Are Traditions Needed?

[Unnamed Guy]

I agree that traditions are often a power struggle... but it would be really really hard if not impossible for a new believer to take on everything from a point of total deconstruction.

Consider someone who might have grown up in a church that ascribes to inerrancy, OSAS and KJVonlyism, and now they are asked to cast those traditions aside in the pursuit of serious study of the scriptures to become a pastor. Such works out ok for most seminarians in a very supportive environment, being the fallout from such is expected. It rarely works out well for individuals trying to give it a go on their own.... and for a new believer to try and start from a blank state without any traditions being taught, it would be really hard.

de·con·struc·tion
/ˌdēkənˈstrəkSHən/
noun

1. a method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language which emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.

That is exactly what I was taught except it was called "biblical research" and it was quite easy to learn.

 

[mnphysicist]

de·con·struc·tion
/ˌdēkənˈstrəkSHən/
noun

1. a method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language which emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.

That is exactly what I was taught except it was called "biblical research" and it was quite easy to learn.

That's great to hear of how it worked for you, but sadly for most people it can be many months and years of dark nights of ones soul and despair, and for some they are left with a shipwrecked faith (thus why doing so in community is so important). Within the domain of Christianity, I think a more nuanced definition from this article on CP is:

Deconstruction is a careful and deliberate examination of one's beliefs from the inside. It's about coming to terms with what you believe outside of your inherited beliefs. It's about growing INTO your faith, not out of it.

Holding fast to tradition often prevents deconstruction from happening... but its not always possible due to external triggering events or even a desire for growth. (Consider the transition from a Fowler stage 3 to 4 for example).
James Fowler: Stages of Faith — Lexington Avenue Baptist Church

For purposes of defining traditions, I am referring to Biblical interpretations (Bibliology, OSAS, atonement theories, eschatology etc), not church practices (incense, music, liturgy or not)