Quote:
it is **not** anything that can be coherently argued to be a discrete "civilization"---because the notion of a "civilization" as a self-enclosed, self-referential whole is incoherent--and even if it was not, the degree of variation would force you to generalize the encompassing category to the point of meaninglessness were you to try to make it do anything. so you loose either way.
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Maybe it's late and I'm tired, but did you just argue that "civilization," as a conceptual way of encapsulating a generally consistent set of beliefs, morals, and practices over a body of people doesn't really exist?
Additionally, how is "Islam" not a civilization or culture? They define themselves that way, it's not something that the media puts on them. I'm under the opinion that people are allowed to call themselves whatever they want, no matter how technically inexact their choice.