600

"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: 'Mankind.' Basically, it's made up of two separate words—'mank' and 'ind'. What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind."- Jack Handy

This is my six hundredth post. A while back I decided that I would post something about the post number every hundred posts. I didn't consider how difficult it is finding a topic about six hundred, though. The number really does not have much significance. However, the book of Revelation describes the six as the number for man, so this is a post about the topic of how I perceive mankind.

Probably what interests me the most about humanity in general are the unexpected similarities and the unexpected differences among people throughout the world. I think the similarities can best be seen in the stories that come from different cultures. Universally, people appreciate heroic traits and traits of self-sacrifice. That may make some sense in that those two traits should prolong the existence of a specific culture. This could also explain the fact that the Crucifixion story has been accepted in cultures worldwide.

Another similarity that C.S. Lewis noted in Mere Christianity was that most cultures have an inherent sense of right and wrong. While a lot of the details regarding this sense may differ, there are more similarities than differences. Again, it could be argued that any culture without a sense of right or wrong would eventually destroy itself in selfish chaos, but there should at least be some record of them if they existed.

I am convinced that most differences between cultures are learned differences and not natural differences. Even so, it is amazing how foundational ways of thinking can differ. Americans tend to be very individualistic. In some Asian cultures there is not really such a thing as individual success, but rather group or family success. It is probably a reflection of American selfishness, but I cannot fathom not approaching life individualistically.

I think that for all of the differences, though, you will still find people of all personality types no matter where you go. If someone described themselves as American, French, Japanese, or Mexican, that still shouldn't tell you too much about their personality outside of the cultural rules by which they play.

One of the biggest questions that perplexes me, because it is something that I cannot know for certain, is whether there is a universal human experience or whether all people are totally unique in the way they experience life. Everything else about the nature of people in general and individually has to flow from that.