Sep 27, 2008
Back when I was an Episcopalian, I was a traditionalist.
Today, I am a traditionalist. I may have adopted a different
tradition than the one I was following a few decades ago, but I
honor the tradition which I follow.
But there are those who are not comfortable with tradition, and
especially with traditionalists. To some, a traditionalist is
some individual, too hide-bound to explore, secure in saying that
what was good enough for his or her ancestors is good enough for
them. I suggest that a different approach might be more
appropriate, and perhaps more common.
Learning about tradition is learning about where you and those who
preceded you have been.
Questioning tradition is a usually-healthy way of exploring the
basis of a tradition and seeing how it fits in to your life
today. There are occasions, and I describe one, in which you
might discover that the basis isn't really there. And there
are other cases in which the basis is really there, especially if
you follow the tradition in the same heart as those who first
established it.
And on the way, there can be learning and growth!
Blessed Be!