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tradition & scripture
Tradition & Scripture

Theology Essay
Ebonee Hutchinson Brown
20102509

Tradition

We all have family stories that we tell and retell at family gatherings. Families have customs and ways of doing things that are particular to them. We strengthen our family bonds by keeping these memories alive and withholding traditions, Ian Knox, Theology for Teachers, (Third Edition Toronto: Novalis 1999) 76. A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down, from generation to generation. It has a symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past (Knox, Theology for Teachers, 76). Traditions can persist and evolve for thousands of years. Knox suggests by hanging onto tradition people keep memories alive (Theology for Teachers, 77). Religious traditions help everyone to know who they were, what were the influences by that formed them and what were their obligations to God (Knox, Theology for Teachers, 77).

We all belong to a human family, a cultural group and religious family, which help us, shape our personalities and make us who we are (Knox, Theology for Teachers, 77). ‘The church’ has memories and experiences that it wants to keep alive so that we may keep our faith, remain united and serve God (Knox, Theology for Teachers, 77). Knox indicates that is it memories are those of deeds and words of God in history. Religious traditions are witnesses to faith and it is faith of the people and the way it is lived out that is to be passes on to succeeding generations (Theology for Teachers, 77).
However Tradition sometimes over powers us, as times goes we realise the old traditions are not helpful to our present day conditions (Knox, Theology for Teachers, 78). Traditions began to be written down around 1000 B.C.E, they were formed and shaped, edited and added to as the life of the Jewish people progressed. A collection of these traditions came to be written down and given rose to what we now call the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament (Knox, Theology



References: Knox, Ian. “Chapter 7, Tradition and Scripture”. In Theology for Teachers. Third Edition. Toronto: Novalis, 1999, 76-88. Pope Francis, “Unbreakable Unity - Scripture & Tradition,” (Discourse to the Pontifical Biblical Commission), http://www.catholichawaii.org/catholic-essentials/scripture-tradition.aspx Ralph, Margaret Nutting. “Chapter 2, The Catholic Approach to Scripture” in Scripture: Nourished by the Word. Catholic Basics: A Pastoral Ministry Series. Chicago Ill: Loyola Press, 2001, 19-38. Vatican II, Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), #1-26. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

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