Ben Pearce: Outside Reading 3 Blog 14

A Pilgrim’s Pilgrimage

(Outside Reading 3)

The Pilgrim’s Progress

            The Pilgrim’s Progress is a book written by the Puritan Paul Bunyan. It was written as an allegory for the Christian life by detailing it as a pilgrimage from the City of Destruction to the Celestial Kingdom. The Pilgrim’s Progress comes from a tradition that has famously been hesitant on pilgrimages. This book, whether it was the author’s intention or not, details in what way a person of the Puritan tradition can experience a sacred journey within the bounds of their religious sensibilities.

            The main character’s name is, forthrightly, Christian, and Christian finds a unique book which causes a pilgrim’s pack to appear on his back; Christian cannot get the backpack off. He runs to the City of Destruction where his family lives, and he warns everyone to come with him and leave the City which the book said would be destroyed. No one comes with him. This is symbolic of the pilgrim’s natural isolation from the world in their pilgrimage. He flees without his family and meets Evangelist who points him in the right direction. This is symbolic of the trail and those people who help guide you along. The pilgrim’s backpack is representative of his burdensome sins which he is unable to remove until he gives himself over to Christ. Christian runs through many obstacles which are part of the Christian life and they represent the motivation a pilgrim must have when walking the trail. If they do not want to be there, then they will flee at the first sign of struggle. This is representative of a Christian’s life when they face obstacles that stumble their way to Jesus. Eventually Christian runs into more and more people who help him on his journey. This resembles the communitas which pilgrims enjoy on the trail. There are people who are all along to help you in your personal and individual quest. They are people who are generous and care about your completion of the journey.

            This book perfectly displays what a Christian pilgrimage should look like. It should be representative physically of their spiritual walk to Christ. In fact, I plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail this summer in this manner.