Paper long abstract:

In recent years, the Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land is shaping the spiritual experiences of pilgrims and other religious tourists in new ways. In addition to the traditional visits to holy sites - emphasizing the authenticity of the locations where the sacred events "really happened" - contrived Christian theme sites that create an alternative to the traditional sites were developed. This presentation will focus on two important Protestant sites, which reflect this trend: "Nazareth Village" in Nazareth, and the "Biblical Resources Museum" in Jerusalem. These innovative sites do not rely on churches and graves, as most holy sites do, but are built around a contrived setting simulating life in Biblical times. Through the use of secular means, the sites provide the possibility for a different spiritual experience.

Three main components underlie Christian theme sites in the Holy Land:

1. Theming: The sites simulate the atmosphere of Biblical times in the Holy Land. The theming of the sacred shapes the architecture, landscape, actors, performance, food and souvenirs. By doing so, the sites fulfill the need for religious visualization, thus acting as alternatives to the traditional holy sites, which are sometimes perceived as alienating and cold.

2. Science in the service of religion: Significant resources are invested in scientific research in order to get an accurate image of Biblical times. The fact that scientists - archeologists and others - have given the sites their seal of approval contributes to the sites' reputation and increases their validity among the visitors. In addition, the scientific aura adds to the distinction made by the visitors between an ordinary theme park and such an authentic experience.

3. Nature: This component is emphasized in two ways. Firstly, natural elements dominate the sites - trees, flowers, water and animals, all of which generate Biblical associations. Secondly, the local guides are trained to emphasize nature by referring to relevant Biblical events through stories and parables.

An analysis of the sites and their above mentioned components suggests that we are dealing with a contemporary phenomenon, which can be called "hyper-spirituality", to paraphrase Umberto Eco's "hyper-reality". The combination between the spiritual context and meaning on the one hand, and the active participation of the visitor on the other, leads to a unique and enhanced experience that can be viewed as a significant contribution to the spectrum of the religious spiritual tourist experience.