Paige Bier_10 Sept._Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture I

After reading pages 1-39 of Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture by Victor Turner and Edith Turner, I will use key quotes to discuss the occasion of sin throughout a sacred journey or pilgrimage. I want to begin by focusing on this quote from page 7: "On such a journey one gets away from the reiterated 'occasions of sin' which make up so much of the human experience of social structure". Being a college student, it can be challenging to remain faithful to my journey with the Lord. The Lord's prayer says "Lead us not into temptation", which must be reiterated for me more than once. Our sacred journey is meant to lead us away from temptation, as well as bring forgiveness to our sin. The word "reiterated" in front of "occasions of sin" is key because our Lord knows that it is a battle to lead away from temptation, as Jesus came to die for our sin himself. He knows how difficult it can be to stray from temptation and that we will continue to commit sin throughout our lives. It is our sacred journey where we must realize we can escape such sin that seems to guide our lives, or form "the human experience of social structure", as said by Victor and Edith Turner. This sacred journey replenishes our mind and soul in order to regain hope and guidance for our purpose here on Earth. Victor and Edith Turner say "From all these ills and sins, pilgrimage systems furnish reliefs-- as well as the increased prospect of ultimate salvation, since the performance of pilgrimage is considered by Catholics to be a supereminently good work" (p. 30).  The Lord will use our sacred journey or pilgrimage to release these ills and sins that we are surrounded by in our every day lives.