Hypocrites In the initial stages of this research paper, I had no idea what to write regarding the topic of plagiarism. I started my first paragraph in class just like everyone else did. However, I couldn't help but think that this essay would be immensely boring if I continued to write about the act of plagiarism itself. My article required that extra spark that captivated my audience to make them feel privileged to read my amazing research article. So I decided to start my research before the introductory paragraph. I knew so little about plagiarism that I had to start researching immediately. I was undeniably bored when I began a fun search and came across numerous articles by preachers and pastors who have been accused or even accused of stealing other pastors' sermons. Sometimes, thieves would go so far as to cut and paste the sermon or article directly into their own sermons. Now, borrowing or stealing has been on every person's mind since the written language came into being. Plagiarism has been present in our history for many years. However, plagiarism hadn't been a big problem for many people until the human race decided to claim copyrights to its own ideas. I'm sure, however, that someone else probably had the exact same idea before that person or at the same time they did, but didn't have the opportunity to copyright the idea. Pursuing one's ideas has become a mad rush to claim the idea on paper and send it to a copyright/patent office as soon as possible. The process of stealing one's ideas dates back to the days of written language and then even further. Peter W. Morgan, owner of The Idler: A Web Periodical, wrote, even before the development of written language......middle of paper......Capeloto, Alexa. The ethics of the rectors are questioned. Detroit Free Press March 01, 2002 http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/church1_20020301.htm(December 01, 2003) Mattingly, Terry. Plagiarism and the pulpit. Terry Mattingly on religion http://tmatt.gospelcom.net/colonna/2003/06/25/(01 December 2003)Reynolds, Glenn H., Peter W. Morgan. Chapter Five: A Plague of Originality The Idler: A Web Periodical: January 23, 2002. http://www.the-idler.com/ (01 December 2003) Smith, Peter. Plagiarism from the pulpit is nothing new, but the Internet makes it easier to do and catch. The Courier-Journal 21 July 2002. http://www.courierjournal.com/localnews/2002/07/21/ke072102s245442.htm (01 December 2003) The Student Bible, New International Version. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1996. Twister. Dir. Jan de Bont. For. Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures, 1996.