Turner discusses pilgrimage frequently in the book Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture. Pilgrimage is an interesting concept that millions of people take on each year. It involves liminality and personally, I know several people who have taken on pilgrimage within the Christian culture. After seeing these people go on their pilgrimages, I have a good sense of how it can effect a person and I've talked to the people as well about it.
Pilgrimage varies a lot in different religions, but I feel like through Christianity it usually involves missionaries going on missions. One of my friends is a Mormon and recently got back from his mission, so reading about pilgrimage has been quite interesting to me. Turner talks about it as completely leaving the world one is used to, and working with others in a completely new environment. When one goes on this journey they are seeking a transformation of some type, possibly a spiritual transformation. After one reaches this point, they eventually return to their home land and original life, and continue on as a changed person.
After my friend got back from his mission, I started to ask him about it and what he experienced. He continued to tell me that it was a life changing experience and was something he could never even dream of. He told me how it was so humbling to live in another world as a complete stranger and to interact with people who speak different languages and live in a completely different culture. When I think about what my friend encountered, I relate it directly to what Turner describes as pilgrimage, and can easily see how someone is spiritually transformed after such an experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment