Two pebbles in the pond of thought
[ by Charles Cameron — regarding the idea that Islam might be monolithic as well as monotheistic, and more generally, the patterns created when concentric ripples intersect ]
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Drop these two pebbles into the pond of thought, and watch the ripples as they intersect, overlap, enhance one another, cancel each other out and continue…
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It may seem obvious that Islam is not, and could not possibly be, a monolithic entity — but I want to suggest something more than that fairly basic fact.
I want to suggest that just as we have all enjoyed watching the way concentric ripples fan out from the place where a pebble — or a raindrop — hits a pond, and the fascinating ways win which two or more such ripples intersect —
— in much the same way, it can be fascinating — and often illuminating — to watch the way in which ripples of thought in the thought pond intersect.
In fact, that’s the basic “move” behind all creativity.
**
My sources for the two quotes above:
Small Wars Journal, Disruptive thinking
Wikipedia, Islam
My sources for the two images above:
Doodles and jots, ripple effects
David Armano on “ripples of influence”
