His hand against everyone, and everyone against him

Submitted by David W. Lincoln (Canada), Jul 14, 2007 at 09:50

A psychological profile to be done? Perhaps, but we can work with this: First, what is viewed as normative is greatly influenced by what a person (indeed collection of people) is familiar with. What was Mahomet familiar with? Brother versus Brother, family vs. family, clan vs. clan, tribe vs. tribe, and if one doesn't belong to an Arab tribe and they are viewed as a menace - then all Arabs against the outside menace. I don't see any transcending of culture by Islam. Instead I see unsavoury aspects of culture strengthened because even though lip service is offered to the golden rule, Islam has cut itself off from the "I-Thou" relationship that allows people to exhibit the golden rule more often - rather than trying to do so solely via the efforts of the individual.

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