People also see pilgrimage as an opportunity to reflect on the priorities in their lives. For example, in Lourdes, pilgrims have a chance to see and meet other people with difficult living conditions or handicaps. Particularly in Lourdes, pilgrims take the chance to help those who are physically or mentally handicapped. These acts of humility enable them to feel closer to God as they are acting like a servant as Jesus did. This may have a positive impact on the pilgrims’ faith because at the Last Supper Jesus told the disciples that to follow him perfectly they had to serve each other as he served them. It also gives people a chance to provide inspiration for other pilgrims, and give them the hope and encouragement to endeavour to feel closer to God. However, other people feel that it is a waste of a significant amount of money, one example being that a trip to Lourdes can cost around four hundred pounds. Such money could be better spent on charities to help projects such as improving medical help and famine relief. Also, many young people pay to go to Lourdes to help them feel closer to God through caring for others, and also to give them spiritual discipline. But they could also help in a local nursing home every week; this should be just as rewarding as in Lourdes, as it is basically the same thing in a different place.
As well as improving a relationship with God, some people feel that pilgrimage helps them in their search for God and how significant faith can be in their lives, and to discover different ways in which God’s love can be shown to them and how they can experience this. However, others feel that pilgrims may rise to false hopes, and become disheartened and disappointed should they not gain what they feel they went on the pilgrimage for.
Pilgrims such as those who go to Lourdes see pilgrimage as a chance to share their faith with others, where they can meet new people who share the same beliefs. They also go to become part of a bigger community, like an extended family, where people travel from all over the world to share in the same thing, regardless of nationality or race and so on. Pilgrimage also unifies people with God, and is an opportunity to focus on the fundamental basis of their faith, not thinking about the differences between the other denominations of Christianity. Also, it is a refreshing change of routine to their usual way of worshipping, and allows them to explore new ways of expressing their faith. Pilgrimage is also beneficial for those who are having doubts about their faith, and it is more likely that their faith will be restored when they are among others.
On the other hand, some people feel that pilgrimage exploits their faith and commercialises places of religious significance in their lives. This could happen through places selling “tacky” souvenirs. At certain locations there is a great possibility of the creation of segregation and increased tension between people of different beliefs, such as in Jerusalem where Jews, Muslims and Christians consider it to be their place of worship and not the others’, resulting in vast wars. People also disagree with pilgrimage because pilgrims may not appreciate the real value, such as treating the pilgrimage as a simple solution to their lack of faith, and to keep a reputation so as not to be referred to as “second class citizens” if they do not go.
Having examined both viewpoints, I disagree with the statement and feel that pilgrimage can play a relevant part in a person’s journey of faith. However, I also feel that it is up to the person involved what they think is right or wrong. Pilgrimage is made for spiritual reasons, and may help pilgrims to become more spiritually fulfilled in their lives.
