Study: Religious memes mix faith and humor for unpredictable result

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http://pressreleases.religionnews.com/2014/02/13/study-religious-memes-mix-faith-humor-unpredictable-result-3/

February 13, 2014

Reading religious Internet memes is not always as easy as it seems. The way memes are created, designed and distributed results in them both affirming and undermining religion — sometimes at the same time.


©2014 Memegenerator.com Meme by Andrea Terry

Internet memes are a popular way of communicating online, yet while they may seem playful, their messages are often quite serious. Memes are digital images that combine pictures with and succinct texts, to communicate playful yet pointed messages about politics, pop culture and religion.

A recent study of religious Internet memes, conducted at Texas A&M University, found that while many people have readily used this genre to spread religious beliefs and ideas, there may be consequences to doing so.

Researchers at Texas A&M University found two distinct communication strategies in their comparison of different religious-oriented meme genres. Some memes used religious icons and characters such as “Buddy Christ” or Mitt Romney’s Mormonism. Other memes more generally targeted Christians, Muslims or Jews. Both frame religion in interesting, yet problematic, ways.

“This study shows how memes enable people to spread religious ideas, and at same time, critique religion.” said Ruth Tsuria, a PhD student at Texas A&M University and one of the authors of the report, “Reading Religion in Internet Memes” published 31 December 2013.

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