Sacred-language standardization builds cohesion across vast religious in-groups

Evidence

At religious festivals, such as the Hajj, macrodemes are able to perform one of their primary functions, which is the promotion of linguistic standardization and affinity. Linguistic affinity is essential in preserving a common religious worldview and identity (Caporael, 1997). Arabic is the common language of Muslims, and for Muslims, their holy book, the Quran, is not considered to be the true Quran unless it is in the original Arabic (Mohammed, 2005). Muslims aspire to be able to read or listen to the Quran in its original Arabic and strive to learn at least enough Arabic to do so (Mohammed, 2005). In addition, regardless of local language, the Adhan is traditionally recited in Arabic around the world. By unifying the language of the sacred text and ritualized prayer, Muslims have maintained at least some linguistic affinity for 1.3 billion people worldwide. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 903

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s prejudice-psychology thread: linguistic affinity as a low-cost binding mechanism that keeps an outgroup’s ‘otherness’ encoded in an inaccessible sacred tongue — parallels how language difference becomes a marker for discrimination. — connects to: Consensus governance across diverse Tribes held together by a shared spiritual foundation — Luke W. Cole and Sheila R. Foster, From the Ground Up: Environmental…, 627
• CANDY: The Quran only counts as the true Quran in Arabic is a compact, tweetable fact.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 903