FEATURE: "Bonkism" — The Surprisingly Wholesome Pseudo-Religion Built on Memes

At first glance, it looks like a joke. Scratch that—Bonkism was a joke. It began as a meme: a picture of a cartoon dog getting tapped on the head with a bat, with the now-iconic caption:

“BONK. Go to horny jail.”

But six years later, what started as a funny internet image has somehow evolved into something stranger and—according to its followers—something meaningful. With its own symbolic language, rituals, community guidelines, and even a central tenet of “gentle correction,” Bonkism may be the internet’s first fully realized meme-based spiritual movement.

And no, they don’t actually hit each other with bats.

FROM MEME TO MEANING

To understand Bonkism, you have to rewind to the early 2020s. The world was deep in lockdown, TikTok was on the rise, and meme culture was reaching new heights of absurdity. Somewhere in that chaos, the Bonk meme took off.

It was simple: a badly drawn dog, wide-eyed with guilt, and a second character bonking them on the head with a bat. Often, it was used to playfully call out “unholy” behavior—whether that meant thirsting over a fictional character, staying up too late, or eating all the snacks before noon.

“It was self-aware, but soft,” says Dr. Martin Leone, a sociologist who specializes in internet subcultures. “It said, ‘I know I’ve messed up, and I deserve a little tap for that—but not punishment. Just a reminder.’ That subtle difference resonated.”

Soon, Bonk evolved from a meme into a symbol. Communities online began referring to themselves as “Bonkists” semi-ironically. They’d share their daily “bonk confessions,” give each other “gentle bonks of encouragement,” and post diagrams of the “Holy Bonk Cycle,” which looked suspiciously like a flowchart with emojis.

But somewhere between the humor and the structure, something real began to emerge.

THE BONKIST CREED

Bonkism doesn’t claim to be a religion—not officially. Its followers refer to it as a “gentle framework for living.” But structurally, it checks all the boxes.

There’s a central figure: The Bonk Dog, also called “The Hound of Accountability.” There’s a counterpart: The Bonker, a mysterious, benevolent figure who carries the sacred “Bat of Boundaries.” The Bonker’s role isn’t to punish, but to guide.

“Think of it like Buddhism, but instead of seeking enlightenment, you’re just trying to do your dishes and stop doomscrolling at 2 a.m.,” laughs 28-year-old Rina Feldman, who moderates one of the largest Bonkist communities online.

The Bonkist “creed,” which appears on their main wiki, reads:

“We acknowledge the chaos within and without.

We have strayed into cringe, snack hoarding, and midnight spiral.

We accept the Bonk with open heads.

Through gentle correction, we become slightly less weird.

Bonk be upon you.”

Their practices include:

The Daily Bonk: A humorous self-reflection ritual where followers write out a “small offense” and “bonk” themselves by tapping their heads (or pillows) with a soft object.

Bonkfast: A Sunday morning gathering—online or in person—where followers eat waffles, confess to petty sins, and affirm one another with the phrase, “You are still good. Just bonked.”

Forgive Thyself Fridays: A day devoted to letting go of embarrassment or regret from the week.

There is no hierarchy, no dogma, and no obligation to believe in anything beyond “we could all use a little more self-control and a lot more compassion.”

“Bonkism taps into the modern guilt complex,” says Dr. Leone. “But instead of weaponizing shame, it repackages it in a form we can laugh at—and then grow from.”

Psychologists have noted an increase in “light-hearted accountability communities” over the last decade, many of which use humor and collective support rather than judgment. Bonkism, oddly enough, may be one of the most successful.

There are now Bonkist groups in over 17 countries. While most exist on Discord, Telegram, and Reddit, some have begun hosting in-person “Bonk Circles,” where people gather to reflect, share snacks, and watch bad movies together.

It’s not a cult. There are no tithes, no overlords, and certainly no spiritual leaders with yachts.

“There’s just me,” says @bonkmom, a longtime admin of the r/Bonkism subreddit. “I’m a librarian from Ontario. I keep the memes archived and moderate for tone. That’s it.”