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Religion and history majors recently traveled to Israel, where they spent seventeen days exploring the country’s major geographic regions. The trip was part of PC’s Maymester program.

“I chose to take this trip because it was such a rare opportunity,” said religion major Spencer Cary. “Israel is the best way outside of Scripture to understand the history of my faith.”

Associate professor of religion Dr. Bob Bryant, who last visited Israel six months ago, planned a full itinerary so that students could see as much of the country as possible. The trip included hikes along the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and another on the western side of the Dead Sea, including many more.

“The diverse geography in such a small space was astounding,” said religion major John Gartrell. “The area around the Sea of Galilee clearly got much more rainfall than the area near the Dead Sea.  All the hills and mountains definitely influenced why a particular route was chosen over another.”

Caesarea Maritima Aquaduct

During their travels, students learned about the history and current conflict in the region by visiting various peoples, including Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

History major Regan Hayes chose to visit Israel because of her interest in Middle Eastern history.

“I thought it would be interesting to see how the Middle East was constantly being ruled by other people and how the culture changed and evolved,” she said. “I think I gained a solid perspective on my view of the Palestinian situation.”

“I learned a lot about the current conflict in Israel because we got a balanced perspective when we interviewed a Palestinian, a Jew, and a neutral party,” Cary added.

Also during the trip, students met Father Elias Chacour, an Arab Christian Israeli whom Bryant calls “the strongest and most persistently faithful advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian struggle.”

“Getting to meet Elias Chacour, an Arab Christian, who is the voice for reconciliation and peace in Israel, was amazing and thought-provoking,” Gartrell said. “Everybody needs a sense of dignity and hope.”

Click for larger images.

Yad Vashem Children's Memorial	Nazareth	Dr. Bryant at Masada
Qumran	Church of the Holy Sepulcher, dome interior	Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem
Jerusalem Old City	view of Temple Mount from a window in Dominus Flevit Church	Students pose as statues along Dead Sea
En Gedi National Park	Students stand along the Mediterranean coast	Sea of Galilee
Bet Shean	Dr. Bryant at Hezekiah's Tunnel, Jerusalem
Photos courtesy of Dr. Bob Bryant, Associate Professor of Religion