Not a practising Christian, but considering making the pilgrimage with an eye to becoming one

[misterambler]

My thinking is that making a pilgrimage like this would be the perfect opportunity to think these things through (that's to say, matters of spirituality). What are people's thoughts on that? Good idea, or not?

On a more practical note, will I be able to get hold of and use a Pilgrim's Passport if I'm not already a proper practising Christian?

[HuskyNerd]

I'm personally not sure a pilgrimage like this is the best way to think through a person's religious beliefs. Most English-speaking pilgrims are of the "spiritual but not religious" variety, so it might be tough to find someone who is able to explain a religious/Christian perspective. If solitude alone could do it, the Camino provides plenty of that. But much of the camino's religiosity is in Spanish and is of the Catholic persuasion.

Yes, pilgrim passports are available to all. You can contact your country's confraternity (not sure where you live or I'd give you the link) and they will send you one at little cost. Otherwise you can obtain a credencial (pilgrim passport) at most all major albergues as you begin your pilgrimage.

Buen camino!

[Lipka149]

My thinking is that making a pilgrimage like this would be the perfect opportunity to think these things through (that's to say, matters of spirituality). What are people's thoughts on that? Good idea, or not?

Hi misterambler !

An excellent question ! But before I start with my personal thoughts, I highly recommend that you read Sandy's post "Ideas for Making the Most of the Camino's Spirituality". Just as you would not start your Camino without referring to a map, or preparing your travel equipment, so too is it important to begin with spiritual direction. Sandy's pastoral training, Camino experience, and personal faith walk make him an excellent source for this.

You write that you are not a "practicing" Christian. From this I gather that you are Christian (as opposed to being Jewish or Muslim) and that your pilgrimage is being done for the purpose of revelation, i.e., being shown how to "properly" practice Christianity. My first thought is that there a lot of easier ways to do this ! But if you feel the call to walk, then WALK.

My second thought revolves around your comment about obtaining a Pilgrim's Passport even if you are not a "properly" practicing Christian. If we define a Christian as one who follows Christ (however imperfectly), then following Christ "properly" is simply a matter of getting better at it ! How you do it is your personal faith walk. Pilgrimage is a wonderful way to properly practice your Christianity.

The Camino experience is wonderful, yes, but it may or may not be the "perfect" way for you to think through spiritual matters. Our Forum is composed of people who enjoyed their experience and benefited from it. Those that did not, seldom take the time or make the effort to post on a Forum such as this. Be assured that there are some that were not ready for the spiritual aspect of the Camino, and came away disappointed. If your goal is to make your Camino a SPIRITUAL exercise, make sure you are spiritually prepared for it.

Please forgive me, misterambler, for not responding with an enthusiastic "go for it", even though the greater part of me wants to say so. Spiritual direction is not my calling ... but I know enough to seek it out when I need it ! I would encourage you to continue seeking ... and listening ... so that you can decide if a pilgrimage to Santiago is really a good idea for you spiritually.

All the best !

[Atlantic]

Broadly I 'd agree with the answers already given, though it depends on which camino if you want solitude; that may not be the Camino Francés these days, but another. There are as you know, a number of Spanish caminos, and for quietness and solitude, the chemins in France are wonderful. The Vezelay route and outside of French national holidays, the Le Puy route is a gem. Of course there are more.

If you want a long trail to help you with thinking then I'd say do it, let things take their course, don't "expect" this or that. You might fall in with some very good people and have a different experience from the contemplative, but equally helpful to you.

As for a "practising proper Christian", they're a very rare species. So just go with openness, and 'do unto others as you would be done by'. I would also take a single sheet copy of Desiderata (see Wikipedia) with me.

Good luck and have a great time!

My thinking is that making a pilgrimage like this would be the perfect opportunity to think these things through (that's to say, matters of spirituality). What are people's thoughts on that? Good idea, or not?

On a more practical note, will I be able to get hold of and use a Pilgrim's Passport if I'm not already a proper practising Christian?

[camitheo]

Dear, misterambler,
I find it a great idea to do the pilgrimage to become (more) christian.
But let me give you some of my experience. I started with the thought and plan to become more spiritual, And i came back with self confidence. The road will give you what you need, and that is not always what you have planed to gain.
Furthermore what I have discovered on the road is the image of the ideal Christian community.
My advice to you is to make plans anyway, prepare yourself spiritual, etc but be open to what the road will give you and what you will learn from it.
Buen Camino from Camitheo

[Pouveer]

Of course you will be able to get a pilgrim's passport. You might just find yourself sighing in Santiago like Martin Luther did in Rome. It is all very commercialised. But the lanscapes are specacular and you have lots of time to think about life. I have a friend who takes off two weeks every year to walk a part of the camino to recuperate his creativity. My suggestion would be to walk the Camino with the Buddhist motto that it is the way, not the destination that counts. Last year in September I saw many people getting up at 5 in the morning to walk 3 hours in the darkness with headlight just so that they could manage 35-40 km's a day. They missed out on such lovely forests, on the most beautiful lanscapes, etc. Why? To rush to Santiago? The last part beyond Santiago until Fisterra was much more of a destination for me than Santiago. That was the old Keltic route which people walked for hundreds of years before it became a Catholic pelgrim's route in the 8th century.