ABSTRACT
Each new generation is the recipient of a heritage, which it takes for granted as it is received. This heritage is the sacred thread that binds the generations together; or rather, the rope made of many threads, which not only binds the generations together but also constitutes the ongoing culture of a people. The religious traditions of a people constitute a significant part of the cultural heritage, and the transmission of religious traditions is an integral part of the process of socialization. Traditional ways of acting are passed down from one generation to the next. Action systems are transmitted that are enduring organizations of behavior designed to attain ends for the satisfaction of needs and for designating status in society. The most obvious type of traditional material is that transmitted in language, either spoken or written. New social situations affect the transformation of tradition by the inclusion of new material.
