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Pilgrims and the making of pilgrimages are common in many [[religions]], including the [[faiths]] in ancient Egypt, Persia in the Mithraic period, India, China, and Japan. The [[Greek]] and Roman [[customs]] of consulting the gods at local [[oracles]], such as those at Dodona or [[Delphi]], both in Greece, are widely known. In Greece, pilgrimages could either be [[personal]] or [[state]]-sponsored.[1]

Pilgrims and the making of pilgrimages are common in many [[religions]], including the [[faiths]] in ancient Egypt, Persia in the Mithraic period, India, China, and Japan. The [[Greek]] and Roman [[customs]] of consulting the gods at local [[oracles]], such as those at Dodona or [[Delphi]], both in Greece, are widely known. In Greece, pilgrimages could either be [[personal]] or [[state]]-sponsored.[1]

In the early period of [[Hebrew]] [[history]], pilgrims traveled to Shiloh, Dan, Bethel, and eventually [[Jerusalem]], a [[practice]] followed by other Abrahamic religions. The great [[Islam]]ic pilgrimage to Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia), is obligatory for every able [[Muslim]]. Other Islamic [[devotion]]al pilgrimages, particularly to the tombs of Shia Imams or Sufi saints, are numerous. The early Christians made pilgrimages to the scenes of the Passion of Christ in Jerusalem. After Jerusalem had been occupied by the Saracens, [[Christians]] secured the liberty of pilgrimage, on payment of a tax by treaty. Medieval military orders, such as the [[Knights Templar]] arose to protect the pilgrims on their [[journey]]s.

In the early period of [[Hebrew]] [[history]], pilgrims traveled to Shiloh, Dan, Bethel, and eventually [[Jerusalem]], a [[practice]] followed by other Abrahamic religions. The great [[Islam]]ic pilgrimage to Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia), is obligatory for every able [[Muslim]]. Other Islamic [[devotion]]al pilgrimages, particularly to the tombs of Shia Imams or Sufi saints, are numerous. The early Christians made pilgrimages to the scenes of the Passion of Christ in Jerusalem. After Jerusalem had been occupied by the Saracens, [[Christians]] secured the liberty of pilgrimage, on payment of a tax by treaty. Medieval military orders, such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar Knights Templar] arose to protect the pilgrims on their [[journey]]s.

While religious pilgrims usually travel toward a specific destination, a [[physical]] location is not a [[necessity]]. One group of pilgrims in early [[Celtic]] Christianity were the Peregrinari Pro Christ, (Pilgrims for Christ), or "white martyrs". They left their [[homes]] to wander in the world.[2] This sort of pilgrimage was an [[ascetic]] religious practice, as the pilgrim left the [[security]] of [[home]] and the clan for an unknown destination, in complete [[trust]] of [[Divine]] [[Providence]]. These travels often resulted in the founding of new abbeys and spreading Christianity among the [[pagan]] [[population]] in Britain as well as in continental Europe.

While religious pilgrims usually travel toward a specific destination, a [[physical]] location is not a [[necessity]]. One group of pilgrims in early [[Celtic]] Christianity were the Peregrinari Pro Christ, (Pilgrims for Christ), or "white martyrs". They left their [[homes]] to wander in the world.[2] This sort of pilgrimage was an [[ascetic]] religious practice, as the pilgrim left the [[security]] of [[home]] and the clan for an unknown destination, in complete [[trust]] of [[Divine]] [[Providence]]. These travels often resulted in the founding of new abbeys and spreading Christianity among the [[pagan]] [[population]] in Britain as well as in continental Europe.

==Cultural pilgrims==

==Cultural pilgrims==

A cultural pilgrimage, while also about [[personal]] [[journey]], involves a secular [[response]]. Destinations for such pilgrims can include historic sites of national or cultural importance, and can be defined as places "of cultural significance: an artist's [[home]], the location of a pivotal [[event]] or an [[icon]]ic destination."[3] An example might be a baseball fan visiting Cooperstown, New York. Destinations for cultural pilgrims include examples such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp Auschwitz concentration camp], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Battlefield Gettysburg Battlefield], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway_House Ernest Hemingway House] or even Disneyland.[3] Cultural pilgrims may also travel on religious pilgrimage routes, such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James Way of St. James], with the [[perspective]] of making it a historic or [[architectural]] tour rather than a [[religious]] [[experience]].[4]

A cultural pilgrimage, while also about [[personal]] [[journey]], involves a secular [[response]]. Destinations for such pilgrims can include historic sites of national or cultural importance, and can be defined as places "of cultural significance: an artist's [[home]], the location of a pivotal [[event]] or an [[icon]]ic destination."[3] An example might be a baseball fan visiting Cooperstown, New York. Destinations for cultural pilgrims include examples such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp Auschwitz concentration camp], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Battlefield Gettysburg Battlefield], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway_House Ernest Hemingway House] or even Disneyland.[3] Cultural pilgrims may also travel on religious pilgrimage routes, such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James Way of St. James], with the [[perspective]] of making it a historic or [[architectural]] tour rather than a [[religious]] [[experience]].[4]