Tradition and the Free Society

There are many in today's world who denigrate and minimize the importance of tradition. There are those who say that tradition freezes society and creates molds that a free person must break. Even in the church there are those who say that since tradition must not be placed on a level with Scripture, we must therefore do away with it altogether.

First of all, I'm going to define the characteristics that define a tradition. First there must be a common history: a tradition in this sense has a common experience that all its members share in whether directly or not. Next there must be shared beliefs and assumptions used to interpret reality. Thirdly, there need to be common rituals and symbols. Finally, a tradition has a living community.

Many in the secular community who talk negatively about tradition of course mean by it, "organized religion." They think that a man must stand by his own beliefs but "tolerate" those of others and above all, not form into a group with those who share similar beliefs. But of course the peculiar thing about religion is that it is organized. If one would talk of "unorganized religion" one might as well speak of an unorganized government. Religion is, by its very nature, organized. Philosophy may be unorganized, but never religion.

What these people are objecting to is rituals, practices, and beliefs that they see as shackling man and keeping him from "thinking for himself." What they want is a "free society." Of course the characteristic feature of a free society is that it has common rituals and beliefs. One of the first things that an independent nation does is to institute national holidays and design a flag. The first thing that any free society will do is create laws, rules, institutions, and rituals.

For Christians, of course, we simply cannot afford to ignore tradition. We are part of a tradition: if we were not, why would we identify ourselves as "Christians?" Of course we need to be careful that our traditions line up with Scripture, but once we've determined that, we are free to proceed.

In closing, let me quote G. K. Chesterton who said, "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around."

~Roccondil