Church to Allow a New Form of Currency for Offerings
When it comes to cutting-edge technology and futuristic trends, a church isn’t usually what springs to mind… but one parish in Europe is now accepting offerings in a new currency: Bitcoin.
Appropriately enough, the church is located in Zurich, Switzerland, widely recognized as one of the leading financial centers of the world.
“Digital currencies and the blockchain technology will change our daily lives more and more in the next years,” explained Nicolas Legler, a spokesperson for ICF Church, an evangelical denomination.
“Cryptocurrencies will be implemented, be it Bitcoin or other currencies controlled by the State. We are convinced that this technology will soon belong to our daily lives,” he continued, according to Newsweek.
Bitcoin has been making headlines in recent months, with an impressive rise in value over the last year grabbing the attention of financial analysts and the general public. The digital currency has been dismissed as a fad or a scam by some, but others are bullish about its potential in the modern world.
It’s clear that the Swiss church is firmly on the side of optimism. The organization’s website explains its stance on adopting new technology into worship.
“New technologies enable us to communicate faster. We want to support you with resources, podcasts and music wherever you are,” the church’s page states.
Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin has been frequently compared to the rise of the internet and social media, and that’s a parallel that Nicolas Legler also made.
“Twenty years ago, no one would have believed that internet would determine our lives so much,” the church spokesman recently told the press.
It’s a strong point: A church would probably have been laughed at if it built a website in the mid nineties, but just a decade later an online presence was all but necessary for every organization.
Not everyone is enthusiastic, however. Billionaire Warren Buffett, who is known for a conservative steady-as-she-goes investment approach, recently revealed that he was not part of the pro-Bitcoin crowd.
“In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending,” he told CNBC, as we reported last week.
“When it happens or how or anything else, I don’t know,” Buffett admitted. “We don’t own any, we’re not short any, we’ll never have a position in them.”
Of course, a church accepting donations in a new form is a lot different than going all-in and investing in them. The congregation has nothing to lose by being able to receive as many currencies as possible.
Still, the fact that cryptocurrency has now made its way into religious groups is a sign of just how far the Bitcoin craze has grown. Whether or not that’s the mark of a fad or long-term adoption remains to be seen.
H/T The Daily Caller
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