Project Details
Layman's description
What happens when a trail becomes a pilgrim route? Is there any conflict between the secular trail and the religious meditation places with spiritual quotes by Dag Hammarskjöld? Do the meditation sites add any value, are they disturbing or are the hikers indifferent to them? Is the fact that the Kungsleden has become a pilgrimage a sign of the return of religion in Sweden?
The Dag Hammarskjöld Trail was inaugurated in 2004 as a pilgrim route between Abisko and Nikkaluokta. Along Kungsleden (the King's Trail) there are now seven places with a meditation stone on which there are quotations from Dag Hammarskjöld's spiritual diary Markings. Along Kungsleden, there are many hikers, of whom probably only a small proportion know in advance that it is also a pilgrim route.
How do these hikers perceive that the trail has been given a religious dimension? Do they stop at the meditation places or are they indifferent? Has the pilgrim trail led to an added value to the trail or to any conflicts? And can the pilgrim route along the famous Kungsleden be seen as a sign of the return of religion? Was it perhaps possible only because there are quotes from Dag Hammarskjöld, and not any other religious writing?
I have previously studied groups of pilgrims along the trail. This project focuses on the other hand on individual walkers.
In the summer of 2010, two field studies will be carried out along the trail. Hikers and cabin hosts will be interviewed.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Trail was inaugurated in 2004 as a pilgrim route between Abisko and Nikkaluokta. Along Kungsleden (the King's Trail) there are now seven places with a meditation stone on which there are quotations from Dag Hammarskjöld's spiritual diary Markings. Along Kungsleden, there are many hikers, of whom probably only a small proportion know in advance that it is also a pilgrim route.
How do these hikers perceive that the trail has been given a religious dimension? Do they stop at the meditation places or are they indifferent? Has the pilgrim trail led to an added value to the trail or to any conflicts? And can the pilgrim route along the famous Kungsleden be seen as a sign of the return of religion? Was it perhaps possible only because there are quotes from Dag Hammarskjöld, and not any other religious writing?
I have previously studied groups of pilgrims along the trail. This project focuses on the other hand on individual walkers.
In the summer of 2010, two field studies will be carried out along the trail. Hikers and cabin hosts will be interviewed.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 2010/01/01 → 2011/12/31 |