Sometimes, the greatest threat to the traditionalist movement are trads themselves.

A thread:

What is the "traditionalist movement"? You might define it as a cultural/religious/philosophical movement to embrace the wisdom of the ancients, traditional Western values, and age-old Christian rituals, practices, and beliefs.

Many progressives see the traditionalist movement as dangerous because it attacks their pet projects of "inclusivity", "open-mindedness", "equality", and all the other trendy buzzwords you see everywhere today. Much of the traditionalist movement is a reaction against liberalism.

Traditionalists believe in things like marriage as being between 1 man & 1 woman, children as a gift, cultural traditions to be embraced, localism & nationalism, being against abortion, gender ideology, euthanasia, and supporting things like hierarchy & authority.

From a Roman Catholic standpoint, traditionalists are largely those who support & advocate for the traditional Latin Mass, traditional teachings, practices, & devotions, much of which fell out of favor following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which tried modernizing.

Of course, the traditionalist movement raises questions: whose tradition? What is the criteria for something to be "traditional"? Is the stay-at-home white mother of 12 children trad? Are certain teachings & practices (many of which were innovations in the 17th century) trad?

Much of what passes for "traditionalism" is actually just a fetishization of a particular 'idea' of tradition. And so, you get people pining for the culture of the 1940's/50's (which had its own issues) & claiming women's education is modernist nonsense.

From a religious point of view, traditionalists oftentimes mistake tradition for Tradition. In other words, some traditionalist Catholics claim X is the traditional practice of the Church, when in reality, it is a fairly recent modern invention.

Take for example, the role of the laity in the Church. Some trad Catholic personalities assume that they are following the footsteps of St. Catherine of Siena in criticising the pope. But for much of the Church's history, laypeople were not authorized to teach theology.

Fr. Chad Ripperger, somewhat of an oracle among traditionalist Catholics, warned against several problems with trads, including: elitism, pride, anger, despair, hypocrisy, isolationism, ignorance, among other vices.

This brings me to my next point.

The traditionalist movement, in and of itself, is not bad. In fact, compared with contemporary alternatives, the movement is quite good. But like all good things, it needs pruning & purification to make it more effective, efficient, and true.

You can argue that the traditional Latin Mass is objectively superior to the Novus Ordo by virtue of its content, transmission of doctrine, clarity, and continuity with the past. That's fine. But some trads assume that the TLM as celebrated today was just like medieval times. No.

Many of us who have been in the traditionalist Catholic movement for years have seen the trajectory of a newcomer. They are blown away at the beauty of the TLM, & soak it all in. Eventually, they become little liturgical "experts", and then chide someone for singing the Credo!

Others in the traditionalist movement come from an extremely-opposite background, and see the trad movement as their safe haven. They embrace everything "trad", and then continue going deeper & deeper into the rabbit hole, before eventually burning out & becoming lukewarm.

The real traditionalist is not the awkward nerd hiding behind a crusader avi & posting about how the Jews are responsible for all of the evils of the world. The real traditionalist is the person who loves the LORD & neighbor, who cooperates with grace in pursuit of virtue.

The traditionalist movement has been overrun by dorks with Pepe the Frog as their avi, who harass Catholics for miscegenation, who uses traditional Catholic aesthetics as a way to mask their own autism. "Repent & submit to the pope!", they say, while themselves waist deep in sin.

Aside from social media awkwardness & stupidity, e-trads also tend to hurt the traditionalist movement by aligning it with a particular political viewpoint, whether that be white nationalism, anti-Semitism, & so on. Eventually, you realize that trad Catholicism is just a mask.

Theologically, trads tend to adhere to pre-Vatican II catechisms, which is something I certainly recommend for various reasons. But what is often lost is actual training in philosophy & theology, which then makes their arguments anemic & devoid of actual logic & coherence.

One of the temptations of any "trad" movement is to embrace an ahistorical, anti-intellectual fundamentalism. Usually, this is a sign of great insecurity & fear.

By all means, advocate for traditional values, traditional liturgy, traditional beliefs. But do so with intelligence.

For example, if you place a saint's private revelation over the authentic Magisterium of the Church, then you do not understand basic fundamental theology on the contents of divine revelation.

I don't really care about what saint so-and-so said, esp. if it contradicts a council.

In my time at SSPX chapels, I came to know many good & faithful Roman Catholics. Same thing with my experience at ICKSP & FSSP, let alone diocesan parishes. So this is not to say that most traditionalist Catholics are the problem. I think most of these people just want to do good

But rarely are their voices the ones amplified. Instead, the voices that are loudest & most obnoxious are the ones who normies think of when they hear "traditional Catholic". Oftentimes, this will turn them away from the movement. And that's a shame. Trads can't afford this.

If you consider yourself a "traditionalist", then examine yourself up and down. Are you spending more time in online battles than in actual life? Are you pursuing virtue? Do you actually know what you are talking about when you advocate your positions? Are you helping the cause?

Because, for better or for worse, the gateway to traditionalism are often traditionalists themselves. Many of us know someone who helped them enter the movement. If you're anything like me, then you were attracted by honey, and not vinegar. Coat hard-truths in honey, not vinegar.

Remember that being a "trad" isn't itself enough for salvation. Plenty of people can attend trad liturgies & spout trad views. But unless the teachings & aesthetics touch your soul & pull you to repentance, you're just an e-crusading trad LARPist who is causing others to stumble.