Something that came up in a discussion about what makes up who we are. This person I was discussing this with, she is a very traditional one. She believes that our believes, our thoughts, our opinions, they make up who we are. They are what makes up our identity, and if we change them, then we aren't the same person anymore.
I responded to that by saying that we are not the believes we hold, but the vessel which holds these believes, and even if they may change, that was makes us who we are does not.
Do you think that is hard to follow?
Do you think there may be some truth to it?
Can you think of a better way to frame this thought?
Being a traditionalist doesnt necessarily mean clinging unflinchingly or unreflectively to traditions, its about knowing what is important and useful, worth defending, sharing and providing as a legacy to others and what is not or which in the light of new insights could only be preserved or endure only in a changed form (although a change which honours the original and precursory form instead of a change which is simply a departure, difference or divergence).
The way I see it is that it is like someone who in later life wears the clothes that they found fashionable in their youth, the appearence/clothes are the same as a earlier time but supposing that the man is the same is a mistake, they have grown since the day they acquired the habit of dress.
To be honest I think that beliefs and values are important, although they're not sufficient, if you have no essential self besides those beliefs and values or sources of identity then you're a poor self, possibly even a poor self or false self and that can be troubling on a conscience or disturb the mind.
Its interesting that you know a traditionalist who feels that way, most of the time people arent conscious of traditions, beliefs, values or identity at all, often only in so far as its contrary something they think is wicked, the modern vogue is that you're going to attack the past, try and erase it, divest yourself of all that's gone before.
That and to strongly identify with minorities, which have experienced historic or presently are experiencing marginalise, persecution, perhaps just people not being sensitive enough to their uniqueness, some combination of the both maybe. You mightnt know any of the same minorities personally but that doesnt make a difference.
Both trends are problematic, people are storing up problems for themselves, denying their own personal identity to vaguely affirm others or the present or future. There's got to be a middle ground some how or a more realistic balance to be struck.
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