Lourdes

English abstract: This article outlines the emergence of Lourdes as a shrine. This sketch records how procession practices seem important in the cultural grounding of the site. But the article's real center of attention is a study of how French author-jounalist and intellectual, Republican free-thinker, Émile Zola’s novel Lourdes depicts processions. The novel is driven forth by a critique of contemporary religious life. Nevertheless, this critique is somewhat softened in the description of the ritual performances of the processions. Pertaining in particular to the interest in force-metaphors, Zola in these passages shows a perhaps surprising resemblance to formative figures within the study of religion such as Émile Durkheim.Dansk resume: Denne artikel skitserer fremvæksten af Lourdes som helligsted fra midten til slutningen af 1800-tallet. Denne skitse tegner blandt andet konturerne af processionspraksissers betydning for helligtstedets etablering. Men artiklens egentlige tyngdepunkt er undersøgelsen af processionsskildringerne i den franske forfatter-journalist og intellektuelle, republikanske fritænker Émile Zolas roman Valfartsstedet fra 1894. Denne roman er en religions- og samtidskritik; men denne kritik nedtones påfaldende i beskrivelserne af processioners kraft og virkning. I disse passager viser Zola et måske overraskende slægtskab med den formative religionsvidenskabs interesse for ‘religiøse kræfter’ som den formuleres fx hos Émile Durkheim

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