Strata: Tweeting the Bible

The most translated book in human history, the Bible, can add one more language to its list—emoji (pictographs used in electronic messages). What began as some fun with an online text translator has turned into a popular Twitter account (@BibleEmoji), website (www.BibleEmoji.com) and now book, Bible Emoji: Scripture 4 Millenials (intentionally misspelled).

The author wishes to remain anonymous due to concerns over critics’ reactions. While many motives have been ascribed to him, and he has been accused of conspiracy from both the left and the right, he claims he is neither mocking the Bible nor out to target youth conversions. “I don’t think many people do a good job of understanding the Bible in context,” explains the author. “What makes emojis so great and part of the symbolism I wanted with this project is that emojis are universal in the strictest sense. Emojis have no gender, no race and no agenda.”¹

The Twitter account remains light and fun by avoiding the more sensitive and violent parts of the Bible (though these all appear in the book), and the website that allows users to participate in the creation process serves as a “public proofread.”