1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

WHAT IS \\\\\\\\\1"
LOOKED 1
TO·ASIII '
11111111111111111111 II
o SCRUTINY
Nof the foundation
of modern-day religion would be
thorough unless we examined the authority
to which the religions look. Does not the
quality of the foundation upholding a religion
depend upon the authority to which
it looks? Does not a weak authority mean
a weak foundation? Hence a strong authority
is needed, and not only must such a
sound, strong authority be looked to, but
it must be the authority; that is, its principles
must actually be put into practice
by its adherents.
There are many forms of modern-day
religion whose adherents vary from a
small handful to thousands and even millions.
To what authority do they look for
support of their way of worship? How
strong is that authority? Do they live by
it? Does it give them a firm foundation,
a good reason for their adherents putting
trust in them? Let us examine what
modem-day religion looks to as authority.
Tradition as Authority
It is frankly admitted that many groups
rely heavily on tradition, which may be
information, opinions, beliefs or customs
handed down by word of mouth or by example.
Traditions have their value; traditions
in dress, eating habits and architecture
have enriched men with variety. But
APRIL !2, 1964
not all tradition has proved beneficial.
Though customs and information handed
down in religion can be helpful, they often
tend to be inaccurate. Especially with the
lapse of time details of happenings are forgotten
or distorted.
It has
been well said
tha t not the
least misfortune
in a prominent
falsehood is the
fact that tradition
is apt to repeat it
for truth.
We note, as an example, that The Catholic
Encyclopedia, Vol. 15, page 6, says:
"It is an old tradition that Jesus Christ
was born on 25 December." But is that
tradition accurate? The Bible does not give
the exact date but does indicate Jesus'
birth was before wintertime, while the
shepherds were still out on their fields at
night. It points to about October 1.· Tradition
handed down December 25 because
that date coincides with the pagan Roman
Saturnalia and the birthday of the pagan
sun-god Mithras. Thus tradition has perpetuated
a falsehood.
Tradition can also prove tyrannical.
Speaking as the voice of men long dead,
tradition may lay its "dead hand" on the
living; and instead of serving from its place
of vantage as a guide, it may take over
the helm, leading one in the wrong direction.
It may thus block progress, as in the
case of creeds that are considered closed
and not open to reason. Though it should
be well known that man must check tradition
by reason, too often man checks reason
by tradition.
It is little wonder, then, that some clergymen
bemoan the fact that their religion
rests too heavily on tradition, as did Bish-
* For detailed proof see The Walchtower of December
15. 1957, pp. 742, 743,
7