coastermonger



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Sr. MemberActivity: 367Merit: 250Find me at Bitrated Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? February 26, 2014, 09:36:48 PM

Last edit: February 26, 2014, 11:21:01 PM by coastermonger #1 Disclaimer: I want to clarify that I myself do not support this idea of a techno-centric religion, but I know that there will be some people who eventually attempt this, and I'm curious about how it will end for them



Its an idea that raises eyebrows, but I was inspired to ponder on this topic given recent posts and images. As government bodies increasingly look to tax/ban/regulate it, perhaps some groups would claim the "Church of Satoshi" as their religion in order to gain protection.







https://www.facebook.com/inmathwetrust



http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1z0p4u/time_to_start_a_bitcoin_religion_with_satoshi_as/



Consider that the church already has



1.) A god (cryptography)

2.) A mystical prophet (Satoshi)

3.) Holy texts (The Whitepaper, Blockchain)

4.) Apostles (Miners and Traders)

5.) Priests and Scribes (Devs)

6.) Devotees (hoarders)

7.) Music (bitlisten.com)

8.) Prophecy (halving days)



Religious interpretation of the events since 2008 is easy:



Quote In the beginning there were no inputs (Newly Generated Coins).

The peer to peer electronic network was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the banking world, but the spirit of Satoshi was hovering over the chaos.

Then Satoshi said "Let there be a whitepaper," and his followers saw that it was good. And he separated the trust from the acceptance of payment.

Thusly through his efforts the genesis block was born.

He was rewarded with the BTC from the great blockchain, first paid immutably and eternally to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa, to which we still pay homage with signed transaction today.

Many of these people will happily evangelize the commandments of bitcoin:

(Thou shalt retain ownership of thy own private keys, Thou shalt not lend fractions of thy reserves and claim to hold satoshis that thou dost not, etc)



Tithing is the act of donating fiat to the church in exchange for cryptographic power in the network. Mining is the energy sacrificed to do the same.

Developing/programming is the act of contributing to the core source code in an effort to divine the one true agreed upon method to obtain cryptographic freedom and individual control over things considered to be valuable by all participants.



Already, the "Church" has had many schisms between adherents that claim to know the true path, and forks and alt-chains have been created.



It's not really a matter of if but when. I have no doubt that if the idea of bitcoin itself grows, eventually some people will simply start claiming it as their own church. But does this afford them any protection? Its an idea that raises eyebrows, but I was inspired to ponder on this topic given recent posts and images. As government bodies increasingly look to tax/ban/regulate it, perhaps some groups would claim the "Church of Satoshi" as their religion in order to gain protection.Consider that the church already has1.) A god (cryptography)2.) A mystical prophet (Satoshi)3.) Holy texts (The Whitepaper, Blockchain)4.) Apostles (Miners and Traders)5.) Priests and Scribes (Devs)6.) Devotees (hoarders)7.) Music (bitlisten.com)8.) Prophecy (halving days)Religious interpretation of the events since 2008 is easy:Many of these people will happily evangelize the commandments of bitcoin:(Thou shalt retain ownership of thy own private keys, Thou shalt not lend fractions of thy reserves and claim to hold satoshis that thou dost not, etc)Tithing is the act of donating fiat to the church in exchange for cryptographic power in the network. Mining is the energy sacrificed to do the same.Developing/programming is the act of contributing to the core source code in an effort to divine the one true agreed upon method to obtain cryptographic freedom and individual control over things considered to be valuable by all participants.Already, the "Church" has had many schisms between adherents that claim to know the true path, and forks and alt-chains have been created.It's not really a matter of if but when. I have no doubt that if the idea of bitcoin itself grows, eventually some people will simply start claiming it as their own church. But does this afford them any protection? Bitrated user: Rees.

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Hero MemberActivity: 504Merit: 500 Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? February 27, 2014, 12:38:03 AM #17 Quote from: zeroday on February 26, 2014, 11:54:12 PM Religion is bad. It's made to control your mind.

No it is not... it is made to stop you from thinking...



Stop thinking! Here is the answer...

Stop thinking! Do not do anything...

Stop thinking! Give me your money...

Stop thinking! I do that for you...

Stop thinking! Except about me...

Stop thinking! There is no spoon...

Stop thinking! Dirty thoughts...

Stop thinking! About his stuff...

Stop thinking! About hurting me/others...

Stop thinking! About other's beliefs...

Stop thinking! Thinking is sin...



See... they are not controlling your mind... they don't ask you to do a thing... So just Stop thinking about it! Just... Stop... Thinking... Sinner!



Yea, I want to spend eternity with that crowd. lol. I'll take my chances and assume the devil, part of religions (thus, non-existent if you don't believe in them), isn't going to consume me. Keep your beliefs in your head, and I will keep mine in my head. It's good to have friends, even if they are imaginary.



Bitcoin is a religion... It is celebrated at conventions. It has a large following of supporters. It has rules. It can not truly be seen, but it is all around us. It helps the poor and needy, freeing them of evil FIAT. It promises nothing. It has many alternative variations, with similar followers (alt-coins). The creator has yet to be seen. You don't know the creators true name. Oh, and it cures cancer! No it is not... it is made to stop you from thinking...Stop thinking! Here is the answer...Stop thinking! Do not do anything...Stop thinking! Give me your money...Stop thinking! I do that for you...Stop thinking! Except about me...Stop thinking! There is no spoon...Stop thinking! Dirty thoughts...Stop thinking! About his stuff...Stop thinking! About hurting me/others...Stop thinking! About other's beliefs...Stop thinking! Thinking is sin...See... they are not controlling your mind... they don't ask you to do a thing... So just Stop thinking about it! Just... Stop... Thinking... Sinner!Yea, I want to spend eternity with that crowd. lol. I'll take my chances and assume the devil, part of religions (thus, non-existent if you don't believe in them), isn't going to consume me. Keep your beliefs in your head, and I will keep mine in my head. It's good to have friends, even if they are imaginary.Bitcoin is a religion... It is celebrated at conventions. It has a large following of supporters. It has rules. It can not truly be seen, but it is all around us. It helps the poor and needy, freeing them of evil FIAT. It promises nothing. It has many alternative variations, with similar followers (alt-coins). The creator has yet to be seen. You don't know the creators true name. Oh, and it cures cancer!

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Full MemberActivity: 140Merit: 100 Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? February 27, 2014, 01:02:32 AM #18 I don't think it's even possible to turn Bitcoin into a religion as it has already been branded a currency since it's inception, and thus can not be both a religion and a currency. If it had been referred to as a religion from the get go, then it would have a leg to stand on; but in my honest opinion, as is it has absolutely no chance of becoming a religion after all this time of being a currency. And let's suppose it did turn into a religion; it would stop being a currency wouldn't it? There's no doubt in my mind that if it did turn into a religion it would effectively cease to be a currency (well, more like a speculative asset really).

coastermonger



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Sr. MemberActivity: 367Merit: 250Find me at Bitrated Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? February 27, 2014, 01:17:02 AM #19 Quote from: ZeroBarrier on February 27, 2014, 01:02:32 AM I don't think it's even possible to turn Bitcoin into a religion as it has already been branded a currency since it's inception, and thus can not be both a religion and a currency. If it had been referred to as a religion from the get go, then it would have a leg to stand on; but in my honest opinion, as is it has absolutely no chance of becoming a religion after all this time of being a currency. And let's suppose it did turn into a religion; it would stop being a currency wouldn't it? There's no doubt in my mind that if it did turn into a religion it would effectively cease to be a currency (well, more like a speculative asset really).



Very interesting point. Could we also consider a group that forks the blockchain and creates their religion around the aquisition/spending/sharing/and transferring an altoin? I.e. Holycoin, Godcoin, Sacredcoin, Faithcoin, Divinicoin etc. Very interesting point. Could we also consider a group that forks the blockchain and creates their religion around the aquisition/spending/sharing/and transferring an altoin? I.e. Holycoin, Godcoin, Sacredcoin, Faithcoin, Divinicoin etc. Bitrated user: Rees.