Tradition, Custom and Culture

First I would like to apologize for not posting in a week. I have been working on a post that has been more difficult than I anticipated.

It seems that a blog that professes Traditionalism should discuss what it means by Traditionalism. Traditionalism is much too vast to detail all in one post but I will discuss some features of it.

Let me define some terms first. I will define these three terms to help describe what I am promoting: Tradition, Custom and Culture. Then I will answer some questions about Tradition.

Tradition: tradition is the beliefs and norms passed down to a people that affect how they live, act and think.

Custom: customs are the rituals, behaviors, arts, architecture etc. of a group that is based in or a result of their traditions. 

Culture/Civilization: culture is what is created from the combination of both Tradition and Custom. Think of it as a word that describes Traditions and Customs together as a whole. 

Now that we have defined our terms let us discuss this concept of Tradition.

Where does Tradition come from?

We have already shown in our definitions that Tradition is what creates Custom and Culture but what creates Tradition?

Tradition one could argue was created from two components, Religion and History. Religion's impact on Tradition is quite apparent as Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi; How you pray is how you believe is how you live. History's impact on Tradition must be admitted to explain how different peoples practicing the same religion are distinctly different while being related. 

What of Secularists who still practice "traditional" customs of their heritage?
Some people have the mistaken view that by dancing one's cultural dances or doing some other thing the "old way" they are Traditionalist. They consider one's heritage to be important on certain occasions but not their life. This, as we have stated earlier, is Custom not Tradition and practicing Custom and disregarding Tradition is not what Traditionalists support. To Traditionalists custom is not of primary importance; Tradition is.

What are some Traditions?
Certain Traditions are universal across all Cultures because they adhere to Natural Law. Examples of these Traditions are marriage between a Man and a Woman, respect for elders, belief in a Creator and the desire to worship, these things one will find in any culture that one studies. Other Traditions that are more prevalent in some cultures than others could be an emphasis on humility and respect or a more outgoing manner with strangers or an intense (to westerners at least) sense of family bonds that extend to very distant relations.

Are all Cultures equal?
Since we have affirmed that Tradition and ultimately Culture is built on the Religion of a people, it is reasonable to believe that since all religions are not equal to each other, all Cultures are not equal to each other.

I, as a Catholic, believe cultures influenced by Catholicism (and churches whose bishops have apostolic succession i.e. the Orthodox) are superior to all other cultures. That being said it is apparent that the West has discarded its Religion and its Culture and is at the moment far inferior to non Christian civilizations that have upheld Traditional living and morality.

Traditionalist, I think, must make this distinction in their heads that all cultures are not equal to each other. This may sound "politically incorrect" to affirm that Catholicism is superior to say Islam or Hinduism but if I believe Catholicism is true then I must believe that. I am sure that Muslims, Hindus, Jews etc. would disagree with me and I would expect no less from people who truly believe in their religions. If they do not believe this they should look for another faith that they do believe is superior to all others.

Should Traditionalists from different Religions and Cultures work together?
"Ecumenism" between Traditionalists seems necessary to some extent to defeat the modernists. Prudence suggests caution however in joining those frequently used by the Revolution i.e. Muslims.
Catholic Traditionalists should support all Traditions from all Cultures that do not contradict the Gospel. Certain Traditions like honor suicide or animal sacrifice etc. Traditionalists should not support. Those Traditions and Customs which are good however Traditionalists should support regardless of what Cultures they come from.

Should Traditionalists adopt other Culture's Customs?
Yes and No. Traditionalists should study and experience (to some extent) other Cultures but actually living as another Culture is not proper. We were each born into a certain race and our duty is to keep that culture alive. To forsake your "tribe" as it were and adopt another is a betrayal of your Folk. Besides no one will be Japanese as well as a Japanese and no one will be a Frenchman as well as a Frenchman.

There are really two Cultures that one belongs to; Particular Culture and General Culture. Particular Culture would be one's specific country or Culture. General Culture would be for example Western culture or Eastern culture, African culture or South American/Latin American culture.

                                                                                          Conclusion...
Traditionalist Counter-Revolutionaries have much work to do to fight so that Tradition may be strong in the life of their Folk. Tradition brings order in society and are laws that governments do not enforce  yet are all the more powerful because they belong to people. For such order and beauty to return to the West (and all those places that have become Liberal-Modernist societies) we must never lose hope and must pray and fight for with all our ability.