The Flames of Tradition
Fundamentalism's Impact on Belief and Society
April 3, 2024. Vol. 17, Issue 15.
Welcome to Eyes on Christ, a weekly letter, every Wednesday from my heart to yours. I'm a story-gardener, cultivating personal tales that blossom into insights on spirituality, culture, nature, and our constantly evolving world. An explorer-writer, I intertwine ancient wisdom and modern curiosities for a journey of self-discovery. As always, thanks for reading.
I wrote today’s story last week but then, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained called and so, I put it aside. Now, we’ve celebrated Resurrection Sunday and are in Eastertide, awaiting the arrival of the Holy Spirit which we will commemorate on Pentecost Sunday, May 19. Only after that will church life move into Ordinary Time, that is a time outside the two great celebrations of Christmas and Easter. Let’s consider traditions.
Throughout human history, religious and cultural traditions have served as guiding forces that influence societies with meaning, values, and communal identity. At their best, these traditions kindle the flames of spiritual vitality, preserving the wisdom of the ages while allowing space for our individual and collective growth and development. However, when they are followed dogmatically or combined with political ideologies, traditions fuel the destructive fires of fundamentalism - radically inflexible belief systems that breed oppression, violence, and the tragic rejection of new knowledge. I share a story and explore the dual nature of tradition—flames that ignite life’s energy, while also threatening to consume humanity itself.