Definition of a meme: [quote]meme noun an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation. a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.[/quote] This is a very rigid definition, limited in scope. But it makes one think: what is a meme? We could go deeper and say that a meme is an idea, usually expressed with text, imagery, or any combination of the two. But this fails to. We see images with text all the time that are most definitely NOT memes, at least not in any complex sense of the term. Memes, regardless of their medium generally require some level of "inside” knowledge, and make subtle references that only those that are part of a given sub culture would understand. Go to Facebook and post "a puppy showed up on my porch" and no one will know what you mean, they will assume that a dog was actually on your porch. Memes are the ultimate expression of human symbolism. And if you dig into Socio Cultural Anthropology even a little, you will quickly see the importance of symbolism in defining what it means to be "human". When an Archaeologist digs up some unfamiliar pot in Egypt decorated with weird symbols, he is as lost as a newfoman to the significance of $201.50. Understanding the symbols on the pot requires comprehending the subtle meanings of ancient Egyptian culture. So back to my title: what if God is/was the first Meme? Imagine some distant culture, before the dawn of written history, sensing that something was implied by a subtle breeze or the rising of the sun. Picture someone, not radically unlike yourself, staring with intense interest at a seedling. At that time humanity was much closer to nature, an intrinsic part of seasonal changes and the survival potential offered by natural resources. Imagine having no hourly sense of time, your days measured only by the coming and going of the sun, and "years" loosely measured by planting and harvesting, and the migratory patterns of wild game. Living in that kind of world, with such a completely different frame of reference, what would a "meme" look like? Today our memes generally use some sort of visual medium. Then, the availability of material objects (besides other people, plants, animals etc) was limited. It would not be unreasonable to assume that the symbolic meaning which makes a meme what it is, would more often be attached to things that change faster than digital media. Yes, a picture or phrase can be adapted, but it does not "change" as a tree changes from spring to winter. In a world where the changeability of nature acted as the object of human symbolism, is it so far fetched that the complex and sometimes contradictory idea of "god" would emerge? [b]Please note: I am trying to disprove the notion of God by arguing for a material origin of the concept itself. I'm merely speculating. Thinking out loud. We know that human concepts have a basis in the material world, i.e our brains and the way our brains interpret what we see etc... But that does not mean that in forming a material concept of the infinite, that the infinite is any less real. Or the divine less possible... [/b] What are your thoughts?