Read enough about Bitcoin, and youll inevitably come across people who refer to thecryptocurrencyas a religion.
BloombergsLorcan Roche Kellycalled Bitcoin the first true religion of the 21st century.
Like many religions, Bitcoin even hasdietary restrictionsassociated with it.
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The dirty secret of religious studies is that there is no universal definition of what religion is.
This model shifted after the Protestant Reformation when along series of warsbegan between Catholics and Protestants.
These became known as wars of religion, and religion became a way of talking about differences between Christians.
At the same time, Europeans were encountering other cultures through exploration and colonialism.
Some of the traditions they encountered shared certain similarities to Christianity and were also deemed religions.
Non-European languages have historically not had a direct equivalent to the word religion.
Critics highlight irrationality
With this in mind, why would anyone claim that Bitcoin is a religion?
Some commentators seem to be making this claim to steer investors away from Bitcoin.
Mobius point, though, is that religion, like cryptocurrency, is irrational.
In this case, labeling Bitcoin a religion suggests that bitcoin investors are fanatics and not making rational choices.
McCooks articles use the language of religion to highlight certain aspects of Bitcoin culture and to normalize them.
For example, stacking sats the practice of regularly buying small fractions of bitcoins sounds weird.
But McCook refers to this practice as a religious ritual, and more specifically as tithing.
Many churches practice tithing, in which members make regular donations to support their church.
So this comparison makes sat stacking seem more familiar.
That is, some people often assume if something is really a religion, it must represent something good.
People who stack sats might sound weird.
But people who tithe could sound principled and wholesome.
As religion scholar,J.Z.
For example, many religions were founded bycharismatic leaders.
Charismatic leaders are seen by their followers as superhuman or at least extraordinary.
Several commentators have noted that Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto resembles a sort of prophet.
Nakamotos true identity or whether Nakamoto is actually a team of people remains a mystery.
But the intrigue surrounding this figure is a source of charisma with consequences for bitcoins economic value.
In Budapest, artists even erected abronze statueas a tribute to Nakamoto.
A bust of Satoshi Nakamoto in Budapest, Hungary.
Some Bitcoiners believe in an inevitable coming hyperbitcoinization in which bitcoin will be the only valid currency.
This attitude may be the most significant point of comparison with religious traditions.
The exemplars include Satoshi and other figures involved in the creation of blockchain technology.
So does this comparison prove that Bitcoin is a religion?
