ideas you have considered and reflected upon publicly and using them without credit is not right but neither are a load of things that occur. I believe God sees each one of these things and the hurt they cause.
The devil on your left shoulder is whispering about this injustice and unfair behaviour whilst the angel on your right is whispering that your Heavenly Father sees it all, notes it all and in fact it is your response to it all He notes most.
Do not be discouraged.
Temptations come to scratch in itch. As you share your thoughts you open yourself up and are therefore vulnerable to them being dishonoured or used. So tempting you here is easier than elsewhere but we have the power to turn away, to resist the temptation to lower ourselves to less than the Highest standards of behaviour.
The ideas must have been inspiring!
So do not allow anything to distract you from sharing more of the same!
A very interesting post Jeremy. I do believe credit should be given when someone borrows or uses any published work, and yes, published work includes blog posts. It would be interesting if you could actually talk to Author A and ask him or her directly. As a novice blogger myself I think it would be flattering if someone else used my thoughts but also discouraging probably to the level of aggravation or even anger if I thought they were being used without being given the proper credit.
I try to give credit for others thoughts or ideas whenever I know I am using them but I am sure, since I read a lot of others blogs, articles, and books some of what I think are my ideas have developed from a combination of my personal life experience and ideas or thoughts I have read or heard.
I lived near St. Louis for a number of years and had about an hour commute each way so I would listen to a couple of sermons or programs usually on the way in and a couple on the way home. It always amazed me how often multiple programs were on the same theme. I don’t know if that was planned or coordinated between the programs, suspect not, or the Holy Spirit. I just know it struck me how often this did occur. That seems to me similar to one of the theories you posited above.
I like to read and listen to people who inform me but also make me think and you do both. Thanks for doing that again with this post.
Stan,
Yes, I have noticed that as well. It seems that many pastors and writers write on similar topics all at the same time. Several of the pastors and podcasters I listen to were recently all talking about the book of Revelation recently, and were all recommending the same books and resources.
I’ve had this same thought about myself and came to the conclusion that everything we teach is a product of someone teaching it to us. But like you say – if most of an author’s ideas and content are being pulled from the ideas of authors in other books, it is only right and fair to give them more crthan two footnotes especially if content, argument structure and illustrations are similar (credit: Jeremy Myers). But the The Holy Spirit is The Original Theologian (that’s good. I think I’ll use it). Anyone feel free to use that and not give me credit!
Yes, I regret this post. After I wrote it, I have had things brought to mind where I constantly “borrow” from other writers and theologians whom I did not properly credit.
I am busy writing a book and while I am not always quoting people, there are definitely individuals who I could say have had an indirect influence on what I am writing on as I sort of rehash what they have taught in my own words. I was thinking of maybe just mentioning their names in the acknowledgements section where no direct references were made. What do you think? is that a fair way of doing it?
Yes, I think that would be fine. I recently read a book by a world-class scholar in which he wrote in the preface that his first edition of the book contained hundreds of footnotes, but then to make things easier on the reader (he was writing at a popular level) he took ALL the footnotes out. Then, instead of footnotes, his preface concluded by giving thanks to a list of authors and teachers who influenced what he wrote. You could probably do that too.