"Radical Centrist Proverbs" Explained
Radical Centrism really is something new, but it rests on foundations which
extend back millennia. What is interesting is that, once you learn the
premises
of Radical Centrism, you can find prototype wisdom in the Bible, sayings
that
reflect RC philosophy.
There is no claim that the Bible is a Radical Centrist book. Any claims
that
the Bible supports one kind of politics to the exclusion of all others
simply
does not match the evidence.
You can find several political viewpoints in its pages, upholding several
perspectives. These include the concern for the poor which is typical
of liberals , concern for family values which characterizes conservatism,
plus repeated reference to forms of monarchism. As well, depending on
how you interpret the Book of Judges, 'when there was no king in Israel
and everyone did what was right in his own eyes,' maybe a form of'
libertarianism. And the twelve tribe amphictyony --confederation--
may suggest a predecessor to democracy.
Regardless, there are precedents for Radical Centrism in the
Judeo-Christian
scriptures. Far more, in fact, than the following material suggests. But to
secure
a foundation, a number of verses from the Hebrew Bible ( Old Testament )
Book of Proverbs and from Ecclesiastes should make matters clear.
Most of the verses simply indicate the kind of ethical views that Radical
Centrists
take for granted. But a few seem to go further and anticipate actual
Radical Centrism
as we now know it. These are :
Proverbs 11 : 14 For want of leadership a people perishes,
safety lies in many advisers
That is, basic to RC is seeking as many viewpoints as possible before
arriving at
decisions or conclusions.
Proverbs 14 : 15 The simpleton believes any message, a person of
discretion
treads a careful path.
That is, we are not --or not usually-- likely to find political panaceas
appealing
and generally are highly skeptical of political claims that offer what
cannot be delivered.
Proverbs 28 : 18 Whoever lives an honest life will be safe, whoever
wavers between
two [dubious] ways falls down in one of them
This seems to be exactly what we are all about even if, to be sure, there
is much more
to be said. The word "dubious" has been supplied but seems to be implicit
in both the
New Jerusalem and the New English translations. Most quotations are from
the NJB
but some are from the NEB, with a few that use one or another word from the
other
since this seems to make the sense clearer.
Ecclesiastes 4 : 12 Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up
resistance;
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
This verse needs to be "expanded" broadly but if that is done we can find
the principle
that reliance on just one side in a debate is questionable, seeking the
best from two sides
is far better, and arriving at a third view which combines the strengths
of each side is best.
Ecclesiastes 11 : 2 Divide your merchandise among seven ventures, maybe
eight,
since you do not know what disasters may occur on earth.
Here we get the Radical Centrist principle that it often is necessary to
take into account
as many political ( or other ) views as possible, not just Right and Left.
The proverbs selected begin with Wisdom speaking, as She does in most of
the
Book of Proverbs. Her advice is excellent but to the point is that this
seemed
like a good idea so that the reader will know who is speaking, namely,
Wisdom personified as a "divine woman," the Chokhma, to use one
Hebrew version of the name.
Billy
Oct 21, 2011
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Radical Centrist Proverbs
Proverbs 1
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in the public
squares;
21 she calls out at the street corners, she delivers her message at the
city gates.
22 'You simple people, how much longer will you cling to your simple ways?
How much longer will mockers revel in their mocking and fools go on hating
knowledge?
23 Pay attention to my warning. To you I will pour out my heart and tell
you what I have to say.
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Proverbs 3
13 Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom, those who have acquired
understanding!
14 Gaining her is more rewarding than silver, her yield is more valuable
than gold.
15 She is beyond the price of pearls, nothing you could covet is her
equal.
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Proverbs 8
11 For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy
of desire.
33 Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it.
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Proverbs 11
3 The honest have their own honesty for guidance, the treacherous are
ruined by their own perfidy.
14 For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers.
19 Whoever establishes uprightness is on the way to life, whoever pursues
evil, on the way to death.
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Proverbs 12
11 Whoever works his land shall have bread and to spare, but no one who
chases fantasies has any sense.
18 Thoughtless words can wound like a sword, but the tongue of the wise
brings healing.
26 The upright shows the way to a friend; the way of the wicked leads them
astray.
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Proverbs 13
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, whoever mixes with fools will
be ruined.
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Proverbs 14
15 The simpleton believes any message, a person of discretion treads a
careful path.
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Proverbs 15
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so the hearts of fools.
22 Without deliberation plans come to nothing. Plans succeed where
counsellors are many.
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Proverbs 17
3 A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but the Almighty for the
testing of hearts!
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Proverbs 18
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in airing an opinion.
12 The human heart is haughty until destruction comes, before there can be
glory there must be humility.
13 To retort without first listening is both foolish and embarrassing
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Proverbs 20
15 There are gold and jewels of every type, but a priceless ornament is
speech informed by knowledge.
18 Plans are matured by consultation; take wise advice when waging war.
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Proverbs 23
23 Purchase truth, never sell it ; buy wisdom, instruction, and
understanding.
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Proverbs 27
17 Iron is sharpened by iron, one person is sharpened by contact with
another.
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Proverbs 28
18 Whoever lives an honest life will be safe, whoever wavers between two
[dubious] ways falls down in one of them.
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Proverbs 29
8 Scoffers set a city in ferment, but the wise moderate anger.
18 Where there is no vision the people forget all good sense; but a
guardian of the law keeps them on a straight path.
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Proverbs 31
8 Make your views heard, on behalf of the mute, on behalf of all the
unwanted;
9 make your views heard, pronounce an upright verdict, defend the cause of
the wretched and the poor.
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Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a season for everything, a time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time
for uprooting what has been planted.
3 A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time
for building.
4 A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for
dancing.
5 A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them; a time for
embracing, a time to refrain from embracing.
6 A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for
discarding.
7 A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time for keeping silent, a time
for speaking.
8 A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace.
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Ecclesiastes 4
12 Where one alone would be overcome, two will put up resistance; and a
threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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Ecclesiastes 7
14 When things are going well, enjoy yourself, and when they are going
badly, consider this: God has designed the one no less than the other so that
we should take nothing for granted.
20 No one on earth is sufficiently upright to do good without ever sinning.
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Ecclesiastes 9
18 Wisdom is worth more than weapons of war, but a single sin undoes much
good.
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Ecclesiastes 11
2 Divide your merchandise among seven ventures, maybe eight, since you do
not know
what disasters may occur on earth.
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Ecclesiastes 12
9 - 10 Koheleth turned over many maxims in his mind and sought how best
to set them out.
He chose his words to give pleasure, but what he wrote was honest truth,
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