Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture #2

In the close of Turner and Turner's book they discuss types of political pilgrimage. Specifically, they note the bicentennial celebrations in America where people would visit the notable cites in American history - battlefields, the capital, important documents, first colonies, etc. I think they bring up an important point when thinking about the development of a particular culture. Americans have a borderline religious patriotism, particularly when praising the Founding Fathers or reflecting back on the founding era. The American landscape has been memorialized, ensuring that we do not forget the role that these founders played in our history. However, as we begin to establish a more holistic view of American history, we want to tear down some of the monuments upon realizing the immoral practices and beliefs of some of these figures. Turner and Turner argue that sacred place are to be evaluated within their historical context. America's historical context includes remarkable evil that should not be ignored but that does not necessarily negate the validity of statues being a sacred site for the patriots.

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