Definition of terms for spiritual tourism
At first glance, the terms “spiritual” and “tourism” seem incompatible. “Tourism” as an economic science with a material orientation on the one hand, and “spiritual” as the epitome of immaterial, intellectual content on the other hand, a balancing act between secular and ecclesiastical values.
- Spirituality is the transcendence experienced by humans, which is connected to personal faith in the sense of spiritual orientation. Religion and denominational affiliation have no meaning.
- Religiosity is more concrete than spirituality and is to be understood as a spiritual commitment to a religion or faith community.
If you bring the terms “tourism” and “spiritual” together, it becomes clear that they are not as incompatible as they initially seem.
Spiritual tourism includes the entirety of relationships and phenomena that result from the spiritually motivated travel and stay in a place related to religion by spiritually - not necessarily religious - motivated people for whom the place of stay is neither the main and permanent place of residence nor work.
Commonly used terms related to spiritual tourism include “self-discovery,” “search for meaning,” and “spiritual journey.” From a philosophical and religious point of view, the whole of life is considered a journey in the constant search for the self and the meaning of life. Spiritual tourism therefore offers the interface between psychological and physical travel. [1]
SOURCE 2008
- [1] Cora Prünsten, August 13, 2008, diploma thesis HS Harz, selected aspects of spiritual tourism using the example of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, definitions of terms for spiritual tourism pp. 3 to 5