The little I know of the resurgence of “back to basics” islam in the 12-14th centuries tells me of the power of such “let us break from the recent past and ‘return’ [to an idealization of an imaginary fantasy past]\–\\
a standard American answer: “there’s money to be made, that’s why” which is true, also misses on a deep appeal to certain kinds of unity and purity and destiny from some ordained from on high place, noble sacrifices expected of the less powerful and such
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