Curriculum Unit
The Sociology of Religion – El Camino de Santiago: A Case Study of the Sacred
Barbara Prillaman
Title Author
KEY LEARNING, ENDURING UNDERSTANDING, ETC.
Students will understand that all religions have at least three essential characteristics: beliefs about the sacred and the profane, rituals, and a community of worshipers and the variety of religious experiences is endless, because people play a fundamental role in determining what is sacred and how they should act in its presence.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S) for the UNIT
(1) What is religion and what are its essential characteristics?
(2) In regard to religion, what is the difference between the sacred and the profane? Who determines what is sacred and profane? What is the relationship between the two?
(3) What is a pilgrimage and what are the reasons for participating on one?
CONCEPT A CONCEPT B CONCEPT C
El Camino de Santiago
The Sociology of Religion
Sacred and Profane
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS A ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS B ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS C
What is a pilgrimage and what are the reasons for participating on one?
What makes El Camino de Santiago so special as a pilgrimage?
What is the difference between the sacred and the profane?
Who determines what is sacred and profane?
What is the relationship between the two?
What is religion and what are its essential characteristics?
VOCABULARY A VOCABULARY B VOCABULARY C
Camino, Santiago de Compostela, Credencial, The Way of St. James, Scallop Shell, Albergues (hostels)
Religion, Max Weber, Karl Marx, Peter Berger, Emile Durkheim
Sacred, Profane, Rituals, Church, Community of Worshipers, Pilgrimage
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/MATERIAL/TEXT/FILM/RESOURCES
Films: Sacred Journeys, The Way of Saint James, Camino de Santiago Documentary Film - The Way; Tres en el Camino; I’ll Push You; Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago; and Footprints: The Path of Your Life
Readings: Cousineau, Phil. The art of pilgrimage: the seekers guide to making travel sacred.; Dintaman, Anna, and David Landis. A village to village guide to hiking the Camino de Santiago: Camino Frances: St Jean - Santiago – Finisterre; Frey, Nancy Louise. Pilgrim Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago.
Website: Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler. https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/sacredjourneys/#.WjcAW4UZLoU