The most renowned and respected theologians say faith is nothing without understanding.
Many Christians go on Catholic tours or pilgrimages to gain a better understanding of their beliefs.
By walking through sites deemed highly significant by the Church, perhaps they can get a more concrete grasp of the ideologies propagated by their religion and come out of their journey more enlightened and faithful than ever.
Pilgrimages to the Holy Land are especially evocative of spiritual reflection.
This is not just because many of its sites offer a direct biblical connection with Jesus Christ.
The Old City of Jerusalem is believed to be the birthplace of Christianity, yet it is also the holiest city to Judaism and the third-holiest to Islam.
Just as thousands of Christians flock to the Holy Land to express their devotion to God, so do thousands of other people from different faiths.
Most Catholic tours center on sites of events that are only relevant to the Christian community.
Pilgrims are well aware of what to expect, and what to do when they get there.
Participants of pilgrimages to the Holy Land, at the very moment they step foot into the Old City, are exposed to ideologies that they believe are different from their own.
Some may experience a bit of cultural shock.
How can one site be so important to different congregations? A short history lesson from the tour guide may answer some questions.
This is the trigger for spiritual reflection.
By opening oneself up to other faiths, discovering their similarities with one's own beliefs and brushing off prejudices, pilgrims may come out of their Catholic tours as better, more faithful Christians.