Differences Through Time - Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture (Adam Stillabower)

     I rather enjoyed learning about the history of pilgrimages and to really look into the roots of these rituals and practices. I can understand why the people of the early days of Christianity would want to walk the same routes that major characters in the Church walked, which reflects back to the axioms that Lanes discusses in Landscapes of the Sacred. It wasn’t that the specific routes were any more or less sacred than others, but it was the spiritual significance there that was found by spiritual figures.  Biblical events like Paul/Saul’s Damascus road experience speaks to these axioms, as he was visited by God on the path, effectively making it a sacred place. I think the idea that people went on these pilgrimages in order to form community is also a valid one, but I believe that still remains a prevalent reason for those who walk the trails to this day.

    A point brought up in the readings about how medieval pilgrimages being more dangerous was most certainly a valid one. I would argue that, since the world is most certainly more connected than the early days of Christianity, that would also account for the increased level of safety for those taking pilgrimages today. Yes, societal values as a whole have shifted, but as time has progressed, it has become easier to hold people accountable for the societal norms and values. While many people do not actively go to these trails looking to run into thieves or robbers, it is still largely understood that you should always proceed with caution everywhere you go, especially the unfamiliar.