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Heroes and Villains of Traditional Catholicism - Part A

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JMJ

Introduction

I am wondering, why do Traditional Catholics need heroes?  Over the years I have seen a number of people emerge and be hailed as heroes only to later turn into villains. At least, people that seem to betray the very principles for which they were originally admired.

This created a new question:  What makes them heroes and then what makes them villains?

In this series, I'm going to relate my reflections on this topic based on my 35+ years as a Traditional Catholic.

Seeds of Heroes

For decades, Traditional Catholics have been persecuted. They believe that they are right, but in varying degress they are conflicted about the actions of the leaders of the Catholic Church and their personal beliefs about the Catholic Church (see cognitive dissonance).

This conflict is painful and begets a maze of decisions.  People like things to be black and white. They like complex things to be simple, hence all the conspiracy theories about 911, COVID-19 etc.

More importantly, persecuted people NEED confirmation that they are 'right'. They NEED someone to reinforce their beliefs and anyone who does so will be seen favorably (see confirmation bias).   Hence those who expose scandal, pontificate on various opinions and positions are regarded as heroes. 

But there's a caveat. Just like social media influencers, they are only heroes if their opinion resonates with that of their followers. The transformation into a villain starts when the hero deviates from the beliefs of their followers.

The followers make a personal investment in these heroes, they trust them and this leads to the followers assimilating their heroes beliefs. The farther they follow their hero, the more committed and invested they become, it seems especially true if it involves moral danger.  There is an excitement in fighting for something or someone you believe in, to be seen taking a courageous stand against injustice. Having new meaning and purpose added to their life can be intoxicating.

Looking at the steady stream of Traditional Catholic Heroes and Villains, it seems to me that some Traditional Catholics search for heroes who give purpose to their suffering, heroes who fight the way they would want to fight in this war.

What Makes a Hero?

So what makes one person a hero and another a villain?  If a person does an act without witnesses,no one will ever think of them as a hero. I have come to think that we 'make' someone a hero.

Definitions

  • Hero: a person admired for achievements and noble qualities; one who shows great courage. (Merriam-Webster)
  • Villain: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero; a deliberate scoundrel or criminal; one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty.
Looking at these definitions, it appears that I wasn't too far off. In human terms we decide when a person is a hero and a villain is defined by those who oppose him (or her).  I sometimes wonder if it is possible to be a 'hero' without a villain.The key lesson is that whether a person is a hero and villain is subjective.  We admire a hero for their achievements and qualities.  We admire them because they inspire us and they say what we want to have said and think what we want to be thought.

A hero is a reflection of their followers and an influencer as well. People become followers because of a basic resonance with their biases, prejudices, emotions, culture and principles.

That is the seed of a hero, the beliefs of their followers.

Something to consider, who are your heroes, people you look up?  Why do you look up to them?  What does this tell you about yourself?

P^3

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