Tons of thoughts on that. You?
Not to in any way denigrate the horrors of the system of chattel slavery that we’re examining, there are many forms of slavery.
Starting of course with us being slaves to our own passions, and our own appetites, and our own sinful condition...a condition that can only be overcome in much the same way Frederick Douglass overcame his condition, which is by reading and appropriating in ourselves the truths contained in God’s Book.
In this sense it seems to me that the slaveholders themselves were slaves. Miserable ones at that, even in the lap of luxury.
In the bit of reading I’ve done on the subject I seem to recall that one of the points made by the abolitionists was that chattel slavery not only made wretches out of those who were held captive, but also hideously degraded those who held them captive.
I think this is true.
I think that those who are held in physical bondage can in fact be more free, in a very real sense, than those who possess the riches and power of the world.
Again, not to play down the horrors of chattel slavery. It is far better to be the wholly-free man that God intended us to be: physically, morally, intellectually, and most importantly, spiritually.
system of chattel slavery
many forms
Another essence would be perpetual?
One of the unique aspects of American culture was the ability to move up and down social classes. I would suggest we have lost this in todays society.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery
Slavery is a legal or economic system in which principles of property law are applied to humans allowing them to be classified as property,[1] to be owned, bought and sold accordingly, and they cannot withdraw unilaterally from the arrangement. While a person is a slave, the owner is entitled to the productivity of the slave’s labour, without any remuneration. The rights and protection of the slave may be regulated by laws and customs in a particular time and place, and a person may become a slave from the time of their capture, purchase or birth.
Today, chattel slavery is unlawful in all countries, but a person may still be described as a slave if he or she is forced to work for another person without an ability on their part to unilaterally terminate the arrangement. Such situations are today commonly referred to as “practices similar to slavery”. The present form of the slave trade is commonly referred to as human trafficking.
Slavery existed before written history and in many cultures.[2] It was once institutionally recognized by most societies, but has now been outlawed in all countries,[3][4] the last being Mauritania in 2007. However, it continues through such practices as debt bondage, serfdom, domestic servants kept in captivity, certain adoptions in which children are forced to work as slaves, child soldiers, human trafficking and forced marriage.[5] Accordingly, there are still an estimated 20 million to 36 million slaves worldwide.[6][7][8]