Chapter One. Religious Orthodoxy As A Modality Of “Adaptation”

The title of the authors contribution is inspired by Marilyn Robinson Waldman's article Tradition as a Modality of Change. Waldman shows how Muslims , including traditionalists, use Islamic traditions in contemporary society to bring about and legitimise change - all kinds of change, since both the traditions invoked and the changes desired are very diverse. The author considers orthodoxy as a possible and often successful strategy of adaptation. The chapter starts by describing the relationship between orthodoxy and adaptation as stated in the initial NOSTER-Leuven research programme Coping with the Changed/Changing Reality. Firstly, it starts by assuming an intrinsic opposition between adaptation on the one hand and orthodoxy on the other. The author also argues that the opposition between orthodoxy and adaptation is a false one. On the contrary, orthodoxy is and always has been a major and very successful way to adapt a religion to new situations. Keywords: Adaptation; Marilyn Robinson Waldman; orthodoxy