Sophia Cordovana- Hiking on the AT being a religious experience-In class reading- 5

 On page 235 of "The American Camino", by Kip Redick, Dr. Redick is exploring the idea of how hiking on the AT can be a religious experience even if the person is non-religious. At first I found this idea puzzling because of the social understanding of the world today-a person being apart or of practicing a certain religion. But after reading more of the text I began to understand that religion is, quote, "[I]s the relationship humans have with a transcendent and ultimate authority/power". I admit that I still don't see the difference between this definition and a spiritual experience and that made me think of my own definition or understanding of the two words. To me having spiritual experiences is the definition used before and a religious experiences is basically the same thing but with in ether the governs confines of a defines a group, or the experience continues to impacts the individual is a way that builds further upon that first experience, usually with in a defined community or list of core understandings. By diving deep into my own understanding and creating a definition for religious experience, I was able to open up and begin to understand where the connection and distinction was first made.

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