Tradition

[rez]

Reading another thread i noticed that a member decided to believe in something merely because of the bible saying so and that tradition must be kept.

My question is, just because something has been done traditionally, does that make it right?

I for one say NO. How can the label of good be applied to stagnation when the ultimate purpose of the human race has been progression? We constantly find new and better ways to live our lives so why should we discard improvement in favour of keeping with archaic and often grizly practices.

Were we to keep traditions as absolute law we would still be stoning adulterors. Modern medicine would be an utter sham of shunning and leeches if you were lucky enough to find an underground progressionist.

Why do we cling to traditions when better options surround us? For instance Gay people are traditionally not tolerated in right wing conservatism. Why what possible harm do gay people cause them? None... they are merely attempting to live in a closed off box where they can keep everything ordered and stay comfortable in the notions of their beliefs being on top.

It stuns me that a man can make a decision based on tradition rather than the right course of action. Does no one else see this?

- Rez

[God]

Reading the same thread, I repeat the answer given there-

'If we followed tradition for everything, we'd still be living in the dark ages'

[Virgil]

And I too repeat what i posted in that thread. Has he ever read "The Lottery"?

A disturbing little story which deals with traditions and why sometimes we just need to let them go.

[The White Knight]

I think only a texan christian sect would disagree with you completely, Rez.

Why do we cling to traditions when better options surround us?

Do we?

[Dionysios II The Great]

Lol, the first debate i join here and already this. :laughing:
I know who you're reffering to.

[Zenith Darksea]

Rez, if you (for argument's sake) attained moral perfection, would you wait a while and then alter your new-found morality just for the sake of change? I'm not saying what's good or bad, but there are sometimes concepts, methods etc. that are so good that they ought to remain as tradition.

[Tom Paine]

Rez, if you (for argument's sake) attained moral perfection, would you wait a while and then alter your new-found morality just for the sake of change? I'm not saying what's good or bad, but there are sometimes concepts, methods etc. that are so good that they ought to remain as tradition.

Then its not preserved for the sake of preservation but for excellence; its preservation for the sake of preservation that leads to stagnation.

[rez]

For arguments sake there would be no need to change. im not advocating change for the sake of change. but for the sake of improvement. Of course i do not believe moral perfection is possible in any creature (yes including god).

Not all traditions are bad i know, but my main gripe is tradition being advocated when it seems obselete

[Dionysios II The Great]

Could you give an example?

[rez]

The continued advocation of a ban on contraception by the catholic church

[Dionysios II The Great]

I'm sorry but what's "contraseption" i probably know the Dutch word, but can't think of it.

[The White Knight]

The continued advocation of a ban on contraception by the catholic church

I'd rather label that a case of conservative 'morals' rather than explicit tradition. Silly morals, yes.

I'm sorry but what's "contraseption" i probably know the Dutch word, but can't think of it.

=anti-conceptiva: condooms etc....

[rez]

Contraception is the use of items like a condom. basically allowing sex without procreation taking place

Conservative - maintaining the present state - You COULD say maintaining tradition right? :wink:

[Dionysios II The Great]

It's wrong, "it" should only be done for creating new life, not for own pleasure...

Conservative - maintaining the present state - You COULD say maintaining tradition right?

Well, than i'm a nationalist-conservative.

[The White Knight]

Conservative - maintaining the present state - You COULD say maintaining tradition right? :wink:

Hmm... I still feel as if a slight difference is at its place. Let's utilise the dictionary.

Alas, my feeling seems out of place!

tra·di·tion Audio pronunciation of "tradition" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (tr-dshn)
n.

1. The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication.
2. 
   1. A mode of thought or behavior followed by a people continuously from generation to generation; a custom or usage.
3. A set of such customs and usages viewed as a coherent body of precedents influencing the present: followed family tradition in dress and manners. See Synonyms at heritage.
4. A body of unwritten religious precepts.
5. A time-honored practice or set of such practices.
6. Law. Transfer of property to another.

The bold meaning exactly the same as morals apparently.

I wouldn't know where those deseases come from, but i think if "it" is use like it's upposed to, abortion wouldn't even be necessary.

Uh-oh. Only have sex when you want to have babies? The world is populated enough...

[rez]

Exactly and the number of thousands of great experiences one can have without harming another are utterly void because of the view of tradition.

not to mention the prevention of the spread of disease.

But the contraception issue is not the debate's focus.

its the fact that the "Its wrong" belief is utterly influenced by tradition rather than logic

[Dionysios II The Great]

I wouldn't know where those deseases come from, but i think if "it" is use like it's upposed to, abortion wouldn't even be necessary.

[rez]

ok lets take AIDS for example. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that can be stopped with the use of a condom. Since the Catholic church preached against the use of condoms Africa is in the grips of an extremely deadly AIDS epidemic.

Here we have the preservation of tradition causing the deaths of thousands.

Again not even something that jesus preached

[The White Knight]

ok lets take AIDS for example. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that can be stopped with the use of a condom. Since the Catholic church preached against the use of condoms Africa is in the grips of an extremely deadly AIDS epidemic.

Here we have the preservation of tradition causing the deaths of thousands.

Again not even something that jesus preached

I wouldn't point the finger at 'tradition' as a concept. Rather I would blame the stagnant church.

[Dionysios II The Great]

I thought HIV came from monkeys?

And BTW, if the Africans had done "it" wisely, than that wouldn't have happened.