Pilgrimages

Question 1

Why might a place of Pilgrimage be important?

Answer 1

One reason might that a place of pilgrimage might be important is that an event in the history of the religious tradition took place there, an important figure from the religious tradition lived, preached, taught or died there. You could feel closer to someone there, or a miracle could have taken place at the pilgrimage site.

Question 2

Why might a believer go on a pilgrimage.

Answer 2

A believer might go on a pilgrimage to show their devotion, to witness their faith, to grow spiritually through the experience or to fulfil a religious duty.

Question 3

Where is the Western Wall?

Answer 3

Jerusalem

Question 4

What is the Western Wall?

Answer 4

The site of the Temple

Question 5

What can Pilgrims do at the Western Wall?

Answer 5

Pilgrims go to this site as it is the centre of their faith – the Temple was the holiest place where the Jews prayed and made sacrifices to God. You can visit the ruins of the Temple, in particular the western wall where pilgrims write prayers on paper and place them into the wall

Question 6

Why do believers go to the Western Wall?

Answer 6

Pilgrims go to the Western wall to visit all that remains of the Temple, to visit the graves of important spiritual rabbis, to put prayers into the wall, and to celebrate festivals or rites of passage.

Question 7

Where is the Holy Land?

Answer 7

Jerusalem & the surrounding areas

Question 8

What is the Holy Land?

Answer 8

The place where Jesus lived and died

Question 9

What can Pilgrims do at the Holy Land?

Answer 9

Pilgrims can visit all of the places that appear in the Bible. This is because of all the connections they have with Jesus and his life. You can visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Golgotha (where Jesus as crucified), and the Garden of Gethsemane. Another important place is Jerusalem as this is where Jesus celebrated his Last Supper with the disciples

Question 10

Why do people go to the Holy Land?

Answer 10

People go to the Holy land to walk and see the places where Jesus was, to witness the places mentioned in the Bible, to re-enact certain stories such as Jesus’ last steps on the Via Dolorosa (way of sorrows), and to be baptized in the River Jordan.

Question 11

Where is Lourdes?

Answer 11

France

Question 12

What is Lourdes?

Answer 12

The place where Bernadette saw a vision of the Virgin Mary

Question 13

What can pilgrims do at Lourdes?

Answer 13

Pilgrims can visit the place where St. Bernadette had a number of visions of Mary in the 19th Century. You can visit the grotto where the vision took place and the spring appeared or go to mass together in the basilica. You can also bathe in the spring water that is believed to have healing qualities.

Question 14

Why do believers go to Lourdes?

Answer 14

People go to Lourdes to experience a miracle, to feel a greater sense of God’s presence, to visit the grotto, to have a greater sense of community and worldwide fellowship with other Catholics, and to be spiritually refreshed and given hope for the future.

Question 15

Where is the River Ganges?

Answer 15

India

Question 16

What is the River Ganges?

Answer 16

The place where river Ganges meets Veruna in the city of Banaras. It is believed that Lord Shiva lives here.

Question 17

What can believers do at the River Ganges?

Answer 17

River Ganges
India

The place where river Ganges meets Veruna in the city of Banaras. It is believed that Lord Shiva lives here. Along the three-mile stretch of the Ganges in Banaras there are steps (Ghats) from which Hindu pilgrims can bathe in the holy waters of the river.
This cleans the body after a long journey, but also more importantly, cleanses the soul from all evil.
‘Burning Ghats’ are the steps on which cremations are carried out before the ashes and sacred marigold flowers are placed in the waters.
It is the dearest wish of every Hindu to die in the Banaras and have his or her ashes scattered on the waters of the Ganges.
This will guarantee that the soul will pass straight to Brahman without needing to be reborn again

Question 18

Why do pilgrims travel to the River Ganges?

Answer 18

People go to the river Ganges to cremate corpses, and to scatter ashes into the river allowing the soul to go back to Brahman and avoid reincarnation, they go to bathe in the river and spiritually cleanse themselves to be close to God, to drink water from the river, especially where Lord Shiva lives (again becoming close to God), to pray and feel closer to God, and to feel a sense of community.

Question 19

Where is Mecca?

Answer 19

Saudi Arabia

Question 20

What is Mecca?

Answer 20

There is Ka’aba, a pot where Allah reveals the teaching of the Qur’an to the prophet Mohammed (pbuh)

Question 21

What can pilgrims do in Mecca?

Answer 21

Muslims enter a state of ihram (purity). everyone dresses in white to show that all are equal before God.
All pilgrims perform Tawaf- walk 7 times anti-clockwise around Ka’aba to show that equal before Allah.
Pilgrims the run between Saffa and Marwa to remember the story of Hadija and her son.
Pilgrims visit the hills of Arafat where Mohammed gave his final sermon.

Question 22

Why do believers travel to Mecca?

Answer 22

People travel to Mecca because Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, to be close to God through prayer, to pray for others, to be spiritually cleansed, and to be at the same spot where God revealed himself.

Question 23

What are some points for the statement ‘Pilgrimage has no relevance today’

Answer 23

• You do not have to pay to go on a pilgrimage to show that you are religious.
• Going on pilgrimage does not make you a better person.
• Tourism is the real profit-maker in places that are supposed to be sacred.
• There is no proof that the actual events happened at these places

Question 24

What are some points against the statement ‘Pilgrimage has no relevance today’

Answer 24

• It is not like going on holiday. Visiting the sacred shrines makes people feel more involved with their faith.
• It is the duty of some religious traditions to go on pilgrimage.
• Sometimes the time of pilgrimage is as important as the pilgrimage itself - because of a special anniversary.
• When you go you feel a sense of tradition - Christians have been going to the Holy Land for years