Francis on Nostr: We are all human, shaped by the beauty and frailty of our nature. Each of us is prone ...
We are all human, shaped by the beauty and frailty of our nature. Each of us is prone to mistakes, imperfections, and moments of weakness. Sin—whether seen as moral failing, selfishness, or harm caused by our actions—is a part of this shared human condition. We stumble, sometimes intentionally, other times unknowingly, driven by our desires, fears, or ignorance. This is neither unique nor shameful—it is what makes us human.
Bitcoiners, perhaps more than most, are deeply familiar with this truth: humans will act in their self-interest. Bitcoin mining, as a system, brilliantly acknowledges this reality. Mining creates a set of incentives and rules that align the self-interest of participants with the broader health of the network. Miners follow the protocol not out of altruism, but because doing so aligns with their interests. Attempting to deviate from these rules—cheating or breaking consensus—comes with costs. Cooperation is the most rational path.
This system mirrors something profound about human nature: while we are prone to selfishness, we can build structures that encourage and reward better behavior. In the same way that mining incentivizes honesty and adherence to the protocol, religious teachings have long sought to guide people toward transcending their flaws, seeking forgiveness, and striving for love and compassion. Both systems acknowledge that humans are imperfect but capable of aligning their actions with higher principles when motivated appropriately.
The beauty of Bitcoin is not that it assumes people are perfect, but that it works because we are not. It aligns incentives in a way that mirrors life’s larger lesson: while we are inherently flawed, we are capable of choosing paths that lead to greater good. Whether through faith, systems like Bitcoin, or personal growth, this striving to transcend our limitations is a testament to the resilience and potential of the human spirit. It is in forgiveness that we find peace, in love that we glimpse the eternal, and in systems like Bitcoin that we see how imperfect humans can still create something profoundly just.
Bitcoiners, perhaps more than most, are deeply familiar with this truth: humans will act in their self-interest. Bitcoin mining, as a system, brilliantly acknowledges this reality. Mining creates a set of incentives and rules that align the self-interest of participants with the broader health of the network. Miners follow the protocol not out of altruism, but because doing so aligns with their interests. Attempting to deviate from these rules—cheating or breaking consensus—comes with costs. Cooperation is the most rational path.
This system mirrors something profound about human nature: while we are prone to selfishness, we can build structures that encourage and reward better behavior. In the same way that mining incentivizes honesty and adherence to the protocol, religious teachings have long sought to guide people toward transcending their flaws, seeking forgiveness, and striving for love and compassion. Both systems acknowledge that humans are imperfect but capable of aligning their actions with higher principles when motivated appropriately.
The beauty of Bitcoin is not that it assumes people are perfect, but that it works because we are not. It aligns incentives in a way that mirrors life’s larger lesson: while we are inherently flawed, we are capable of choosing paths that lead to greater good. Whether through faith, systems like Bitcoin, or personal growth, this striving to transcend our limitations is a testament to the resilience and potential of the human spirit. It is in forgiveness that we find peace, in love that we glimpse the eternal, and in systems like Bitcoin that we see how imperfect humans can still create something profoundly just.