ABSTRACT
The idea of someone traveling for religious purposes—commonly referred to as a “pilgrim”—is not a uniquely Christian or medieval European idea. The Protestant reformation brought about changes in the ways pilgrimage was viewed in Europe. Martin Luther was a major opponent of pilgrimages, especially as they were performed in the Catholic Church. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage in Spain has grown in popularity among Protestants and Evangelicals who seek a prolonged period of meditation, retreat, and prayer as well as forming new ways of interpreting and contributing to ongoing stories of the world. The Camino becomes a path where Evangelicals develop a new awareness of themselves and the world around them, with pilgrimage becoming a growth opportunity for the Evangelical. The Camino de Santiago is an ancient Christian pilgrimage in Spain. As students found out firsthand, pain and suffering is one of the constants that is found along the Camino.
