HIS5107 Holy Sites and Pilgrimages
This seminar examines the relationship between holy sites and pilgrimages from ancient to recent history. It challenges the atavistic view that links spirituality and immutable rituals through religious practices only, ignoring that context and conjuncture often override structures and that historical evolution changes the content and meaning of pilgrimages, and is still at work. Different holy sites and pilgrimages of the major religions in will be covered, with a particular emphasis on the Rome from Ancient to Contemporary. The keywords will include among others: prophecy; devotion; charisma; spirituality; initiation; evolution. This course does not have a pre-requisite but some previous exposure to a World History and/or World Religions course may help.