Pilgrimage #1

Chapter one of Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture is entitled “Pilgrimage as a Liminoid Phenomenon”, and begins by discussing how pilgrimage is often overlooked by historians. When discussing how French folklorist of the early 1900s Arnold van Gennep was overlooked by his community, I realized how some of what he discussed is incredibly important in our society today. The stages of the rites de passage in maturity and transitions. These stages are separation, limen or margin, and aggregation. This can be more easily understood as detachment from community, then they are within a limbo between transition, and finally the subject returns changed. This is a story repeated countless times in our culture from the books we read, the movies we watch. As a society we love the story of redemption, or that of the hero's journey. This style of storytelling seems to transcend culture, and appears to be something many can find enjoyment in. While pilgrimages are of ancient origins, to me it is clear that to concept is one that is ever present and important within our modern culture.