Here is a question that myself and many NO friends have regarding the living and conversion to Traditional life. I'm hoping that those on the board can either confirm, or dispel each of these conceptions a lot of Novus Ordites have about living Tradition day to day. A lot of the things on this list scare them off.
1.) One cannot listen to ANY modern music including rock and pop. Basically anything from the 1950's on that was played on the radio is off limits. This limits all music listening to strictly classical and non 60's folk music. Listening to Jazz is forbidden as are the Blues as they are improvisational and non traditional forms of music. Would swing music be acceptable to listen to? Or is this also a non traditional or ordered form of music?
2.) One cannot dance at all besides square dancing or traditional ethnic dancing like Greek traditional dancing, Irish step dancing, etc. What about swing dancing? Ballroom dancing? What about salsa or merengue?
3.) One cannot watch any modern movies, or television shows. The only movies acceptable to watch are Catholic religious movies and cartoons and only those that were not produced after 1965. Besides that even musicals are off limits, such as Sound of Music (see BW). One is forbidden to have cable in one's house.
4.) Only books from Pre-VCII Catholic authors are to be read unless the books are about math or botany or something with no religious, philosophical, or moral elements. No modern fiction is allowed. Older pre-approved fiction may be allowed such as Shakespeare, or classics, etc. All modern magazines and newspapers are to be avoided except Traditional Catholic ones as they are all liberal propaganda or are imbibed to a greater or lesser degree with corrupting influence. I suppose one should get all news from Catholic Family News, or Remnant, etc?
5.) One can never go to a pool or beach since, in our modern world, there will certainly be immodestly dressed people there who will serve as scandal and near occasion of sin. Therefore no beach trips or water parks for vacations, ever. No pool memberships. No child can ever join a swim team or take up swimming as a competitive sport for the same reason.
6.) No dating. No taking a girl out to a restaurant alone as all dates must be chaperoned if dating occurs at all. Young people must always do things in groups or else it would be a near occasion of sin. I suppose to "court" the young man would be invited to hang out with the young lady's family? Not sure how this works.
7.) No video games. Even if the video game itself is not sɛҳuąƖ, violent , or otherwise bad, it causes addiction and wastes time and sucks one into a virtual unreal world. Same goes for internet. Unless you have a filter that you cannot get around that is imposed on the outside, you should never use the internet because it is a constant near occasion of sin.
8.) Women can never wear pants at any time, for any reason. Even for outside physical labor or chores.
9.) Women should never play sports because it provokes masculine competitive attitudes.
10.) Women should not go to college or get any advanced degrees (see BW).
11.) Young men should not seek to go to university or any advanced profession. Instead they should seek blue collar jobs or "real work" with their hands.
12.) One should have no close relationships with non-Traditional Catholics as it would be a near occasion of sin to lose one's faith if one hung out in a non-Catholic environment with non-Catholic friends for too long. Same thing with NO Catholics. They are best to be socially avoided. Therefore any socialization should be limited to other Traditional Catholics.
As a result of the above notions, many NO Catholics, otherwise predisposed to a Traditional piety, avoid the Traditional life. Are the above notions correct or incorrect?
Also, regardless, what is it that Traditional Catholics do for fun? Is there any joy or levity in the Traditional Catholic life?
Thank you in advance for any constructive answers. These questions have been weighing on me for some time.
God bless.