Spirituality in Silence and Nature: Motivations, Experiences, and Impressions among Swedish Pilgrims

Anna Davidsson-Bremborg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Pilgrimages arranged by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden are a relatively new, but growing phenomenon. Th is study examines Swedish pilgrims’ background, motivations, and experiences. Most pilgrims are highly educated, middle-aged persons with a strong relation to the church. However, a group of religiously interested persons with weaker bonds with the church was also identifi ed. Th e pilgrims uphold a multitude of motivations both on an individual as well as on a group level. The most common motivation is a longing for nature, but three different motivation groups were identified: a leisure group, a spiritual–religious group, and an
escape group. Depending on their motivations, the pilgrims appreciate diverse parts of the pilgrimage. One exception is the silent walk, which gets the highest score by almost everyone. The author discusses if the highly valued silence in group might reflect the power of strong selfexpression values among Swedes found in other studies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-165
JournalJournal of Empirical Theology
Volume21
Issue number2
Publication statusUnpublished - 2008

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Free keywords

  • pilgrimage
  • pilgrim
  • motivations
  • self expression values
  • Sweden

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