The Pilgrim Journey: A History of Pilgrimage in the Western World
The Pilgrim Journey offers a brief history of Christian pilgrimages over the last two thousand years. Harpur fully explores the notion of what truly makes a pilgrimage. Does one have to go to a religious shrine? Does there have to be a specific destination, or is the value in the journey itself? Does one even have to go anywhere at all? Modern pilgrims have a variety of transportation options and technological advances that have transformed the concept of pilgrimage. Places that once took months to travel to now only take a matter of days and virtual pilgrimages allow people to participate in a journey without ever leaving their home. Harpur comprehensively covers the most famous sacred destinations and well known pilgrims but there are so many to include that each one only gets a quick mention. A good introduction on the topic that will no doubt inspire additional reading, it is a fascinating book for anyone interested in spiritual journeys.
