Modern Pilgrimage and the Quest in the Guest | George Greenia | TEDxWilliamandMary

As church attendance has gone steadily down in Western culture, pilgrimage has gone up. Tens of millions of Americans report that they will commit to a journey with a primary or secondary motive of visiting a place that has emotional and often transcendent value for them - religious, patriotic or deeply personal.
Over 400 million people on our planet make such a journey every year. The time is now to understand why. George Greenia is co-founder of the W&M Program in Medieval & Renaissance Studies, and founder of the Institute for Pilgrimage Studies. He is a past national officer of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, founded at W&M in 1776. Fluent in Spanish, French and Latin, he is an authority on medieval material culture, religious traditions, medieval travel and art. For 14 years he served as editor and publisher of La corónica, a research journal of medieval Spanish language, literature and cultural studies. In 2007 he was name Distinguished Editor by the Council of Editors of Learned Journals. An internationally recognized authority on medieval and modern pilgrimage, he has bicycled and walked over 4000 miles along the pilgrimage trails to Santiago de Compostela. For his work promoting Spanish culture, he was knighted by order of King Juan Carlos I and bestowed an Encomienda of the Order of Isabel the Catholic. In 2019 he was awarded the Compos­tela Prize for preservation of European culture. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@hislas2735]

Wow - amazing! I love the way Dr. George Greenia presents the topic of pilgrimage. Now, I understand why it merits study and research. I wonder if visiting deceased loved one's at a cemetery is considered a pilgrimage, of sorts? Anyhow, I enjoyed the topic. And I'm grateful to Dr. George Greenia's contributions to knowledge.

[@RichNock1]

I will start my Camino on Saturday September 24, 2022 and when I sit by the pile of rocks I will remember your talk and watch for someone who needs a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for your inspiring talk.

[@tjbooker8585]

How did it go?

[@aleidahoward2930]

George is a great speaker and fun.

[@danielpicon8012]

This talk was inspiring

[@siesies000]

Awesome

[@allowede6974]

first like actually chech on first commenyt