Contemporary Pilgrimages: The Human-Environment Connection as a Double-Edged Sword 

Quests for meaning and connection are often framed as pilgrimage journeys. These types of journeys, along with pilgrimage sites and routes, are rapidly growing around the globe. Fueled by economic and cultural heritage potential, many countries and regions are creating pilgrimage infrastructures that attract significant numbers of people. One reason for this growth is the connection pilgrims form with the natural world. In specific, pilgrims have noted the importance of the overall landscape and meaningful interactions with elements such as water and soil in addition to connection with animals. However, this connection between pilgrims and the natural surroundings results in a clear environmental impact. This webinar will highlight current scholarship pertaining to the intersection of pilgrimage, conservation, and the environment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss research applications and policy implications.  

Presenter

 Dr. Heather Warfield is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at AUNE. One of her research foci is the development of a psychology of pilgrimage. She is the series editor of Pilgrimage Studies and the volume editor of the forthcoming textbook Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Pilgrimage: Historical, Current, and Future Directions. Dr. Warfield is a member of the Ruines de guerre research initiative funded through the French Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) and is exploring pilgrimage journeys to war ruins in France. Additionally, she is the creator and host of Meaningful Journeys, which is a podcast dedicated to conversations with pilgrims, pilgrimage studies scholars, and people who live at pilgrimage sites.