Travel is in many ways the story of human origin. The earliest stories found in the Bible are about people on the move—sometimes leaving home, other times returning home. Travel in history, tragically, has been both voluntary and involuntary. Human beings, it seems, have always been on the move: setting out, moving around, and going places. In this course, participants will be asked to reflect on the meaning of travel—their own stories as well as the travel stories of others—and how travel (sometimes) changes those who do it. From mission trips to pilgrimages, from quick vacation getaways to living abroad, this course will explore human motivations for travel, which are often surprisingly spiritual. 

Recommended reading: Douglas Brouwer’s book by the same title is scheduled for release in early 2025. Registered students will be provided information when it is published. 

Session 1 – Introduction to travel 

Session 2 – The case against travel 

Session 3 – How travel can (sometimes) change us. 

Subject: travel, sociology 

Douglas Brouwer has led mission trips, study tours, and pilgrimages. He has traveled with large groups and alone. He has served three international congregations—two in Switzerland and one in the Netherlands. This most recent book, his eighth, is about travel that is transformative. He received his BA in philosophy from Calvin University and his MDiv and DMin from Princeton Theological Seminary.