why matamoros, at all

[Karen Mallory]

Well, Karen, I expect there are as many reasons as there are pilgrims.  In
Roncevalles we were asked our reasons and there were several boxes to choose
from:  Cultural, religious, sport or fitness (not sure the exact word) and
then, good old "other".  My friend walked because she needed to confront the
death of a friend in New York on 9/11 and to come to some sort of peace with
that obliteration.     I walked with her because she needed me to.  Both
were religious reasons - neither was especially Christian.  Although she is
a Christian, that was not part of her motivation.

These routes  probably predate Christianity.   (Many Neanderthal and Early
Man sites are found in the general proximity of the routes). They were  used
as a political tool to bring people and technology into Spain during the
latter years of the Moorish rule -  then to bring in troops to fight the
Moors,  among other things.

None of this should detract from the profound experience Christian pilgrims
have when traversing the route but the Christian experience is not the only
profound experience possible.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Willmus" <willmusaRUNESTONE.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: why matamoros, at all


> Good question, Scott.  I've a question for you, then, and anyone else who
> wants to answer:  why, if you aren't a Christian, would you care about the
> Santiago Pilgrimage?
>
> > Karen, interesting that you assume that all of us are Christians and
that
> > this is a Christian list . . . .
> >
> > --Scott
> >
>