Religion vs religious tradition

[Rodion Romanovich]

Religion vs religious tradition - do you think there's a difference, and how do you value these two different concepts?

My opinion is that religion are the teachings and ideas that define the religion itself, whereas the religious tradition has little or nothing to do with the ideas, or their connection to the ideas have been lost or misunderstood - they are merely magical rites that remain without purpose, since their real purpose has been forgotten.

For example, Ramadan has a good idea behind it - to experience poverty and starvation to respect the poor. But the rule of not eating before sundown has gone from being a rule to limit your food intake, into being interpreted as that you should have a huge feast after sundown to more than compensate that you didn't eat during the day. That IMO defeats the original idea and purpose of the Ramadan. The religious part of it is IMO that you should remember the starving and poor - if necessary by testing how it is to experience some of their pains, but this is no longer considered the primary purpose.

To take a similar example in Christianity: easter was first celebrated to remember the sufferings of Jesus on the cross and his martyrdom in the freedom fighting against roman oppression, and his rebirth and eternal life as in the sense of an idea such as the fight for freedom and justice never dies, but it has turned into a celebration which emphasizes his rebirth in flesh rather than eternal life in spirit alone. IMO the religious part of it is the victory of good over evil in the end, rather than an Pharaonic-like worship of eternal life in flesh, but the victory of good over evil is no longer considered the primary purpose.

1. Do you think religion should be separated from religious tradition?
2. Do you think religious leaders should avoid using their power as spiritual leaders to enforce earthen rituals and religious tradition?
3. Do you think a ritual is still purposeful when its purpose has been forgotten?
4. Do you think the purpose or the action is the most important when performing a ritual whose purpose hasn't yet been entirely forgotten?