This conversation between Heather A. Warfield and Rana P.B. Singh explores the profound journey of a scholar who intertwines geography with pilgrimage studies, reflecting on personal experiences, academic insights, and the spiritual dimensions of sacred spaces. The discussion delves into the evolution of pilgrimage practices, the significance of sacred and faith scapes, and the integration of modern technology in understanding these ancient traditions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of lived experiences in pilgrimage and the need for a holistic approach to studying these phenomena.

Psychology of Pilgrimage host, Dr. Heather A. Warfield, is a researcher, professor, and specialist of pilgrimage studies, with research focused on the psychology of pilgrimages. She is the series editor of Pilgrimage Studies (Peter Lang), co-editor of Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I: Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices, and editor of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Pilgrimage: Historical, Current and Future Directions. In addition to academic publications, she has written articles about contemporary battlefield pilgrimages for US military publications and serves as a battlefield pilgrimage expert for military staff rides and other related educational programs.

Rana P.B. Singh [b. 15 December 1950--], MA, PhD, (former) Professor of Cultural Landscapes & Heritage Studies, & Head (2013-2015)- Department of Geography, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, is presently a Visiting Professor at Centre of South Asian Studies, Gifu Women’s University, Gifu, Japan (2022-2026). He is the President (Asia), RWYC- Reconnecting With Your Culture (-- a charter of Euro. Commune, and a member of UNESCO). During his youth, he was a Sādhu (monk), whose spirit had moulded him to follow the path of pilgrimage, which again flourished in his doctoral work in the interior villages. Since 1979, he has been inspired by Niels Gutschow (Germany), Surinder Bhardwaj (USA), George Michell (U.K.), John Kim Maliville (USA), Taigen Hashimoto (Japan), and [late] Syun-Kyun Kim (Rep. Korea). He followed the pathway of pilgrimage to understand the inherent message and co-share with spiritual seekers. He has conducted most of his field studies in North India, as well as in Japan, Korea, and Sweden. His publications on pilgrimage studies include 19 books and anthologies, as well as over 200 papers, and seminar presentations on these themes in 25 countries from 1976 to 2019. His notable books on pilgrimage studies include: Trends in the Geography of Pilgrimages: Homage to David E. Sopher (1987), The Spirit & Power of Place: Human Environment and Sacrality (1994), Where the Buddha Walked. A Companion to the Buddhist Places (2003), Towards the Pilgrimage Archetype (2003), Sacred Geography of Goddesses in South Asia (2010), Sacredscapes and Pilgrimage Systems (2011), Holy Places and Pilgrimages: Essays on India (2011), Hindu Tradition of Pilgrimage: Sacred Space and System (2023), Cosmic Order and Cultural Astronomy: Sacred Cities of India (2009, 2023), Placemaking and Cultural Landscapes (2023), Pilgrimages, Sacred Places and Pathway to RWYC- Reconnecting With Your Culture (EdA, vol. 12, 2025), and Sacred Heritage and Pilgrimages in Cities (2025). He lives in Varanasi, India’s premier pilgrimage city, and is involved in organising pilgrimages and related activities.

In this conversation, Heather A. Warfield speaks with John Eade, a prominent figure in pilgrimage studies. He shares his journey into anthropology and early interest in pilgrimages, which began at Lourdes. The discussion also focuses on the concept of contestation in pilgrimage studies, emphasizing the diverse motivations of pilgrims and the importance of healing. Eade also highlights the significance of mentoring young scholars and emerging areas of study, such as soundscapes in pilgrimage experiences. The conversation reflects on the cultural and spiritual aspects of pilgrimage, showcasing Eade's extensive knowledge and influence in the field.

Psychology of Pilgrimage host, Dr. Heather A. Warfield, is a researcher, professor, and specialist of pilgrimage studies, with research focused on the psychology of pilgrimages. She is the series editor of Pilgrimage Studies (Peter Lang), co-editor of Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I: Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices, and editor of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Pilgrimage: Historical, Current and Future Directions. In addition to academic publications, she has written articles about contemporary battlefield pilgrimages for US military publications and serves as a battlefield pilgrimage expert for military staff rides and other related educational programs.

John Eade studied at Oxford University between 1968 and 1973, completing a BA in Modern History (1968), a Diploma in Social Anthropology (1969) and undertaking research on the socialidentity of middle class Bengali Muslims in Calcutta, submitted as a M.Litt in 1976. He began lecturing at Digby Stuart College, London, in 1973 and completed a PhD at the University of London in 1986 on the politics of community among Bangladeshi Muslims in the borough of Tower Hamlets. In 2000 Eade was appointed Professor at University of Surrey Roehampton, between 2004 and 2011 he was Professor at the University of Roehampton and Executive Director of CRONEM (Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism), University of Surrey/ Roehampton University, 2011-2025 he continued as Professor on a part-time contract and now Emeritus Professor. He is also Visiting Professor at Toronto University.

Eade’s involvement in pilgrimage began in 1968 when he joined the Oxford University Catholic pilgrimage to Lourdes where he worked as a volunteer helper. In 1989 he organised a three day conference on pilgrimage from which emerged the volume, Contesting the Sacred: The Anthropology of Christian Pilgrimage (1991), co-edited with Michael Sallnow. During the 1990s he focused on urban ethnicity, identity politics, global migration and global cities but began working with others, who were writing about contemporary pilgrimage, especially Simon Coleman. Eade co-edited the volume Reframing Pilgrimage: Cultures in Motion (2004) and started building a network of scholars, mostly in Europe, through establishing the Pilgrimage Studies Network (PilNet) within the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) with Mario Katic (Zadar, Croatia) in 2017, as well as a book series with Ashgate and then Routledge.

Besides the pilgrimage volumes mentioned above he has published the following co-edited volumes – (with M. Katic) Pilgrimage, Politics and Place-Making in Eastern Europe. 2014; (with D. Albera) International Perspectives on Pilgrimage Studies: Itineraries, Gaps andObstacles, 2015 and New Pathways in Pilgrimage Studies: Global Perspectives, 2017; (with S. Coleman) Pilgrimage and Political Economy, 2018; (with M. Katic) Military Pilgrimage and Battlefield Tourism: Commemorating the Dead, 2018 and Approaching Pilgrimage: Methodological Issues Involved in Researching Routes, Sites, and Practices, 2023. Eade has also published a range of journal articles and chapters since 1991 which draw on his experience of pilgrimage at Lourdes and, more recently, in England.

This conversation between Heather A. Warfield and James Taub explores the experiences and commemoration of Jewish veterans in France following World War I. Jim Taub discusses his chapter on the subject, focusing on the identity, cultural differences, and the impact of anti-Semitism on Jewish soldiers and veterans. The dialogue also delves into the significance of pilgrimage in Jewish tradition, the integration of Jewish veterans into French society, and the ongoing legacy of their contributions. The conversation concludes with reflections on the future of Franco-American relations and the importance of understanding shared histories. Taub’s chapter “Leurs Frères Sont Nos Frères” is in the forthcoming book “Pilgrimages to the Western Front of WWI” https://www.peterlang.com/document/1446805. Psychology of Pilgrimage host, Dr. Heather A. Warfield, is a researcher, professor, and specialist of pilgrimage studies, with research focused on the psychology of pilgrimages. She is the series editor of Pilgrimage Studies (Peter Lang), co-editor of Pilgrimages to the Western Front of World War I: Historical Exemplars & Contemporary Practices, and editor of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Pilgrimage: Historical, Current and Future Directions. In addition to academic publications, she has written articles about contemporary battlefield pilgrimages for US military publications and serves as a battlefield pilgrimage expert for military staff rides and other related educational programs.James Taub is the Associate Curator of Exhibition Content and Research at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a public historian, he focuses on the military history of the 18th century, and the First World War. Originally from Michigan, James received his MA from the University of Glasgow, (where he wrote his thesis on the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the Great War), and his BA from Dickinson College. He worked as the Education Coordinator for the United States World War One Centennial Commission, and the History and Engagement Specialist at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. He currently researches and writes on the Great War, and the French Army of the late 18th century. His recent publications include the Oxford University Press' Bibliography on the Military History of France in World War One, and a chapter in The Darkest Year: The British Army on the Western Front 1917. James has also contributed journal articles and book reviews to The Public Historian and the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research.