Location

1C - Motivation and Experience

Start Date

30-6-2017 9:30 AM

End Date

30-6-2017 11:00 AM

Description

Historically, Protestants and Evangelicals in particular have rejected the notion of pilgrimage to visit a saint or holy site. Recently, however, there has been an increased interest and acceptance of pilgrimage to non-traditionally Protestant locations. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain is growing in popularity among Protestants who seek a prolonged period of meditation, retreat, and prayer.

Since a religious pilgrim by definition is someone who travels to pay penance for their sins, how does the Protestant idea of grace and not works affect the evangelical pilgrim? Of particular interest to me is how evangelical students from Wheaton College will interpret the Camino after walking it in the summer of 2017. How do other religious pilgrims differ from evangelical pilgrims? What language does the pilgrim use to describe their journey along the Camino? What biases are the students bringing with them as evangelicals or are they open and willing to embrace other views of the transformative experience? How does pain and suffering affect the evangelical pilgrim? Since suffering is not emphasised in protestant traditions like it is in other religions, will students see that as an opportunity for spiritual growth?

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Jun 30th, 9:30 AM Jun 30th, 11:00 AM

Evangelical Christians’ Reflections Along the Way of St. James

1C - Motivation and Experience

Historically, Protestants and Evangelicals in particular have rejected the notion of pilgrimage to visit a saint or holy site. Recently, however, there has been an increased interest and acceptance of pilgrimage to non-traditionally Protestant locations. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain is growing in popularity among Protestants who seek a prolonged period of meditation, retreat, and prayer.

Since a religious pilgrim by definition is someone who travels to pay penance for their sins, how does the Protestant idea of grace and not works affect the evangelical pilgrim? Of particular interest to me is how evangelical students from Wheaton College will interpret the Camino after walking it in the summer of 2017. How do other religious pilgrims differ from evangelical pilgrims? What language does the pilgrim use to describe their journey along the Camino? What biases are the students bringing with them as evangelicals or are they open and willing to embrace other views of the transformative experience? How does pain and suffering affect the evangelical pilgrim? Since suffering is not emphasised in protestant traditions like it is in other religions, will students see that as an opportunity for spiritual growth?