Religious Eclecticism, or the rise in the home altar industry

[christopher d]

From the LA Times: (http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-shrines4jan22,1,2172314.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-magazine)
"There's always been a natural inclination to create an environment where people go to honor the forces of nature," says Robin. "We're also in a time in our culture when we are feeling less connected. There's a desire to be joined to something higher and not to feel that we're so alone. Altars are a wonderful avenue to connect us with the spiritual."

Silk Roads Design Gallery owners Jon and Cari Markell agree. Business is brisk for Buddhist and devotional art in their striking La Brea Avenue emporium filled with the fragrance of temple incense and the sounds of Tibetan singing bowls. People of all religious persuasions—Catholics, Presbyterians and Jews who adopt Buddhism or think along Buddhist lines—he says are shopping for home altar accouterments.

"People are perceiving the world as scary and spending more time at home," explains Jon. "They want to create a safe, spiritual and calming space. It's a place to connect heart and brain before going out to deal with the world."

The owners, both raised as Jews, have set up their home altar atop a built-in 1940s vanity. From their bed they can gaze upon a gold-leaf Burmese Buddha meditation board; a rare wood Buddha-as-baby; the Balinese goddess of fertility, Dewi Sri; and portraits of loved ones. "We didn't place the objects in any particular order," says Jon. "It's a family thing; we just like to look at them."

Interesting, to say the least, to see the home altar reach outside of the eastern / reconstructionist Pagan realms. But it's not the altar itself that piqued my interest, but rather the blatant eclecticism in religious practices cited in the article. For those of a more orthodox bend, I'd love to hear your opinions/reactions...

[Val1]

Well, that's just part of the Americanization of religion to some degree. Do people sit on their front porches anymore, no they build decks and retreat to the back. You ever seen the promotional literature for model homes and all the talk the designers give to the bathroom as retreat or oasis? Home altars are part of that same trend. And most of religion in America is about the personalization, what can religion do for me, the consumer. Home altars are about the need to serve the individual, to make the worship space "authentic" for the consumer. Also, a distressing trend...

[christopher d]

Also, a distressing trend...
Please elaborate... :)

[Norsk Troll]

Home altars are part of that same trend. And most of religion in America is about the personalization, what can religion do for me, the consumer. Home altars are about the need to serve the individual, to make the worship space "authentic" for the consumer. Also, a distressing trend...Hmmm... what's this?


http://timconnorpix.com/images/frontydmadonna.jpg

[christopher d]

What? The creeping growth of "insulation" that Americans are rocketing towards with gated communities, "executive living", etc, etc, etc.

I mean, why bother going out to (insert social/religious/employment activity here) when you can do it from the privacy of your own private retreat/fortress of solitude.I get your point. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the "fortresses of solitude", and have waxed utopian about turning suburbs and inner-cities into places where people walk, rather than drive. From a religious standpoint, however, I've been both a solitary pagan as well as a coven member. In both cases I've had an altar in the house. And not in a "fortress of solitude", either... I can't stand living in places like that. But when I need to turn inward, meditate, listen to the Goddess and God, as well as celebrate private rituals, they're indispensable.

But that's an anomaly in my own religion. It was the ecelcticism in the article that caught my eye. A pagan having his own altar is nothing special. A Lutheran, though? That's new.

[Val1]

Please elaborate... :)
Well, Mike the gist of what I was thinking, but in this case, as a Christian, our role and purpose is to seek God. In broad terms, the American religious experience is ofttimes more bent on seeking what about God is right for me, thereby defining God in my terms. I'm as guilty of this as the next person, but Christianity is supposed to be communal. Altars like these can feed the very worst of American tendencies.

[Chicago1871]

Altars like these can feed the very worst of American tendencies.
I'm not sure I see how defining and finding your own spirtual relationship to whoever it is you see as a diety is 'feeding the very worst of American tendencies.' Religion and spirituality has evolved over many centuries, and this seems to be just another stage in it's development. I guess I see how you might feel this hurts Christianity, but in the end, is it really all about people worshipping how and who you think they should? Or am I misinterpreting your sentiment?

[christopher d]

Why do you hate the poor, elderly & disabled? Your field of expertise, certainly, but wouldn't the ADA have something to say about accessability for elderly and disabled? And far from hating the poor, I think more walkable neighborhoods with more real access to shopping would be a tremendous benefit over taking the bus. Might even get folks talking to each other...





I'm gonna start calling you "Manwitch". Maybe even write a screen play, pitch it to Fox. It's all about a mild mannered insurance salesman by day who is a crimefighting Warlock by night. Get Alyssa Milano and/or Rose McGowan in there and we can talk licensing rights...

But fair's fair... I'd first want to see the epsiode of Bonanza where you ride into Carson City, NV in full Sioux get-up c. 1840 or so, to explain to the Territorial Legislature (in your best Kemosabe-English) how Virginia City is on "Ground sacred to my people", and that the cropping up of ranches like the Ponderosa will make it difficult for "my people to surivive".

(anyone about to correct me on the Sioux not being in NV, or Mike not being Sioux needs to have their irono-meter recalibrated...)



Depending on your view of Christianity, it's pretty close to idol worship.Congratulations! You've just called most Latin American Christians "Idol Worshippers"! What are you going to do now?!

[Chicago1871]

What are you going to do now?!
He'll kill their kids, their wives, their parents and their parents' friends. He'll burn down the houses they lived in and the stores they worked in, he'll kill people that owe them money. And like that he'll be gone. Underground. Nobody will ever see him again. He'll become a myth, a spook story that idolitors tell their kids at night. "Worship that golden calf, and Mike Segroves will get you.

[christopher d]

He'll kill their kids, their wives, their parents and their parents' friends. He'll burn down the houses they lived in and the stores they worked in, he'll kill people that owe them money. And like that he'll be gone. Underground. Nobody will ever see him again. He'll become a myth, a spook story that idolitors tell their kids at night. "Worship that golden calf, and Mike Segroves will get you.And then save two penalty kicks in the World Cup?

[Chicago1871]

And then save two penalty kicks in the World Cup?
Who do you think trained Segroves?