Fiction Depiction

17 Dec. 2014

Meme Analysis

This meme presents a gnostic atheist stance against religions, focusing on Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and perhaps Shintoism as being fictional with regard to their narratives. Being that many of the members of the group in which this meme appeared belonged to the United States (where Christianity historically has been the main traditional religion of influence), it is no wonder that the cross (representing Christianity) would be put in the center of this meme.

Made by a member of the Cult of Dusty, Dusty referring to Dusty Smith, if memory serves.

While the meme merely presents a claim, that claim is a polemical one. The original model here traces back to the popularized “Coexist” bumper-sticker, in which the makers had aimed at ensuring tolerance or acceptance of diverse religions. By contrast, the “Fiction Depiction” meme questions that very stance of tolerance and acceptance. Why should a gnostic atheist tolerate diverse religions that he believes are fictional? He certainly would not feel compelled to accept those religions.

Unfortunately, this meme does not really present an argument, so there is little more to discuss about it, other than to say that many other memes of a similar variety have rang in the Fiction Motif that has been common among the atheist and agnostic community in online social media groups. As someone a bit fond of the color green, I can say they had a good choice in color use. Its use of shadow gives a hint at a notion of the religions being twinged with darkness. This in some sense is consistent with the meme message.