h the roll-your-own stuff. A lot of American conservatism is DESPERATE FOR ANYTHING that ‘feels traditional / old world’.
I didn’t join for conservatism (I’m still a member!) – but because my Methodist church growing up was “missing candles or something” – and I wanted to explore Christian to its absolute depths and REALLY REALLY understand a few significant things.
And I did and do, enough to fully endorse Orthodoxy.
But I won’t deny the ‘trappings’ were enticing. As an American we get used to the simplified version of things and so a chance to go “deep into lore” when feeling empty is very common.