An inspirational argument for the creation of a new pilgrimage tradition in the United States.Pilgrimage is a sacred tradition that has existed around the world for centuries. Every year, more than one hundred million devotees from different cultures and faiths embark on journeys to such holy sites as Santiago de Compostela, Mecca, and Banaras. For some, making a pilgrimage is a spiritual act, while for others it is a secular experience of personal restoration. And yet there has never existed a tradition of pilgrimage within the United States.
Cultural geographer James E. Mills makes a compelling case for the creation of a network of American pilgrimage routes to heal societal divisions and foster a new ethos of humanitarianism and environmentalism. He also addresses practical considerations for the development, ownership, and administration of future routes.
Pilgrimage Pathways for the United States is for anyone considering a pilgrimage and for those of us who are interested in connecting and protecting our natural world, including environmentalists, interfaith clergy, political leaders, community developers, and activists.
An inspirational argument for the creation of a new pilgrimage tradition in the United States.
Pilgrimage is a sacred tradition that has existed around the world for centuries. Every year, hundreds of thousands of devotees from different cultures and faiths around the world embark on journeys to such holy sites as Santiago de Compostela, Mecca, or Benares, each with different intentions or goals in mind. For some making a pilgrimage is an act of devotion, while for others it is a more secular experience of personal restoration, time spent in nature, and a chance to experience community. And yet, while pilgrimage sites have long existed in other countries, there has never existed a tradition of pilgrimage within the United States.
In this book, James E. Mills makes the inspiring case for the creation of a network of walking pilgrimage routes across the country. As more personalized spiritual beliefs emerge today, American pilgrimage routes offer the potential to heal societal divisions while also fostering a new ethos of humanitarianism and environmentalism. Those of us who are concerned about our future will discover that pilgrimage holds the potential for connecting and protecting our natural world. The author also addresses the many practical considerations for future American pilgrimage routes, including their creation, development, ownership and administration. Pilgrimage Pathways for the United States will appeal to anyone considering a personal pilgrimage, whether for spiritual or secular reasons. Environmentalists, religious officials, interfaith clergy, political leaders, community developers and activists will find both inspiration and motivation in Mills's thought provoking discussion.
“This is a creative and powerful book. It describes a practical way to fulfill the
promise of Interfaith America and protect our sacred planet all at once.”
—EBOO PATEL, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core and author of
Acts of Faith
“A pilgrimage is a journey devoted as much to getting there as to arriving. Mills
shows how we Americans can incorporate new concepts of pilgrimage into our
own lives and in the process nourish not only ourselves but our society, our
environment, and our sense of history.”
—TREBBE JOHNSON, author of
Radical Joy for Hard Times“America’s fast roads, 'No Trespassing’ signs,' and urban sprawl have sucked
the soul out of the land and confined our journeys to suburban cul-de-sacs.
Mills’s vision is what we need to make our journeys meaningful, our populace
peripatetic, and our landscape reenchanted.”
—KEN ILGUNAS, author of
This Land Is Your Land 
