Memeplex

Much of the study of memes focuses on groups of memes called "memeplexes", "meme complexes" or "memecomplexes" — such as religious, cultural, or political doctrines and systems. Some selfish genes propagate more effectively together. Similarly some memes propagate more effectively together; they are called memeplexes. Examples are sets of beliefs like acupuncture and astrology, sets of traditions like Christmas celebrations, circumcision, languages, political ideologies, religions and scientific theories. Memeplexes can be true and useful or false and harmful yet able to propagate. 

Memeplexes of religion provide a common example. In the case of Christianity, the theory suggests, the Christian memeplex evolved the Jewish religious teachings to form, among others, the Catholic church. Following the schism between the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches, and later splits giving rise to various Protestant churches. Various people have added and deleted individual memes, resulting in the formation of completely different memeplexes (religions/sects) within the basic umbrella of Christianity, as well as within, for example, the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions.

Different memes in a memeplex can interact to reinforce each other. For example the Christian belief that non Christians go to Hell can make Christians reluctant to examine their doubts and see if their belief is rational or not. Hope of Salvation can encourage people to become Christians or remain Christians.

Reference

 * Susan Blackmore, Meme, Myself And I