I think you at mixing words that look similar. It is a large problem in this sort of discussion: Pure functions. (Only Haskell and friends are strictly pure, a

I think you at mixing words that look similar. It is a large problem in this sort of discussion: Pure functions. (Only Haskell and friends are strictly pure, as is SQL if you squint.) Higher order functions. (Java 7 doesn't allow you to pass around a callable function without embedding a link language with reflection or using one-method Runnable.) First class functions. (Basic, SQL do not have this.) Generic functions. (C does not have this. C++ does. Java does.) These are three orthogonal properties a Lang age may have some or all of.