"Pilgrimages are a waste of time - it would be better to spend this time and money helping others" Do you agree? Pilgrimage is a journey to a distant place of worship or a holy place. It is

Some people would agree with this statement and think that the money and time could be spent on helping the poor or homeless. The people who go on pilgrimage spend money on going to a place for the satisfaction of being at one with their God and helping the sick and less fortunate. This money could be used to home the homeless, stop aids in third world countries, beat starvation and control the dying of children. Jesus said “love one another as I have loved you” and so is telling us surely to help other people not put our own needs first. Pilgrimage is something which enables you to have time to yourself and not help others which isn’t the way God taught us. This shows how people should put others before themselves and not just help themselves. . In the bible there’s a passage in the book of Micah 6:8 it says “what shall I bring to the lord the god what shall I bring offerings to him? Sacrifices? No what the lord wants” which shows how God doesn’t need everything you give him he just wants you and your helpfulness. If you put others before yourself and give more to charity you are more acceptable to God and therefore more likely to be lucky on judgement day. This shows that people agree with this statement and think it will make their bond with God stronger if you just help others in your own private way.

On the other hand some people disagree with this statement and would say pilgrimages are worth your time and money because they bring you closer to God and are what he wanted us to do. When on a pilgrimage you can help other people and treat other people as you would like to be treated. In the safe environment and secure surroundings of a place of pilgrimage you can grow spiritually and help people to pray. A verse in the bible in the book of psalm.84 “ how happy are those … who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Zion; they will grow stronger as they go” which shows that God and Jesus want us to go on pilgrimage and help people out, and get a strong spiritual and emotional bond with God. This shows that god wanted us to go on pilgrimage and agrees with the statement.

In conclusion I do not agree with the knowledge because I feel that it is your decision if you want to go on pilgrimage or not. If u don’t want to it is up to you and just because personally pilgrimage isn’t my thing if someone wants to go on it so be it. If you feel God is calling you to do that then go forth and attend his call. It’s like some people find their calling from god as playing football and others find it going on pilgrimage, but no matter what you chose to do God will accept you. I don’t think everyone should be made to go on pilgrimage but I think the challenge of surviving free will and wanting to go break rules needs to be succeeded by the chosen pilgrim.