The spiritually thirsty who live on the coast, drink from the ocean. But what about those who are landlocked?

by phil on Monday May 10, 2010 11:06 PM
religion

Why is it that a "spiritual awakening" in Middle America is considered joining a Christian sect, like Pentecostalism, while as a "spiritual awakening" on the coasts is defined as discovering Buddhism?

Perhaps people on the coasts are naturally cosmopolitan. They always look beyond the pond, broadening their horizons, greeting aliens visiting their harbors, and integrating their strange ideas.

In landlocked areas, like Minnesota, there is no such external stimuli. They must turn inward, divide their horizons into smaller segments, and form tribes within larger tribes, like Christianity.

Innovation on the coast is outward toward a gnostic acquisition of new ideas. Innovation in the interior is inward, toward nuance, provincialism, and a modification of traditions. Cosmopolitans want a different kind of pie. While as provincialists want to find the best parts of the existing pie, and making that their focus.