CYBERCRIMES IN CYBERWORLD Continuous modernization in our world is not something that we can ignore nor stop.

One proof of this is the popular use of social networking sites. Every day we never fail to check if someone commented on our post in Facebook or if we have additional followers in Tweeter. Indeed, it has already become a routine and a form of recreation to regularly check these sites which is made possible through the use of the internet. In the seminar conducted by Mr. Turiano, he mentioned that internet represents one of the most successful examples of the benefits of sustained investment and commitment to research and development of information structure. Internet had opened new ways and means of doing and knowing things. However, the internet for all its gift to mankind has also brought upon us its negative consequences. Undeniably, the cyber world has been the most accessible venue to conduct thousands and thousands of cybercrimes. Cybercrimes, from the term itself, are criminal activities committed in the internet. It can be against persons, property or even the government. But no matter to whom it is directed, cybercrimes are and will always be a violation of rights, privacy and security, not to mention, morality. For one, it poses threat to computer security through malicious softwares like viruses that damage computer application and result to corruption of significant information. Privacy and anonymity of individuals are also threatened. These are exploited to facilitate unwanted and undesirable computer aided activities in cyberspace such as money laundering, drug trading and terrorism. Last but not the least, intellectual property rights are violated through easy access to sites providing free versions of these intellectual properties like books and softwares that can easily be downloaded. Indeed, cybercrimes can be as simple as uploading a pornographic picture that can cause psychological disturbance to some or can be as serious as a smurf attack that can result to billions of financial losses to a company. The point is no matter what crime is committed in the internet, there will always be a damage. It is only a question of how serious the damage will be. That is why it is really a must that proper controls and security measures are put in place to prevent and lessen, if not totally eliminate such crimes in the world of cyberspace. However, since internet is easily accessible and is getting more complicated because of advancements in research and development, the endeavor of combating such crimes will be a tedious task but, still, it can be realistically achieved. Internet is a product of human intellect. Thus, the key to combating the downside of this technology lies in the very same gifted minds that developed them. It is only a matter of will, prowess and discipline to finally overcome these cyber evils. As what Mr. Turiano said, the human person and the human community are the end and measure of the use of media of social communication.

THE LINK BETWEEN SPIRITUAL & MORAL WORLDS Spirituality and Morality Is it wrong or is it right? This is one of the questions we often ask ourselves before doing something or before deciding on anything. We evaluate the rightness or wrongness of our action or decision. The answer to this query depends on certain factors like the act itself, the person involved and the circumstances in which we are in. But the biggest deciding factor on whether we consider an act to be right or wrong depends on who we are as a person. Our perception and decision on morality is affected by our beliefs, our principles, experiences, and according to Mr. Abardo, our spirituality. Strong evidence exist that spirituality and morality are linked together. As what Mr. Abardo said, our spirituality is significant in developing morality and promoting harmonious relations. Spirituality refers to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality, an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his or her being, or the deepest values and meanings by which people live. Our spirituality is evident in our religious orientation that can be extrinsic religiousness or intrinsic religiousness. Those people with extrinsic religiousness are religiously self-centered. For them, religion is a means to an end. Intrinsically religious people, conversely see religion as an end to itself. Mr. Abardo mentioned that intrinsic religiosity is mature religion while extrinsic religion is immature religion. This is quite agreeable since if we only treat something as a way of getting what we want, or addressing our self interest without realizing the importance of such thing, then that is indeed quite an immature behavior. More so if we just do something because others are expecting us to do it. On the contrary, if we do something not because we are told nor because others are doing it, but because we really want to do it and we think of it as an organizing principle in our lives, then we are acting maturely enough. Put that way, spirituality can possibly affect our morality. This is because if we have immature beliefs, may it be on religion or in any other things, we tend to act more carelessly and unwittingly. We tend to go with the flow and be pushed alongside by our desires and longings having no great control yet since we are still immature. However, if we have these mature beliefs, we think first before we act. Instead of acting compulsively, we consider what will be the consequences of our action first and then decide, not the other way around. With that, I believe that morality is indeed affected by our spirituality, by our own religious orientation. Religion, I suppose, inculcate upon us beliefs and practices that knowingly or unknowingly affect our views on things, our perception, and our decision. It has an effect on how we think and how we act. It influences what we think is right or wrong about a certain situation or action. However, our morality is not solely dependent on our spirituality. Morality, for me, is dependent on the totality of our being.