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A Biblical Equivalent of "Memes"

  • Writer: A Writer for Christ
    A Writer for Christ
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

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I'm interested in many subjects, and one of those subjects is Internet memes. They are significantly influential in the online world, so a right understanding of what they are and how they work is highly profitable for how Christians can use Internet memes to glorify God. So, how does His Word conceptualize them?

To understand Internet memes, we obviously need to understand memes in general. The term "meme" was coined by the anti-Christian biologist Richard Dawkins, who originally defined it as "a noun that “conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation”" [1]. In other words, a meme is a piece of culture that is transmitted or imitated. So, an Internet meme is a cultural piece that is transmitted or imitated on the Internet. Now, that does beg the question: what does "culture" mean? I googled the question, and I think this definition is good: "the beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a particular social group, place, or time" [2]. So, going further, a meme is a belief, custom, art, etc. of a social group, place, or time as it is transmitted or imitated, with an Internet meme being a belief, custom, art, etc. of a social group, place, or time as it is transmitted or imitated on the Internet.

So, with that information in mind, what term in Scripture, if any, is synonymous with "meme" or approximates to "meme"? What word in Scripture is used for a belief, custom, art, etc. of a social group, place, or time as it is transmitted or imitated? Well, in 1 Peter 1:18, we read this: "forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;" (KJV). Here, Peter, by the Holy Spirit, tells the Christians he is addressing that it was by "tradition" that they received their empty way of life from their ancestors. Their lifestyle, which definitely included their beliefs and more, was transmitted to them, and they clearly imitated it as they lived their lives in that way. So, an equivalent concept in Scripture for "meme" is "tradition." Extending this conclusion to Internet memes, we may call Internet memes "Internet traditions."





NOTE: credit to Scott Aniol of G3 Ministries, whose former website "Religious Affections Ministries" (link here: https://religiousaffections.org/) has inspired my use of 1 Peter 1:18 as a way to Biblically conceptualize "culture". This acknowledgement is in no way a statement or implication that I have any ties with Scott Aniol, G3 Ministries, or Religious Affections Ministries, or that I am in alignment with them on everything.

 
 
 

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