Hi,
Would it be possible to add the scripture references as footnotes (like for some other confessions) to Dort and Belgic? E.g. from https://www.prca.org/PRC_Confessions_and_Church_Order.pdf
I’d be happy to help with some legwork (though I’m not developer), e.g. if I was given an Excel in the correct format I could fill the cross references into it.
Hi Mankuh,
The document you linked to is, unfortunately, copyrighted. I used the public domain data that I had access to. If you were aware of a public domain source for uncopyrighted text with Scripture references, I could likely scrape and import that.
Having said that, though, I’m not 100% sure if the documents you mentioned originally had footage. I remember reading somewhere that they were added later by various denominations—but I’m not 100% sure on that, nor could I provide a source.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply!
Schaff’s version (public domain) has proof texts, although on CCEL these are only integrated into the French version (with English side-by-side): Philip Schaff: Creeds of Christendom, Volume III. The Creeds of the Evangelical Protestant Churches. - Christian Classics Ethereal Library
This one is more convenient but I’m not sure re copyright: https://prts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Belgic-Confession-of-Faith-with-Intro.pdf
Re the original version I posted, I can request copyright permission from the owners as I know them very well (and I’m fairly sure they’ll grant permission), could this be another option?
Lastly, I’m not an expert on copyright law, but perhaps the “extraction” of proof texts only (and not the entire text) could be considered “fair use”? Though this may require acknowledging the source somewhere to avoid plagiarism.
Hi David, just checking if there’s any progress on this or if there’s anything I can do?
Hey there, sorry. Nothing on your end. I have a bit more looking into this on my end.
I can tell you that, from a legal perspective, one’s argument is only as good as one’s willingness to make the case in court. And if a publisher did come after me for using their proof texts, I would fold like an house of cards because I have no desire to have to engage in a legal drama.
The main thing here from my perspective is that I would want to be including the proof texts that were in the original documents. Or if they were added in some officially recognized capacity within the lifetime of the authors, I’d be fine with using those (this is what happened, for example, with the Westminster Confession). So what I mostly need to do is historical research to figure out which ones are the ‘correct’ prooftexts.
Right now, my priority is turning Relight into a downloadable app. And so stuff like this is on the back burner until that is accomplished.
I apologize because I’m guessing this isn’t the news you wanted to hear. Thank you, though, for your request and the time you’ve taken to flesh it out for me.
Hi David,
No probs, your explanation makes perfect sense.