The Pietist Schoolman

There are many options out there for historical travel in Europe. What makes Pietist Schoolman Travel different?

We don’t approach historical travel as a kind of tourism, but as an act that is educational and spiritual.

In the 21st century Americans are accustomed to thinking of travel as tourism. But while you should expect physical comfort when traveling with us, you should also expect intellectual, emotional, and spiritual discomfort, as you’re pushed to look at the past and present in new ways. Because that kind of discomfort produces the thrill of genuine education.

We do these trips as extensions of our callings as teachers who believe that education can be both informative and transformative. When you travel with us, you’ll learn more about the history of this nation and others, but you’ll also contemplate profound questions about purpose, meaning, suffering, justice, and belief.

And because we do these trips as followers of Jesus, we also think of travel as a spiritual act — a powerful reminder of our ongoing journey as “foreigners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) who sojourn in this world. As we visit unfamiliar locations — or familiar ones that have changed greatly over time — we’ll learn in new ways that “here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).

But travel will also challenge us to think about how we love our neighbors in space and time. Like the Lutheran travel writer Rick Steves, we think that exploring other places and times can get “you out of your comfort zone. It teaches you empathy and lets you come home with a broader perspective.”

You can expect that we’ll find ways to teach religious history, even if we’re talking about topics like politics, war, or art. But know that non-Christians are certainly welcome to join our tours. Along the way, we may invite you to join us for times of worship or prayer, but it’s always up to you if you want to participate.

We try to take the stress out of travel, while still giving you flexibility.

On the one hand, you can expect us to handle most of the details that can make foreign travel so stressful. We’ll get you from place to place in Europe, book the hotels, and make sure every day starts with a good breakfast. Whenever we visit a large city, we’ll take time to give you an orientation to it, and you’re always welcome to tag along with our guides, even during free time in our official schedule.

But at the same time, we want to give you flexibility to customize your trip to your preferences. You’ll arrange your own airfare, in case you want to extend your stay on either end of the tour or use frequent flyer miles. Once we’re in Europe, we’ll do plenty of activities together — but also give you ample time on your own to sightsee, shop, and eat.