Religious Studies - Pilgrimage Coursework
Christians go on pilgrimages to undergo an experience of a religious nature, which doesn't mean a vision, it means to go to a place that has great religious significance and undertake a religious activity there. Many Christians feel that pilgrimage is a help to them, that it assists them in praying and that it draws them closer to God and others. Pilgrimages however, do not always have to be religious. Some people might say that they were making a pilgrimage if they were going to see the home of a pop or movie star or to a special football ground.
There are no special rules about pilgrimage in Christianity though, over its 2000-year history, many people have made pilgrimages to particular places both in the Holy Land (Bethlehem, Nazareth & Jerusalem) and in Europe e.g. Rome (Vatican City) and Lourdes. People make these pilgrimages for many different reasons. Some go to just too see the places where Jesus was or to see particular churches associated with special people or events. Some people go on pilgrimages to strengthen their faith and help them to feel closer to God. Some places such as Lourdes, are associated with healing miracles and people visit there in the hope of a cure, either for themselves, or for people who are close to them. In the past, many people went on pilgrimages because they believed that making a special journey to a particular place would gain the indulgences. The idea of an indulgence was that it would prevent you having to stay too long in Purgatory when you died.
Christians go on pilgrimages to undergo an experience of a religious nature, which doesn't mean a vision, it means to go to a place that has great religious significance and undertake a religious activity there. Many Christians feel that pilgrimage is a help to them, that it assists them in praying and that it draws them closer to God and others. Pilgrimages however, do not always have to be religious. Some people might say that they were making a pilgrimage if they were going to see the home of a pop or movie star or to a special football ground.
There are no special rules about pilgrimage in Christianity though, over its 2000-year history, many people have made pilgrimages to particular places both in the Holy Land (Bethlehem, Nazareth & Jerusalem) and in Europe e.g. Rome (Vatican City) and Lourdes. People make these pilgrimages for many different reasons. Some go to just too see the places where Jesus was or to see particular churches associated with special people or events. Some people go on pilgrimages to strengthen their faith and help them to feel closer to God. Some places such as Lourdes, are associated with healing miracles and people visit there in the hope of a cure, either for themselves, or for people who are close to them. In the past, many people went on pilgrimages because they believed that making a special journey to a particular place would gain the indulgences. The idea of an indulgence was that it would prevent you having to stay too long in Purgatory when you died.
