Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0003-9551-9680
Abstract
While researchers are in agreement about the positive relationship between spiritual activities (SAs) and mental health (MH) among the general population, the relationship between spiritual tourism (ST) and MH, particularly among young adults, is yet to be adequately investigated. As such, important questions regarding the status of religion in the contemporary world can be addressed through the study of current pilgrimage trends. A ‘pilgrimage boom’ is occurring in Britain and other parts of the global anglosphere (Williams, 2020 & O’Keeffe, 2022). Yet, many of these modern pilgrims do not identify with established religious categories (i.e., Christianity). Significant gaps in our current understanding of how people engage (or do not engage) with the religious life are brought to the forefront through the examination of contemporary pilgrimage trends. In this paper, I aim to locate and understand the contemporary factors that have given way to an explosion of ‘secular’ pilgrimage. The factors I consider in this paper are the secular and post-secular motivations of pilgrims, the spiritual motivations of pilgrims, and the touristic motivations of pilgrims. Together, these factors present a broad overview of why many (un)religious pilgrims are walking auspicious routes. The act of walking itself also presents an explanation for why pilgrimage is back in fashion, thus there will be some discussion on embodiment. Ultimately, I conclude that each factor presents compelling explanations for the anglosphere’s pilgrimage boom. However, it is not possible to arrive at a single reason without further ethnographic research. Pilgrimage ‘data’ are difficult to quantify. My paper, thus, sets the groundwork for further enquiry into the motivations of contemporary (un)religious pilgrims. In understanding the motivations of contemporary (un)religious pilgrims, wider questions concerning the status of religion within the anglosphere world can also be asked.
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Recommended Citation
Smith, Gregory
(2026)
"Understanding the Rising Popularity of (Un)religious Pilgrims: Belonging Without Believing,"
International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage:
Vol. 14:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol14/iss1/4