Pilgrimage in Postmodernism

Based on the results of preliminary studies at the Institut of Europaen Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz during the last years the project aims to an empirical research of pilgrimages done by styrian parishes. To keep within manageable limits the planned study is reduced to focus only on several day pilgrimages. In the framework of the named preliminary studies a questionnaire was sent to all styrian parishes to record all activities. About 60% of the questionnaires were sent back. Now first of all we shall send questionnaires to the other 40% not answering the first to complete our knowledge of pilrimage activities in Styria. After this we shall name so-called selected samples being possible for qualitative research. The final goal of the project is to analyse the functions of recent pilgrimage for postmodern societies on styrian examples. In the last two decades we were able to watch an increase of this activities. So the project aims first time a wide study based on an empirical approach. We focus not so much on the pilgrimage centers but more on the starting points and on pilgrimage as a cultural act. This approach is still a desideratum. We have to ask, what are the sources of the recent popularity of pilgrimage? Can we interpret pilgrimage as a part of the return of religion in a postmodern period or rather than this as a "culturalisation" of religion? From which needs do the ritual revitalisation processes emerge? Is pilgrimage a suitable framework to fullfill the needs for rituals an tradition? By participating in some pilgrimages and with questionnairs and qualtitative interviews the modified meanings of pilgrimage and the participants` motivations should be worked out. We shall focus not only on core groups but also on marginal groups staying beside or outside pilgrimage activities.

The project investigated present forms of pilgrimages and supported the findings by examples of Styrian parishes. First of all questionnaires provided a survey of the number of pilgrimages in the 388 Styrian parishes. The results confirm a noticeable increase of pilgrimages over the past twenty years, a tendency which could be seen to emerge in the recent research works dealing with pilgrimage as a topic. 74.4% of the present Styrian pilgrimages came into existence less than 30 years ago with the percentage of newly established pilgrimages increasing steadily since 1970. By participating in many different pilgrimages and by interviewing the organizers and the pilgrims, the researchers found out that this development does not simply mean "back to religion", but it rather shows that the current sociopolitical demands create a growing need for tradition and rituals. In this context the Roman Catholic Church as upholder of old and familiar rituals still plays an important role - thus even transcending religious boundaries. It is relatively easy to get access to the ritual of pilgrimage, and, other than such forms of rituals as to be found in the New Age Movement and in esotericism, pilgrimages offer a familiar pattern rooted in tradition, which appeals to `non`-pious` persons as well. This fact is also mirrored in the exploitation of the issue `pilgrimage` on the part of the tourist industry. Their marketing strategies do not approach an explicitly religious or even Catholic target group. It is not primarily the religious meaning of such a ritual which is important, but rather its creating a sense of companionship and offering manifold experiences. In this context one might speak of using a ritual in a `culinary way` - and the repertory of religious rituals is just another variety. After the reform of the liturgy as a consequence of the Second Vatican Council many people have experienced the Church as too theoretical. It is quite different with pilgrimages because they offer people the opportunities if sense perception and sensuous experience. People watch, listen, smell and feel. A limited experience of nature and one`s own body, of sacred architecture, art and music, of smelling candles and incense etc. as elements of an intense counter world, makes people feel good. A context which allows and encourages emotional openness and which guides the participants` actions in order to reach a certain aim, also offers the opportunity to be open to spiritual experiences. A pilgrimage can be perceived as a chance to be emotionally open and to allow and show emotions. The motives for participating are very different: experiencing the companionship of people with similar views or of kindred spirits; looking for spiritual experience; enjoying nature; doing sports and keeping fit, e.g. even loosing weight; thanking for or seeking recovery or relief of a complaint; looking for some consolation; getting to know art and culture; finding a partner; seeking help in a personal crisis or thanking for having overcome it successfully; pointing the way to the future at an important stage of one`s life; take a leave from one`s partner and children, taking a time out.