Conservatism in the Bible
The Book of Ecclesiasticus, also known as Sirach or the Wisdom of Sirach, includes a passage which encapsulates much of the conservative impulse. Included is an acknowledgement that all honor and glory is due first to God. This is followed by examples of some kinds of men on whom present generations may look back and be proud. Both leaders in public life as well as private citizens living good lives in the context of their households are worth remembering and imitating:
Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies: Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions: Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.
From the Ancient Hebrews to Modern Conservatives
The affinity between this statement from the pre-Christian Jewish tradition and “conservatism” as we know it after the French Revolution suggests a few important things.
Since “conservatism” may be used in a generic fashion to denote adherence to any given state of affairs or a resistance to change per se, we note that this sense is not the one invoked by serious thinkers associated with the idea. This understanding approaches some of the negative components of conservative thought, that is to say, the way conservatives describe what they are against. However, in positive terms, the conservatism advanced by thinkers like Edmund Burke, Joseph de Maistre, Marcelino Menendez y Pelayo, Russell Kirk, or Roger Scruton should generally be understood to assert the value of a tradition of belief, morality, social life and culture stretching back from Solomon and Socrates to our days, combining the best of human philosophy with divine revelation. (Skeptics like David Hume or agnostics like Charles Maurras may belong to the the conservative fold according to somel, they may be judged stray sheep by the lights of the more numerous believers.)
Conservatism beyond Politics
We may observe from Ben Sira’s writing in Ecclesiasticus that political and public matters are not the only ones fit to be celebrated by a community through time. He explicitly praises guardians of culture like musicians and poets, and those made prosperous through the exercise of their abilities who live peaceful private lives as well as great rulers of kingdoms who live portentous public ones. This passage can serve to rescue today’s conservatives from fixating on politics, and succumbing to temptations like statism in policy or despair in the face of unfavorable political situations. As the psalmist reminds us, nolite confidere in principibus or “put not your trust in princes” (Psalm 146:3).
References and Links in this Post
1. 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent. “Ecclesiasticus.” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05263a.htm
2. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library. The Holy Bible, King James version (Apocrypha). “Sirach (Apocrypha), chapter 44.”
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=KjvSira.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public∂=45&division=div1
3. Douay-Rheims Bible Online. “Ecclesiasticus Chapter 44.” http://www.drbo.org/chapter/26044.htm
4. The Holy Bible: King James Version, Bartleby- Great Books Online. “Psalms 146.” http://www.bartleby.com/108/19/146.html
