We've been waiting for the middle finger emoji to finally arrive, but it looks like the geniuses at Apple are also working on some more divine updates. On Wednesday, the latest iOS update brought more than 150 new emojis, including a variety of religious symbols. With a selection that includes characters from many different faiths and cultures, Apple's new religious emoji should make any First Amendment-loving American proud.
In addition to the much-needed bottle of champagne and unicorn, Apple has added 14 new religious emojis, including menorahs, rosary beads, and synagogues. New emojis represent places of worship, symbols of gods (although no icons represent the gods themselves) and tools of worship. Although they don't have categories themselves, they are spread across the "Travel & Places" tab, the "Objects" tab, the "Symbols" tab, and even the "Animals" tab.
The new faith-based emoji represent Apple's latest move to incorporate diversity into its operating system. Apple gave us a range of skin tones and foreign language characters in earlier versions of iOS, but the latest update brings diversity primarily through religion. Other additions to the emoji keyboard include new gestures and new foods, but the inclusion of symbols for Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other faiths is where the diversity really shines in iOS 9.1.
In addition to the menorah, rosary, and synagogue, Apple also added a mosque (far left above), a shrine (middle above), and the Kaaba (far right). The Kaaba is particularly noteworthy because it represents a specific milestone in the Muslim faith, whereas most emojis represent universal symbols of a certain faith (for example, a synagogue represents Judaism). The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building located at the center of Islam's holiest mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to which all Muslims pray every day.
As for more general symbols, Apple added a Latin cross (above, left), a peace dove (above, center), and a "place of worship" (above, right). One noteworthy image delivered by Apple? Buddha. There is an Om symbol for Buddhism, but Apple reportedly chose not to include an image of the Buddha himself because industry best practices warn against creating symbols that represent individual deities.
Apple's new emoji are designed to give users as many options as possible. Now this freedom of choice extends even to the realm of religion. Whether you want to express a specific religious belief in your communication or keep it generic, there's a faith-based emoji to suit your needs - just be respectful.
