Let's Go To The Mall!

So it's been 20 years since Atlas Of Medieval America was first published, and 15 years I've been doing this blog. For the most part, I've been trying to stick to Matthew White's "canon", all fifteen articles and two dozen plus maps. White knows what he's talking about, and for all the satire, keeping to the "facts" and trying to rationalize it does keep things from getting out of hand or going all "Thundarr the Barbarian" or something. That said, I'm ready, after all the time, to officially ready to make my first break, and I do my "California Summer" series of articles.

On the original site, White states that California has become a Scientologist theocracy. This was something that seriously irritated fans (This was peak Tom Cruise couch-jumping era, and even though the actor's public image has recovered a bit, people are more skeptical of Scientology than ever). Now I'm not all about world-building as wish-fulfillment, but it's safe to say the "religion" has not grown, but looking more into California's history, and potential antecedents, I think it's fair to say that California is in fact overwhelmingly pluralistic. You can walk a street in Sacramento, Fresno, or even Los Angeles and you'll find temples at each end of the thoroughfare, shrines wedged between storefronts, and even people preaching strange new faiths. You can visit one. You can visit them all. In Medieval America, California is the Shopping Mall of Religions.

Ancient World:
The street religions of Medieval India, the Religious Carnivals of  Tokugawa Japan, and the Mystery cults of the of the early Roman Empire, as well as the cosmpolitanism of classical Alexandria, all provide historica antedents. Considering California's geographical resemblance to the Mediarranean World, as well as it's cultural connections to Asia (increased as it, at times, interacts more with the Pacific than even America's East coast), it naturally gravitated towards the Eastern approach to religious affiliation, as not a zero sum game, but fluid and complementary, in the same way Jennifer Lopez is an actress and a singer.

Californian History:
The West Coast's status as extremely secular has, ironically, often led its denizens to fill in the gap, embracing new waves of spirtual trends, some ironic, some dangerous, including The Church of Satan, Raëlism, Landmark Movement, Heaven's Gate, and as mentioned, Scientology. One might say this tendency towards experimental, trendy, or fringe faiths is very much tied into California itself, as the Gold Rush started not too long after the Second Great Awakening. The Gold Rush, the various periods in Hollywood, the Dot.com and Silicon Valley explosion, it's a world of hustle, reinvention, and trying to find the next big thing.

Anchor Temples:

The Macy's or Nordstrom of the religous mall, they're the classics that have had centuries to establish infrastructure, and whether or not their adherents are thriving, it's hard to imagine a main street without them

Catholicism: Because of its proximity to Mexico, and long history of Spanish missions (Some which have been coopted to by newer faiths, but not all), California is the one of the few places in the former Unite States the old Church has carved out a niche. Its main problem is that it's almost treated 

Buddhism: Even more dominant in the Pacific Northwest, it naturally has a place in California, though it should be said its American counterpart is something of a Pan-Asian gestalt, with an eco-conscious bent, and even tries to paint Christ as the ultimate Buddhist.

Scientology: Yes, this still has Churches, having spent centuries absorbing many self-help and Ufology relgions into its own orthodoxy.

The Botiques: Faiths that are either complemtary, or ethnic/profession based

Latter Day Saints: Actually might have larger temples on some cities, California is both the easiest and hardet place to send missionaries to. (Easy because it's geographically close and they won't get martyred, harder because they're kind of considered nerds.)

New Age: Another of Western America's "big four" because of it's more of a decentralized and at times "open air" faith, it's often practiced in gardens and the back rooms of shops.

Judaism: Califironia was a major Jewish center in modern times (Particularly because of the entertainment industry), synogogues aren't uncommon but largely found in strictly Jewish neighorhoods.

Cult of Beauty: With major sites in Malibu and Santa Barbara, it's the religion of brothels and courtesans, which is almost an entire fourth estate unto itself. Various women, historical and mythological are venerated, their pantheon almost entirely composed of Love Goddesses include but are not limited to Aphrodite, Lilith, Cleopaotra, Helen of Troy , Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana, Jessica Rabbit, Beyonce, Daenerys Targaryen, Margot Robbie, and Zendaya.

The Silk Screen: Less of a faith than as a sort of recurring zen-like practice, where denizens sit in a darkened room for a couple hours, partaking in a carbonated water, and watching lights and shadows move across a screen. The point is not worship per se, it is a practice of community and restraint. To not talk, to laugh and cry in unison as part of a greater whole. Buddhists often highly reccomend the experience.

The Kiosks

Of course, no visit throughout the streets of the West Coast is complete without a startrup faith, shouting from their own stand. Most common are those saying that the end is nigh--the world almot came to an end a thousand years ago, and everybody is merely in the eye of the hurricane. Also, while Elvis is venerated across the continent, (Even the New Israelites love him. "No kings but Christ and Elvis" is a stong anti-monarchial stance.) groups of inquirers insist he's coming back. Then of course, there are those claiming the Serpent People are walking among us. These tend to come and go, when the world doesn't end, when Elvis doesn't come back, and the Serpent People came to get them.