The Sacred Experience for Tourists
In the poem "The Tourist" by Yehudah Amichai, Yehudah describes his experience with tourists in Jerusalem and criticizes where they focus their attention. He tells a story in which he is taking a break after buying fruits and vegetables for his family, and a tour guide is pointing out a historical landmark behind Amichai's head to people on the tour. Although it sounds frustrating to be a resident of Jerusalem and to be ignored by people coming to visit, after reading Karen Armstrong's book "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" I would argue that tourists, especially those who are religious, have a right to visit Jerusalem.
Armstrong argues that the idea of "'God' or the sacred... gives our mundane life meaning and value" (page xvi). She also states that to experience the sacred, people must cultivate that experience- we must find a way to feel "awe, exuberance, peace, dread" (page xvi) to feel we have an enhanced existence. To many people, Jerusalem is a place that is sacred and that has deep ancestral roots tied to it. It is so sacred that to Jews, visiting Jerusalem is considered a birth right. Therefore, visiting this place and seeing architecture or artifacts from holy times would evoke a feeling of awe or a sense of purpose in a visiting person and I believe they have a right to this sacred experience.
Armstrong also discusses how myths, such as the myths surrounding the bedrock in Jerusalem, help us as humans to describe the human experience through symbolism. Jerusalem is surrounded by myths from three major religions, and is considered a symbol of the divine. However, just being aware of Jerusalem as a symbol and knowing the myths are not enough to satisfy the human search for the sacred. This is especially true when some of the myths, including Muhammad's ascent to heaven and Solomon's temple standing in Jerusalem, can be discounted. Armstrong claims that “the goal of the religious quest has always been an experience, not a message” (page 8). Therefore, people who are not residents of Jerusalem have the right to visit the land and experience the sacred anyway in order to feel value in life.
Armstrong argues that the idea of "'God' or the sacred... gives our mundane life meaning and value" (page xvi). She also states that to experience the sacred, people must cultivate that experience- we must find a way to feel "awe, exuberance, peace, dread" (page xvi) to feel we have an enhanced existence. To many people, Jerusalem is a place that is sacred and that has deep ancestral roots tied to it. It is so sacred that to Jews, visiting Jerusalem is considered a birth right. Therefore, visiting this place and seeing architecture or artifacts from holy times would evoke a feeling of awe or a sense of purpose in a visiting person and I believe they have a right to this sacred experience.
Armstrong also discusses how myths, such as the myths surrounding the bedrock in Jerusalem, help us as humans to describe the human experience through symbolism. Jerusalem is surrounded by myths from three major religions, and is considered a symbol of the divine. However, just being aware of Jerusalem as a symbol and knowing the myths are not enough to satisfy the human search for the sacred. This is especially true when some of the myths, including Muhammad's ascent to heaven and Solomon's temple standing in Jerusalem, can be discounted. Armstrong claims that “the goal of the religious quest has always been an experience, not a message” (page 8). Therefore, people who are not residents of Jerusalem have the right to visit the land and experience the sacred anyway in order to feel value in life.
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