Grandpa Tevye and the Cowboy Religionists

(Hey, that sounds like a great name for a band! )

The recent debate about the role of Judaism’s traditions in the lives of Messiah’s sheep reminded me of the classic Kineti post, 10 Religious Types to Watch Out For.

In particular, during the recent debate, we saw scandalous amounts of Grandpa Tevye and The Cowboy Religionist:

• Grandpa Tevye: Ah, tradition! There is an inexplicable art, spiritualism, and beauty in the traditions of the elders within a structured religious environment. Each year you do X, Y, and Z, and that is spiritually quenching. To live a Godly life is to perform the traditional customs. You oppose all those crazy Cowboy Religionists. You do it the correct way, like they used to… you know, in The Good Old Days, back when all things were right with God, the world, and religion. You’re speaking, of course, of when religion was done right: In the Middle Ages. Or in the 1st century. Or in the Temple period. Or in Moses’ day. For you, the grass is always greener on the yesteryear. No need for all this new fangled relationship talk; that heartfelt thing is overrated. As for spontaneous prayer and worship…gah, that’s for the crazy Pentecostals. Living for God means doing the traditions.
  
  
• The Cowboy Religionist: You don’t need no stinkin’ traditions! You throw out 3000 years of historical prayers, literature, worship, liturgy, ceremony – those ancients were all fools, and you’re the enlightened one. You’ve successfully rebelled from Grandpa Tevye and made your own way. You do things your way. A cowboy religionist. You do your own thing, which will eventually become a custom, and then a tradition… until someone else throws out your traditions, repeating the cycle ad infinitum.

We even saw hints of The Purist and Ye Olde Ancient – oh yes! Go checkout the rest of the 10 Religious Types to Watch Out For, and have a good shabbat.