Up until college I attended Catholic school, yet, it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I was lucky enough to have a teacher who encouraged us to question our faith. He explained to us that instead of having the blind faith that our parents and grandparents were taught to have, we should question everything. He taught from a philosophical background and by the end of the year, I felt more solid in my beliefs than ever before.
Regardless of one’s religious affiliation, traveling opens our eyes to all religions. I’ve always believed that one cannot truly understand his own faith unless he studies the faith of others. One of my favorite things about traveling to other countries is experiencing their local traditions. In my opinion, there are way more similarities among faiths than there are differences but so many people fail to view it that way.
Religion is something that becomes an integral part of one’s identity and when that identity is challenged and there’s no way to prove something one way or another, trouble often ensues.
Anyway, as I went to take my seat at Easter Sunday mass, I couldn’t help but stare at the large painting that served as the backdrop to the alter. The painting wasn’t too different than ones I’d seen in other chuches; it was the same Crucifixion scene that I had seen countless times growing up.
But there was something different about seeing it now because I had actually been to this very spot this past May. After growing up with a Catholic education for years, Jerusalem and Bethlehem always seemed so far away. They were distant lands that I dreamed of one day visiting. During my trip to Israel and Palestine this past Spring, I visited Jesus’ birthplace at Church of the Nativity, walked the stations of the cross (Via Dolorosa) and floated in the Dead Sea.
Yet at the time I remember feeling rather unmoved by many of these religious sites. I think a large part of it had to do with how crowded they were with tourists. When I did have moments of reflection, I was always distracted by bright camera flashes or loud talking and it was hard to truly appreciate the ground where I stood.
So as I sat there during Easter Sunday mass gazing the painting I had seen in countless churches, I felt closer to what it represented. No matter how spiritual or religious one is, I’ll always treasure my time in Israel and Palestine.
Megan Eileen McDonough is writer, blogger and social media specialist based in New York City. She also runs Bohemian Trails, a lifestyle blog designed for the savvy and stylish traveler. Bohemian Trails aims to feature must-see places around the world, covering everything from revamped neighborhoods and vibrant street art to innovative tech hubs and everything in between. Her cultural escapades have taken her to Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Megan is also a freelance writer and social media specialist based in New York City. She contributes to various online and print publications in the travel and fashion industries and is an international correspondent for both Jetsetter and Northstar Travel Media.
