REL 410 The Art of Pilgrimage
This course is intended to immerse the student in the tradition, theology, culture, and environment of pilgrimage. The course will allow students to explore the significance of pilgrimage by performing the actions of a pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. For over 1000 years, people of faith have traveled to the burial site of St. James in Santiago. The routes to reach Santiago flourished in the medieval era, paths that were walked by princes, kings, and ordinary peasants. As a result each town along the way to Santiago bears vivid material evidence, through ecclesial art and architecture, that speaks to the popularity of this practice. Additionally, the influence of Islam and Judaism, along with the Christian pilgrimage, made Spain a cultural and philosophical crossroads that brought important ideas into the rest of Europe. Students enrolled in this course will walk in the footsteps of past pilgrims upon these well-trod routes, focusing on the route in northern Spain. By delving into this practice, students are expected to gain a deeper knowledge of the role of ritual practice in religion, as well as an understanding of the cultural and philosophical significance of medieval Spain.
Cross Listed Courses
PHI 390 and
ARH 310.