Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87624
Title: Modern full-sensory experiences and pilgrimage fulfilment in Malta’s ancient temples
Other Titles: Pilgrims, values and identities
Authors: Munro, Dane
Keywords: Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages
Pilgrims and pilgrimages
Travelers
Tourists
Issue Date: 2021-02
Publisher: CABI
Citation: Munro, D. (2021). Modern full-sensory experiences and pilgrimage fulfilment in Malta’s ancient temples. In D. Liutikas (Ed.), Pilgrims: Values and Identities (pp. 150-163). Wallingford, UK: CABI.
Abstract: Within valuistic journeys, the rush of the experience has turned into a long-term trend (Liutikas, 2012), also called experiential tourism. This umbrella-term covers much ground, and pilgrimage and faith-based travel are certainly among them. In valuistic journeys, the quality of the experience is not only a great expectation but has practically become a demand. The basis of this demand is the phenomenon of fulfillment, which runs as a fil rouge throughout pilgrimage (Munro 2017). Literature confirms the need of destinations and sites to be endowed with originality, character, spirit of place and authenticity (Zuntz 1971; Rountree 2002, 2003; Tate 2008; Reader 2015), although the value of the latter topic, authenticity, is currently still debated among scholars. Kunaeva (2012) suggests that in the realm of pilgrimages there is a certain visible trend of the pilgrim as tourism consumer who wants a (nearly guaranteed) authentic experience but not at the cost of safety and loss of too much comfort. Timothy (2011: 107-8) remarks that under the constructivist umbrella there are many stakeholders who are engaged in creating religious sites and experiences, all having a different idea of authenticity and how it must be interpreted, for instance, existential authenticity is based on how that it is experienced in relation to one’s self-definition. Fulfilment is expected in faith-based travel among those who visit the archipelago of Malta with the purpose of a spiritually enriching visit at the cultural heritage in Malta left by its Neolithic inhabitants between roughly 7,600 and 4,500 years ago. These megalithic edifices are called 'temples', for two reasons. The first one is that there is probably no better word for it (Malone et al. 2005), and secondly, a temple is a place, a cult centre, were regularly rituals or ceremonies were held (Whitehouse 2004a, 2004b, 2014). At present, the Maltese temples, are used by a variation of spiritual travellers to Malta who are using these ancient temples as ... temples, in the modern context. They find these temples extremely inspiring, providing them with a full sensory experience and spiritual fulfilment.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87624
ISBN: 9781789245653
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacEMATou

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