It is inevitable that when you travel to foreign countries that part of your journey takes in places of worship. It is only as you deepen your travel experience that you begin to realise the impact that religious beliefs have had on mankind.
I was raised in a secular home but was indoctrinated by the Catholic school system and for most of my youth wavered between faith and intellectual disbelief. I finally settled on being an agnostic but developed a deep and abiding love of religious history.
Look out behind you: it’s religion!
There is no country in the world where the building of the place of worship has not taken centre stage. The historic or architectural significance of the building can be noted by any tourist, but is there more to the story? For the religious pilgrim (whatever the doctrine), the journey to ancient places is one of inspiration and reflection. There is a solid philosophical reason for emotional connection; the feeling of connectivity of a different type – connection to your spiritual roots!
The Blue Mosque
Religion can touch you – even if you’re not religious
As I’ve bumbered around I’ve found myself asking – why is a person who is not at all religious touched emotionally when immersed in a particular place of worship?
In my travels I have often felt emotionally overwhelmed when entering a place of worship. The magnificence of the edifice, the architectural structure, the paintings and carvings, the colour and smell, the age of the ruin – these have all impacted upon my senses and left me feeling an array of emotions. I remember entering a Coptic church in Egypt and feeling simply overwhelmed, with my eyes tearing up. My travel companion in comparison just raised an eyebrow and later commented to me that maybe I was more religious than I had claimed!
Hagia Sophia Byzantine Church
Seeing is disbelieving
That thought came as a bit of a shock as I have been a disbeliever for most of my adult life and particularly critical of organised religions. While I’m always respectful of choices I can’t help but be sceptical of the fundamental nature and purpose of religion. I believe that old and new religions are there to control and monitor people, To me that is the framework within which religion resides. The manifestation of the religion ranges depending on the cultural and historical context In my eyes, religion plays upon the need for people to understand their nature. To explain why certain things happen, why bad things happen to good people, what happens when we die, why some people have plenty and others starve, why there is illness and sadness and war and death.
They want to connect
So was it possible that deep down I too was reaching for answers, just like everyone else?
My first reaction was denial and retreat but after some time and reflection I came to understand that while the emotional connection is real, it is not one of religious awakening.
My reaction was a connection with the realities of the past and the vastness of humanity and human history
That this was a place where people had worshiped for hundreds or sometimes thousands of years struck me as profound. The worn paths and steps are testament to the millions of feet to have walked this path. The love and belief of others is woven into the fabric of the building or art-work. People have lived, prayed and died here on this site and their essence (not spirit or soul) has permeated into the very atmospheric surrounds leaving a faint trace of their existence. It is drenched in humanity – and it touched me. I could feel each of them and their collective weight on this place.
The ceiling at St Catherines
A true believer
Thus the physical reaction I experienced is hard wired into any true believer of history and culture. This same reaction can happen at other sites such as battlefield, prisons or cemeteries or even witnessing the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier anywhere in the world! So next when you are bumbering around, read up on the place you are going to visit and then really let your senses go when you enter a site. Image the activity that would have occurred there and let your imagination take you there. It is truly he best experience in the world!
Happy Bumbering!
At rest and in peace
I always thought Enigma was a religious experience.
It certainly was!