The Struggle to Define Pilgrimage

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is a well written article with very good flowy language. The ideas are properly structured with an easy to follow line of thoughts, clear articulation of subparts and good handling of existing research.

I understand this article to be a rather theoretical approach and discussion of definitions of pilgrimage. I however missed a little more ethnography to thicken it. Especially the last part where the author presents his/her own definition, it would have been interesting to read a little more 1st hand info here, in particular since he/she says that the definition is among other things derived not only from field work, but also from his/her own experience of pilgrimage. More 1st hand info would make the article "juicier". 

A quick check would also be necessary to correct few spelling mistakes, (loads of!) extra spaces and inappropriate punctuation (especially missing and extra comas).

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I thank you for your review of my manuscript and the care you took with it.  Thank you also for your encouraging comments. Your note about the absence of any ethnography report.  (This concurs with some of my own fears about it).  I reviewed that section and added three inserts from my pilgrim research participants and I think they are particularly relevant to that section.  

I have also been editing out those spaces and extra commas and spelling errors and I hope comprehensively.  

Renewed thanks 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I thank you most sincerely for your most attentive read of my submission and your very comprehensive response complete with very helpful suggestions.  I have worked on all of those and now submit my revised copy.  Apologies that I did not notice the request to use Track Changes until I was about to re-submit.  I revised the Abstract and Conclusion along the lines you suggested.  In one or two instances in the Conclusion particularly I made other choices. I also went with one of your title suggestions - very helpful thank you.

I was grateful for you Line by Line notes and edited and/or amended those.  

When I had completed your suggestions I had reduced the document by 10% (not the 20% you would have preferred).  In response to my other Reviewer's suggestions I did subsequently  include three short inserts of material from my research participants.  

Renewed thanks for your very helpful and educative review. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf