[ultima ratio]

Please tell your friend this: Some people don't like change--for very sound reasons. If you are passing-down truths over millenia of time, tradition is indispensible to assuring their integrity and guaranteeing that they are passed-on intact to succeeding generations.

Failing this, error would unfailingly creep into our faith with every changing fashion and you would end up in chaos--which is what we pretty much have today in the postconciliar Church.

Notice how even bishops are bad-mouthing Mel Gibson for daring to suggest in his film that the Jews had something to do with the execution of Christ. Political correctness is the current fashion--and so even Gospel accounts must defer to it and change, according to people like your friend.

[NYer]

If you are passing-down truths over millenia of time, tradition is indispensible to assuring their integrity and guaranteeing that they are passed-on intact to succeeding generations.

Absolutely and these people would agree with you! The news headlines, listed below will surely attest to that. Same concept, different religious practice. Shalom!

Women who read Torah at Wall can be jailed
Ultra-Orthodox rabbis ban Internet use because of fear of being led into the profane
'They Say Ugly Things About Us'
As increasing numbers of ultra-Orthodox Jews leave the fold, the government is offering to help
Estranged from his sibling for years, a NEWSWEEK writer explores in an upcoming book why his brother took refuge in a new world: the ultra-Orthodox fringes of Judaism
Immodest dress attacked in Israel (Ultra-Orthodox clash with secular women)
FOCUS-Abuse hurled at Reform rabbis at Western Wall
Police prepare for possible violence at Israel rallies
Unorthodox prayers draw Orthodox anger at Wailing Wall