Have Taken Up Farming

Reactions to the Religious Turn

• Several commenters are puzzled that an educated adult could read the Bible (especially KJV) and come out a convinced believer rather than seeing it as mythology or a scam-like system.
• Others argue many believers don’t read it as literal history but as symbolic or philosophical text; conflict often arises when rationalists assume literalism.
• There is extended criticism of Christian doctrines of hell, divine love, and the problem of evil, with some calling the whole framework cult-like and abusive.
• A few note that concepts like hell and afterlife evolved historically, which they take as evidence of religion being folklore rather than revelation.
• Some are curious what specifically in the text resonated with the author and suspect the conversion was more about personal crisis than exegesis.

Farming as Escape, Privilege, and Economics

• Multiple commenters doubt the farm is financially self-sustaining and see it as a “gentleman farmer” setup funded by prior software income or savings.
• Moving across the world to buy land in Greece is seen as capital-intensive and out of reach for most; some frame this as effectively an early-retirement/FIRE move.
• Others discuss direct-to-consumer models (olive oil, onions, fruit, tea, CSA) as possible but marketing-heavy and niche; software skills might help via e‑commerce, not coding everything from scratch.

Reality vs Romanticism of Farm Life

• People raised on farms often say they never want to go back; they emphasize hard work, financial stress, and lack of safety net.
• Former developers who did switch to farming describe lower income but higher daily satisfaction, better health, and clearer social contribution.
• Several warn that farming is “easy” only if backed by tech savings and the option to re-enter high-paying work; for families who depend on it, it’s precarious.
• Some suggest treating farming as a season or part-time phase rather than a total identity; others report doing exactly that.

Meaningful Work, Careers & Morality

• The author’s claim that only “farmer or artisan” are spiritually valid paths is heavily criticized as shallow, exclusionary, or self-righteous.
• Commenters point out caregivers, doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, bricklayers, scientists, and many others as obviously meaningful, largely non-evil work.
• A few try to reinterpret the claim as “jobs that directly provide tangible good vs. abstract value extraction,” but even then see big holes.
• Others argue that in a complex civilization, using high-leverage skills (e.g., software) to do large-scale good or effective altruism can be more impactful than retreating to a smallholding.

Burnout, Software Alienation & Life Redesign

• Many see the story as a classic burnout/quarter-life crisis: intense work, health collapse, then a swing to an extreme alternative (farm + strict spirituality).
• Some think deeper issues (e.g., mental health) should be addressed with therapy rather than only lifestyle change; extremes are seen as a depression pattern.
• Others defend radical breaks: incremental fixes (like “less screen time”) often fail, while abrupt changes (quitting smoking, leaving FAANG, moving) can succeed.
• Commenters note the alienation of making abstract software for unclear purposes versus the visceral satisfaction of woodworking, electronics, or growing food.

Software Work, Purpose, and Counterexamples

• Not everyone dreams of escaping: some genuinely enjoy software engineering, find deep purpose in being a “cog in a big machine,” and resent the demonization of office jobs.
• A recurring theme: the material world (wood, soil, paper books) feels richer than pixels, yet embedded systems or hardware-adjacent work can partially bridge this.
• Multiple people emphasize pursuing fulfillment or purpose rather than momentary “happiness,” whether in code, on a tractor, or in hybrid lives (e.g., part-time trade + part-time cognitive work).

Lifestyle, Health, and Seasonal Living

• Side discussions cover spirituality, barefoot running, and exercise: some swear by barefoot running and meditation; others demand more evidence and fall back on resistance training + cardio.
• The author’s seasonal, local Mediterranean-style diet sparks interest; one reply describes using a few “template” dishes per season, filling them with whatever is currently ripe rather than following fixed recipes.
• Several readers share their own small-scale homesteading or fruit-tree projects as “good for the soul,” even when not financially optimal.