Men of God in the City of Man, Part 4: Epimemetics
Dec 13, 2023
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The podcast explores the concept of epigenetics, discussing how modified gene expression can be inherited across generations. It also examines the transformation of human communication and the impact of social media. The formation of the prophetic movement in the Charismatic Pentecostal Church and the influence of charismatic figures in the Christian media landscape are explored. The chapter also touches on the isolation and punishment of deviant voices in the charismatic church.
Attentive rat mothering can be genetically inherited and influence behavior for multiple generations, challenging traditional understanding of evolution.
Epigenetics reveals that organisms can rapidly develop observable properties in response to their environment, exceeding genetic mutation and natural selection.
Social media has transformed communication, thinking processes, and social dynamics, influencing the expression and impact of memes on society.
Deep dives
The Influence of Mother Rat Behavior on Offspring
Canadian researchers found that rats with affectionate mothers, exhibiting high tendencies toward licking and grooming (LG) and arched back nursing (ABN), tend to have lower stress responses and pass on these traits to their own offspring. This suggests that attentive rat mothering can be genetically inherited and influence behavior for multiple generations.
Epimetics and the Role of Environment in Evolution
Epigenetics, which studies how non-genetic factors affect gene expression, has revealed that organisms can rapidly develop varying observable properties in response to their environment, exceeding what genetic mutation and natural selection alone can explain. This excess non-genetic phenotypic plasticity appears to mutate quickly and be heritable across multiple generations, challenging traditional understanding of evolution.
Social Media as the Fourth Epimetic Revolution
Social media has facilitated the formation of online communities, disseminated content rapidly, and changed the ways in which people read, respond to, and are affected by stories, narratives, and memes. It has transformed communication, thinking processes, and social, cultural, and political dynamics by creating a constant panopticon where individuals are under peer surveillance. This panopticon influences communication, idea formulation, and the expression of memes, shaping their impact on society.
The Democratization of Content Delivery
The use of the internet and social media has greatly expanded the reach of charismatic Pentecostal media, allowing for the proliferation of content supporting modern prophecy and charismatic beliefs. Major Christian television networks, such as TBN and Daystar, have close affiliations with charismatic Pentecostal churches and ministries. Additionally, various charismatic platforms, including streaming services and YouTube channels, showcase the teachings and prophecies of influential charismatic leaders. This democratization of content delivery has led to the amplification and influence of charismatic doctrines, even among non-charismatic evangelicals.
The Christian Social Media Panopticon
Social media has created an environment in which deviation from the dominant narrative, particularly the belief in Donald Trump as a prophesied leader, is met with hostility and norm enforcement within the charismatic Pentecostal community. This panopticon effect is achieved through the swift and aggressive response to any opposing views, labeling such deviations as opposition to God's chosen instrument. Prophets and apostles in this community are actively involved in enforcing this norm, using various platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to punish and silence dissenting voices. Deviance within the charismatic Pentecostal community is considered a betrayal to God, fostering an atmosphere of strict conformity and allegiance to the dominant narrative.
Every narrative is built on memes that have evolved and adapted to human culture over centuries.
But some environments change the way that those memes are expressed. The effects can be explosive.
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