Image and Pilgrimage

November 30, 2015

Image and Pilgrimage Reading #1

            As I was reading Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture I thought it was interesting when I read about the classifications of the pilgrimages. 

“In a broad system of classification, we have identified four main types of pilgrimages, the first  two of which occur in all the historical religions” (17).

The author categorizes them into four different groups based primarily on the basis of the journey and their founders and principles.  The author categorizes the first pilgrimage as the prototypical pilgrimage.  This sort of journey is one where the founder of the religion also created the pilgrimage itself.  Pilgrimages such as the ones to Jerusalem and Rome are noted as prototypical pilgrimages.  The second pilgrimage is what the author calls the archaic pilgrimage.  The author characterizes these pilgrimages as being ones that were combined with older religions in their beliefs and symbols.  Medieval pilgrimages are the third one described because they formed in the European Middle Ages.  They originate their principles on the theological and philosophical elements of this time era.  Lastly, the fourth pilgrimage the author describes is the modern pilgrimage.  Pilgrimages such as these are characterized with a highly devotional tone and involved in technological and scientific culture.  Though they are considered modern pilgrimages they can be seen as not modern because they usually begin with apparition or a vision.