I remember the first time I heard someone use that phrase Mark of the Beast. It was by a conservative who commented online in the pre-9/11 internet, and it was in relation to a new article discussing the possibility of using RFID chips in humans for very specific reasons. Pets have been having RFID implants to help find them when they get lost.
The guy insisted that these chips are the mark of the beast and he would rather die than get them.
I don't know if he is still around, but he if he is, he is probably someone who thinks Bill Gates is the devil for wanting to chip people but think Elon Musk is awesome for the same.
I mean, they're not wrong. Enabling lower-income people to impulsively take on high-interest debt is one of the main factors perpetuating wage slavery.
A thing assigned to you that's in your hand or your head that's needed to engage in commerce? That's...umm...I can see where they could get that idea, especially with the rise of online sales.
Pets have been having RFID implants to help find them when they get lost.
Just a small correction, microchips in pets are there to identify them and identify who their owner is. They don't have any geolocation capabilities, its equivalent to hiding an SD card under their skin.
You'd think an all-knowing being ought to be able to write a compelling book. Instead we get one filled with the worst crimes, yet it somehow manages to be soul-crushingly boring. You ever try to read it? Most people only manage a couple pages a day, and that's considered devout commitment to it.