The Church of Kopimism has received official sanction from the government of Sweden. Founded by a 19-year-old philosophy student, Isak Gerson, in 2010, the church considers computer file-sharing a holy act akin to prayer or meditation. Authorities believe there are currently about 3000 practicing Kopimists now protected under the Swedish constitution. While the generous definition of religion in Sweden can be challenged, as can the possibility that Kopiminits may violate copyright laws, the important aspect of this story is that young people all over the world have not abandoned religion at all; they are searching for a religion that is relevant to their individual needs. Traditional religions, if they are to persist, must find a way to recapture the imagination of the young who will be a receptive audience.
