I recently linked an item at Gene Expression in which Razib, one of that blog’s contributors, discussed the difference between “plural monoculturalism” and “admixed multiculturalism”  —

[‘Plural monoculturalism’ describes] a nation where separate ethnic and religious groups live apart within the same polity….

A contrasting dynamic is the admixture of various particular traditions and forms into a new cultural complex….

— and today, via AMERICAblog, I learn of an attempt by pizza magnate Thomas S. Monaghan (founder of Domino’s Pizza) to form a separate religious community within Florida:  “God’s will” has inspired him to dedicate $250mil toward the creation of an all-Catholic town named Ave Maria:

The town and the university, developed in partnership with the
Barron Collier Co., an agricultural and real estate business, will be
set on 5,000 acres with a European-inspired town center, a massive
church and what planners call the largest crucifix in the nation, at
nearly 65 feet tall. Monaghan envisions 11,000 homes and 20,000
residents.

During a speech last year at a Catholic men’s gathering in Boston,
Monaghan said that in his community, stores will not sell pornographic
magazines, pharmacies will not carry condoms or birth control pills,
and cable television will have no X-rated channels.

Homebuyers in Ave Maria will own their property outright. But
Monaghan and Barron Collier will control all commercial real estate in
the town, meaning they could insert provisions in leases to restrict
the sale of certain items.

[Brian Skoloff, AP, via Yahoo! News: “Pizza Magnate Seeks Catholic-Governed Town”]

Serious constitutional issues remain to be decided; the executive director of the ACLU envisions legal battles stretching for the foreseeable future.

The project is interesting and touches upon many areas of importance to the future of America.  For instance, the very framework of the U.S. Constitution was designed to give greater powers “to the people” than to the federal government, and although that term is generally interpreted to mean “the state” (state’s rights), conflicts over self-determination — particularly, concerning freedom of association and freedom of religion — will only grow as America becomes more fragmented along various cultural and political fault lines.  This is perhaps why Razib, at GNXP, argued that plural monoculturalism may be the most stable form of system when so many cultural groups come into conflict. Separate but well-defined groups are easier to manage, from above and by their own appointed leaders,  than an admixed multiculturalism, because the conflicts between groups are isolated to broad borders rather than intermixed daily by so many millions of people.  On the other hand, sectarian conflict might be intensified, especially when all these group cohabit within a nation while insisting on an insular cultural integrity — as is happening in Iraq.

I cannot help thinking that Mr. Monaghan is only acting upon divisions which are already present, rather than creating a new division.  This is troubling; but my fingertip-feeling is that much of the friction occurring in Iraq and in Europe is a symptom of a larger dynamic not isolated to those regions.  There is a great war brewing between secularism and theism, perhaps much greater than anyone has realized — though many have already begun taking sides — and it will touch all areas of the globe.  Besides being an issue of secularism v. theism, the coming conflict will also pit plural monoculturalism against admixed multiculturalism — and perhaps plural statism against globalism.