Children on the Abraham Path, Turkey
Twenty years ago, the celebrated specialist on world mythology Professor Joseph Campbell was asked ‘What might make the world a better place?’ His reply was surprising: “Tourism,” he said. Then he elaborated: “Go out and meet someone new. Learn a new language, another mythology and religion. If enough people did just that, we might see the beginning of the end of the demonisation of other peoples around the world.”
Whilst few of us have the time in our too-busy lives to learn a new language, mythology and religion on our holidays there is one organisation whose mission it is to offer people the opportunity to try doing just that. The Abraham Path, a new route of cultural tourism which follows the footsteps of Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) through the Middle East, to encourage us to “remember our common origins, to respect our cultural differences, and to recognize our shared humanity” as well as experience the warm hospitality of the people of this often maligned region of the world.
Whether learning how to bake bread in the traditional, time-honoured way in Turkey, staying with a family in a village home in Palestine or visiting a women’s cooperative to learn how to make soap with herbs and olive oil in Jordan, slow travellers on the Abraham Path are taking a major step towards Professor Campbell’s dream of a less divided world.
Gail Simmons
Volunteering internationally with the Abraham Path Initiative has been extremely beneficial for me personally. Allowing me to explore a different culture learnt new ways of acting, dressing and generally doing things differently, in addition to the reasons why is fun and essential to understand and learn about the society you become a part of. … Read moreHelping teach English to the students and to the children throughout the project was very enjoyable, especially the students as we saw them grow in confidence over the days and weeks.
Meeting open-minded people from different countries encourages me to reject the misrepresentation from different sources often found in the West. Making friends in another part of the world is amazing and something I never considered before travelling to Jordan. To think you live so far away and have very different backgrounds and upbringing, yet the similarities and things you share in common are no different to your friends at home.
Thanks Steve. Very well put.
Dear Gail,
Ibrahim traveled upon the word of God . God knows that this would enrich Ibrahim’s knowledge, strength his faith and inspire his soul . traveling sharps knowledge of your self and humans , faith , meaning of justice forgiving and reconciliation .
API works toward achieving these meanings through getting people to meet ,talk , walk, ice-breaking , understanding , forgiving and reconciliation .