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Swan says "Bitcoin is a religion".

I ask if that is a good idea.

Bitcoiners now seem reluctant to answer.

What are your thoughts?

I'm inclined to see lack of engagement as a confirmation of my suspicion that many Bitcoiners don't like the idea that bitcoin is a religion, or that normies think of bitcoin as a religion.

I see myself as a Bitcoiner newbie. And I'll state my view about this question later, in some more detail.

https://twitter.com/enur72/status/1676246611968630784?t=rEDjuSvNpt-OnTHo9ODz4A&s=19

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Discussion

Jimbo Galtomoto 2y ago

Has a lot of similarities to a religion. Devoted following, crazy conception myths, strong moral code, evangelising users, sacred texts, all sorts.

There is no One to worship though. Even Satoshi.

I feel the question itself is not important, unless you don’t like religion and think this is a problem? Bitcoin doesn’t care.

In my view a church is just a place where people meet. And bitcoin does bring a lot of people together who needed to come together to change the world for good. I don’t mind the analogy personally.

Rune Østgård 2y ago

Thx for responding. I think the question is important. And I think religion can be very positive. But I find it necessary to ask if Bitcoin really is - or should be - religion.

Rubidium85 2y ago

No, Bitcoin is not and should not be thought of as a religion. Bitcoin is for everyone regardless of religious beliefs and cultural values. It should never be thought of as belonging to any particular group or requiring any belief structures. This is for all.

John Embretsen 2y ago

Not by a long shot is Bitcoin some religion. I don't want it to be , nor do I think it is good for adoption to claim that it is.

Interesting question though. Religion may have some good properties (and bad ones), one of which is finding comfort in hard and desperate times. Does Bitcoin do that? Actually, it seems to in some contexts. Poor monetary policies leading to hyperinflation and unrest? Bitcoin is here to save you...? Centrally controlled china-money cutting you off the grid unless you comply? Bitcoin is here to save you...?

But Bitcoin is not omnipotent, it does not "see" anything, actually it does not care at all about you or anyone else, or what you do. And that is a good thing. Peace.

Rune Østgård 2y ago

I like your reflections. Few have responded. That's a bad sign. This is an important subject. And when a leading institution and visionary come out like that, repeating the message of some other famous bitcoiners, I become uneasy. Because if Bitcoin becomes a religion, that might undermine the whole project in the long term, IMO. And then I'm not saying that being a religion will only be a bad thing.

Gracjan Pietras 2y ago

Thank you for bringing up this question. It is evident to me that Bitcoin is not a religion.

Religion involves faith in supernatural. Bitcoin does not require anything of this kind. On the contrary, Bitcoin operates on the principle of being fully transparent and verifiable.

To conclude, while the motto for Bitcoin is "Don’t trust, verify," the motto for religion is "Don’t verify, trust."

The fact that some Bitcoiners may appear to "worship" Bitcoin from an outsider's perspective does not change the conclusion. First, such devotion to Bitcoin as an ideology does not define Bitcoin itself. For instance, admiring physics blindly does not turn the science of physics into a religion. Second, the strong conviction usually arises from a rational hope for the change Bitcoin can bring. Usually, it is not founded on faith without evidence but on logical reasoning rooted in Austrian theory.

The fact that some religious people draw parallels between Bitcoin and their favourite religious beliefs does not change the conclusion either. They are free to do so, and it is OK as long as they do not impose those views on others.

(By the way, I like your work on inflation. Keep it up!)

Rune Østgård 2y ago

Thx, yes i agree 💯. Let me also add that Bitcoiners is a very diverse crowd, and if Bitcoin becomes religion for some people that's ok with me. However, my concern is that people don't see that your belief system is base layer No. 1. And if you adopt Bitcoin as your religion, and something happens that destroys Bitcoin or what it seeks to solve, then they might feel that all is lost. Therefore I try to show people that monetary freedom is THE core principle, and that Bitcoin is an enabler. If we understand this, we will always fight for monetary freedom regardless of what happens to Bitcoin.

Justmemes 2y ago

Thanks for this question, and this is one of my criticisms of bitcoin.

Unfortunately, Bitcoiners live in a very intense bubble.

Bitcoiners show traits of strong group think. There is not enough valid criticism of bitcoin internally.

If they believe in development and change through debate, they are lacking.

Not talking about developers, because i think they are more rational, and less religious.