The modern-day secular non-religious pilgrimage is to Omaha, Nebraska, to see the legendary Warren Buffett and his once a year conference discussing the investing that he and his business, Berkshire Hathaway, do for investors in the Stock Market. This lavish event is held in a conference hall much like a cathedral with rows of seats and where long-term value investors are seated looking on in spectacle at Buffett who is sharing wisdom about investing. This parallels the “pilgrimage church generally consisted of a double aisle on either side of the nave” design of the conference hall to have visitors pay homage to the legend and listen in silence and reverence. The investors like in the article section: “cult of relic” are at Omaha to collect knowledge and buy shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock signifying an ownership in the philosophy and belief of long term value investing. The “pilgrim” will pay hundreds of dollars for a slice of the dream that is making money and investing for the future returns of the business and worship the Dollar which is labeled “In God we Trust” (Conveniently written on the back of the twenty-dollar bill, take a look).
Why make a Pilgrimage? This section refers to the want for people to visit different cultures and thoughts from a diverse group of pilgrims. This is in direct parallel to the reason that people go to Omaha, they want a in depth explanation from the “Oracle of Omaha” as Buffet is known to share his secrets to a profitable and successful career making money in the modern world. The pilgrim is given wisdom and is left to explore the different businesses in the Oracle’s portfolio. In many ways, the fear that drove the original pilgrims driven by a sense of impending cataclysm drives the modern value investor who fears losing money in the modern world. This sense of redemption that comes with visiting the “Oracle of Omaha” as Warren Buffett once a year has created a modern day secular non-religious pilgrimage in the United States.