The Dynamics of Pilgrimage: Christianity, Holy Places, and Sensory Experience

This book explores the role of the human senses in experiencing pilgrimage and sacred places, tracing the dynamics of pilgrimage and engagement with holy places from the beginnings of the Judaeo-Christian tradition to the present. It combines perspectives from a range of disciplines to examine themes such as sacred sites in the Bible and Early Church, pilgrimage and holy places in early and later medieval England, the impact of the English Reformation, revival of pilgrimage and sacred places during the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries, and the emergence of modern place-centred, popular spirituality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into a systematic and chronological exploration of the profound influence of the human senses on the experience of pilgrimage and sacred spaces, spanning both the past and present. By offering a broad historical narrative as a backdrop, it fills two significant gaps in the existing literature, facilitating a more meaningful discussion of patterns of continuity and change. Moreover, it sheds light on the central yet often overlooked aspect of the core dynamics of pilgrim experiences.

In this interdisciplinary study, the fields of Pilgrimage Studies and Sensory Studies come together in a historically contextual dialogue. Tracing the evolution of pilgrimage and engagement with holy places from the origins of the Judaeo-Christian tradition to the resurgence of interest observed in twenty-first-century England, the book offers a multi-faceted perspective. Experts from various disciplines, including history, neuroscience, and more, contribute their insights to examine a range of themes. These include the significance of sacred sites in the Bible and Early Church, the role of pilgrimage and holy places in early and later medieval England, the impact of the English Reformation, the revival of pilgrimage and sacred places during the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries, and the emergence of modern place-centered, popular spirituality.

By addressing the resurgence of pilgrimage and its enduring connection to the attachment of meaning to place, this book emerges as a vital resource for scholars engaged in the study of Pilgrimage Studies, History of Religion, Religious Studies, Sensory Studies, Medieval Studies, and Early Modern Studies. It provides a deep understanding of the sensory dimensions that shape the human pilgrimage experience, enriching our understanding of religious practices and cultural heritage across time and continents.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367557461