Date of Award
8-1999
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Comparative Religion
First Advisor
Dr. Brian C. Wilson
Second Advisor
Dr. Frank Gross
Third Advisor
Dr. Peter Schmitt
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Marian apparitions have been reported from the earliest days of Christianity. While most people have heard of Lourdes, Fatima or Guadalupe, fewer realize that dozens of apparitions have occurred in the United States. I chose to explore three of these apparitions: Bayside (New York, 1970+), Conyers (Georgia, 1984+) and Belleville (Illinois, 1994+). While most sites worldwide share common characteristics and details, very few ever receive formal approval by the Roman Catholic Church.
Anthropologist Clifford Geertz in his article "Religion as a Cultural Symbol" explains that a symbol can function as a model of and as a model for reality. Furthermore, Michael Cuneo explores several trends in contemporary American Catholicism. Using Geertz and Cuneo as a foundation, I examine details at the three apparition sites and draw conclusions which illustrate both their connections to Non-American sites as well as their uniqueness.
Recommended Citation
Drewel, Christine L., "Marian Apparitions in the United States: An Anthropological Perspective" (1999). Masters Theses. 3744.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3744