Globally, the search term "meme" is searched twice as frequently as "Jesus" — with a search frequency ratio of 93 to 43. The humble internet meme, a format that began with a badly translated video game and a cat with Impact font, has out-searched the central figure of the world's largest religion.
Is this simply proof that Exhausted Spongebob is universally relatable in a way that transcends geography, language, and theological tradition? Is the meme the answer to our Babylonian troubles? One language that unites us all...
The only countries where Jesus maintains the search advantage are the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Venezuela, Spain, South Africa, and Portugal, all holding ratios that favour him, but by margins that are, in some cases, narrowing.
At the opposite end of the spectrum sit Vietnam and Poland, where memes lead Jesus 96 to 4 and 92 to 8 respectively. Poland, notably, is one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in Europe. Maybe they just know everything there is to know about the big guy, and need Futurama Fry to lighten the mood a little? Honestly, anyone can do with a good meme after doomscrolling through the Book of Revelation.
So, whether you consume memes as your main political (not recommended) or just to take a little break from reality, they have become an unavoidable reality of our daily lives. Because let's face it, life seems to be on a runaway train with the tracks ending at the edge of a cliff. So we might as well get our laughs in, right?
Do you think that dealing with reality through memes is a constructive coping mechanism? Or do we need professional help... Tell us in the comments!
