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Title: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: coastermonger on February 26, 2014, 09:36:48 PM 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://i.imgur.com/wmcX9Zt.jpg 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? Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: whtchocla7e on February 26, 2014, 09:38:22 PM I like this idea.
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: DeathAndTaxes on February 26, 2014, 09:39:19 PM No.
If your church says it is ok to manufacture and sell heroin .... Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: Vitamin on February 26, 2014, 09:40:34 PM Is this a joke? :D
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: Meuh6879 on February 26, 2014, 09:41:13 PM No.
I control my bitcoin. It don't control my mind (like church). Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: virtualmaster on February 26, 2014, 09:42:52 PM :)
Good picture. The great Satoshi, who created Bitcoin and Namecoin should bless you. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: coastermonger on February 26, 2014, 09:51:12 PM Is this a joke? :D I wish it were, I'm not the first to have broached this topic, but I'm curious about the people who may try this and whether it will be possible to sustain Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: coastermonger on February 26, 2014, 10:27:20 PM No. I control my bitcoin. It don't control my mind (like church). I agree that mind control is off the table (as many religions try to do). But for some, religion is all about controlling your own philosophy. Like kopism for instance, the Swedish religion that promotes file-sharing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary_Church_of_Kopimism Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: mgburks77 on February 26, 2014, 10:31:38 PM Interesting. Apparently there is precedent.
Humans are amazing. :D Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: Littleshop on February 26, 2014, 10:32:12 PM No. If your church says it is ok to manufacture and sell heroin .... But what if my church says I need to wear a colander on my head, even during drivers license photos? http://www.venganza.org/2011/07/austrian-colander/ Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: bananas on February 26, 2014, 10:35:26 PM religions are immune to taxes
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: coastermonger on February 26, 2014, 10:45:27 PM Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: James-Cryptonomics on February 26, 2014, 10:49:05 PM religions are immune to taxes and political interference Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: mgburks77 on February 26, 2014, 10:53:16 PM jihadcoin?
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: serje on February 26, 2014, 10:55:57 PM jihadcoin? I wonder why no one came up with this one yet!I bet it will hit the market soon! As for the BTC religion ... NO COMMENT! But still awesome to read this story! Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: zeroday on February 26, 2014, 11:54:12 PM Religion is bad. It's made to control your mind.
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: ISAWHIM on February 27, 2014, 12:38:03 AM 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! Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: 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).
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: coastermonger on February 27, 2014, 01:17:02 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. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: hellscabane on February 27, 2014, 01:26:20 AM The opening at Bitcoin Worship:
Pool Owner: Hashrate be with you. Pool Members: And also with you. Pool Owner: We lift up our hash. Pool Members: We lift our ASICs to the coin. With that said, the interesting thing is the religion would need to foremost establish a center church otherwise it actually falls short of a whole bunch of exemptions (at least in the U.S.). Which is kinda funny since that would mean there would be needed centralization which is completely against the ideas behind Bitcoin. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: BitCoinsLOL on February 27, 2014, 01:28:52 AM How about a Buddhist philosophy towards BTC ;D
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: TheIrishman on February 27, 2014, 01:37:46 AM Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: 5thStreetResearch on February 27, 2014, 02:26:44 AM seems more legit than Scientology, go for it
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: ZeroBarrier on February 27, 2014, 03:15:18 AM 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. Same problem, all of these coins are known as cryptocurrencies. The only way I can see any coin becoming a religion is if a group decouples monetary value from the coin and only have religious value in that coin. If this happens, then why even try to make a religion around a coin if it's only value is religious? The OP only suggests claiming the religion card to avoid tax/ban/regulation, but it can't be both a currency and a religion at the same time, it can only be one thing. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: bananas on February 27, 2014, 04:00:43 AM I'm staring the first bitcoin church, donate BTC to address on my signature to help building the church or you will burn in Gox.
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: ISAWHIM on February 27, 2014, 04:06:04 AM What law states that a currency can't be worshiped as a religion...
We worshiped cows... they had a role as cows... https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=483970.msg5327763#msg5327763 We worshiped rats... Still do... We worshiped gold... and golden cows! We worshiped the sun... Even called it a God! We worshiped the dollar/crowns/coins/pents/cents... Still do... (But we are forced to do that.) Why exactly couldn't a crypto-coin "also" be a religion? All you need is belief and trust. (Sort of the foundation of the coins creation in the first place. "As it was written... These are the words of the white-papers... Amen!" Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: ISAWHIM on February 27, 2014, 04:06:44 AM I'm staring the first bitcoin church, donate BTC to address on my signature to help building the church or you will burn in Gox. Love that! We need a deamon... lol, (Play on words) See, bitcoins are a religion! Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: g35fan on February 27, 2014, 04:35:31 AM Ha, nice thread. You should consider going the route of an "artificial intelligence religion" and your beliefs state that the bitcoin network over the next 100 years will transform into the worlds first AI and be all knowing and at that time your mind can transcend with AI and we all shall spread out across this universe and be immortal. The end ;D
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: nimda on February 27, 2014, 04:55:25 AM No. If your church says it is ok to manufacture and sell heroin .... Still, in some of the southern states there's a big push to deny health care, insurance payments for birth control and abortions, etc all on the basis of religion, and they seem to be making some headway. Especially since corporations are people. A money laundering religion is rather far-fetched, but so is the denial of basic human rights... Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: ZeroBarrier on February 27, 2014, 05:34:42 AM What law states that a currency can't be worshiped as a religion... We worshiped cows... they had a role as cows... https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=483970.msg5327763#msg5327763 We worshiped rats... Still do... We worshiped gold... and golden cows! We worshiped the sun... Even called it a God! We worshiped the dollar/crowns/coins/pents/cents... Still do... (But we are forced to do that.) Why exactly couldn't a crypto-coin "also" be a religion? All you need is belief and trust. (Sort of the foundation of the coins creation in the first place. "As it was written... These are the words of the white-papers... Amen!" Worshiping and creating a religion for the purpose of evading taxes/bans/regulation is completely different. You're more than welcome to worship whatever your little heart desires, but don't for one second delude yourself into thinking that just because you worship something that it won't be taxed/banned/regulated. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: virtualmaster on February 27, 2014, 08:40:10 AM religions are immune to taxes This is not completely true.Only the religious organization is exempted from tax for non-profitable activities not the members. In the case of Bitcoin for ex. the Bitcoin Foundation could be tax-free for receiving membership fees and for distributing free Bitcoins or for making propaganda. Eventually in an internal economy(like in Namecoin the name registration) where fiat is excluded it could be considered as religious activity and tax-free. But this is anyway mostly tax-free at the moment when no fiat is involved. The key could be a holly coin which may not be exchanged directly in fiat(but may be exchanged in other cryptocurrencies) and with a strong internal economy so the authorities have no excuse to regulate it. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: E.exchanger on February 27, 2014, 11:18:07 AM Is this real :o well i must say people have take it really seriously then :o :o :o
Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: kwest on February 27, 2014, 11:24:59 AM If the purpose of this is to use religious freedom to protect crypto currencies, I think the religion should focus on the belief in the power of decentralization and global networks, in order to not only include Bitcoin, but all crypto - as well as technologies like bittorrent.
It's not about creating a cult.. it's about protecting our rights with whatever means we have available. So if we have to form a religion to stay safe... well, let's form a religion than. Title: Re: Would bitcoin have certain immunities if groups claimed it as their religion? Post by: BitOnyx on February 27, 2014, 11:37:57 AM This one might look unimportant for some people but people from China are right now biggest buyers. Besides this religion thing will be only important in some country's. I'm guessing at your country legalization is easy and benefits from such solution are good enough but it is not something we have at other country's. All religions i know are rather centralized, wouldn't bitcoin lose its decentralized and liberal part because of it... |
