Swanson Pilgrimage as Penance

December 1, 2018


[Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture]

Penance can be defined as voluntary self-punishment as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong. In Christian faith, penance is a sacrament in which a member of the church confesses their sins to a priest in hope of forgiveness. In Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture, Turner and Turner suppose that long distance hiking can be a form of penance in the name of God.

Long distance hiking, as seen on the AT and PCT is a difficult and laborious journey, where through hikers push their bodies to their physical limits and experience a great deal of suffering. As hikers progress on their paths through the trail they are confronted with physical as well as mental challenges that beg the question of a higher being. Through their physical and mental sacrifice, they may repent in the name of God, and grow closer to their faith. The self-punishment inflicted through these long distance hikes is a reminder of the suffering that is all around us, and similar to Brad Pitt in Fight Club, it brings us closer to the pain. This attention to suffering is why Turner and Turner believe that long-distance hiking is a form of penance.

Is it still considered penance if the sojourner does not acknowledge wrongdoing? Why or why not?

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