A paper submitted to Dr. James Edlin for Old Testament Literature.
Maurine Dickerson Research Scholarship, 2012-2013, honorable mention paper, undergraduate student category.
Abstract: The goal of this research was to seek and find connections between the Biblical patriarchs, autobiographical reflection, and spiritual transformation. The focus is first on the life of Abraham and how his journey characterizes, and can be characterized as, a pilgrimage, looking at several definitions and theories. The focus then shifts to how pilgrimage fits into the modern religious curriculum. Eschatological curriculum theory, autobiographical reflection, and transformative learning theory are all integrated to give a general picture of why pilgrimage can be included into the religious curriculum and be effective in the aid of spiritual formation and understanding. I have tried to not make any assumptions, but to only base my writing on what connections I have found from the literature I have read. (To note, the terms “character” and “characters” are used as a way to reference the real people who are part of these narratives being looked at, and are not referring to them in a fictional sense.)