Does The Bible Condemn Slavery?

April 6, 2004 | comtedemaistre

[ComtedeMaistre]

I had an interesting debate yesterday with a group of pro-life activists, who are trying to make their case against abortion, by comparing our society's tolerance for abortion with the tolerance for slavery that existed in America in the 1800s.

I am pro-life, and I am supportive of the goals of the pro-life activists. And I also agree with them that slavery is an outdated practice, that goes against the declaration of independence, and the idea of liberty on which this country was founded.

But I was worried about attempts to misrepresent the teachings of the Bible, about what it designates as sinful or not. It is clear that the Bible prohibits abortion, because in the 10 Commandments, there is an explicit prohibition against killing. Murder was wrong 200 years ago, 500 years ago, or even 2000 years ago, and the Christian Church has always been consistent in its teaching against the taking of innocent human life.

But does the Bible have a similar prohibition against slavery? If it does, I am not aware of it. Perhaps some of you freepers who know your Bible well, can comment on this matter.

[orionblamblam]

> However by the early dark ages, slavery had just about disappeared from Europe, except in Pagan Scandinavia

The difference between a Scandinavian pagan thrall and a European Christian serf being pretty meager...

> Hummmm I wonder could there be a connection.

Well, the pagan Icelanders established the the only Republic around at the time, one that respected individual rights and property and established a good society; lasted until Iceland Christianized, then it all fell apart.

[Skooz]

Wrong. Copernicus proved it.

And your knowledge of Galileo is also lacking. The Church "smacked" Galileo not for proposing any theory or finding knowledge, but in a power struggle over who had the authority to disseminate the knowledge. The Church employed several astronomers whose finding were identical to Galileo's.

[Mark in the Old South]

The Arabs were being held at bay until 700 A.D. at least in Europe. (Bless you Charles Martel) For that matter what about Arabs right now?

[Mark in the Old South]

My someone didn't get their nap did they?

You are wrong to conclude the sins of the Christian expansion was bigger than the benefits.

My understanding of Iceland is that it was not a proper Republic in the manner we think of today just as the Republic of Venice was not quite a democratic republic as we think of them.

By the was they had slavery in Pagan Iceland.

[twigs]

For that matter what about Arabs right now?

They are actively practicing slavery; they are enslaving Christians. Sudan and Yemen come to mind; I am sure there are other countries as well. If you get a chance, you need to read the interview that John Rhys-Davies gave soon after the the release of the Return of the King. He visited Africa a lot as a child and he mentioned slavery, how it was known by, but not stopped by, the UN. A fascinating read.

[Mark in the Old South]

You are right about why Galileo and why he was "punished" But I respectfully disagree on "Copernicus proved it"

My understanding is it was not proven until some time later. A scientist (who's name I do not remember) looked over the writings involved in the Copernicus and Galileo case shows the Church was right based on the information available to the men living at the time. It seems our attitude is based on hindsight rather than objective thought, dare I suggest "dogmatic thinking"

Who can tell me, was Copernicus a monk or a priest?

[Smartass]

Slavery is as old as time it self. No group, or people
have a hammerlock on slavery. The region of the world
where my folks came from was constantly being raided by
slave ships. When they saw ships on the horizon, they ran
for the hills and hid.
For example:
Who do you think build the great Pyramids?
Who do you think build the seven wonders of the world?
Who do you think built the Roman highways?
Who do you think rowed the ships across the Mediterranean.
All done by local slave labor. When you could no longer
work, you were thrown overboard or killed!!!

[biblewonk]

No

[orionblamblam]

> Copernicus proved it.

Evidence?

> The Church "smacked" Galileo not for proposing any theory or finding knowledge, but in a power struggle over who had the authority to disseminate the knowledge.

Exactly so. In science *anyone* can disseminate knowledge. It is only the fearful and ignorant and superstitious who try to keep basic knowledge of the world out of the hands of the public. You know, like the NEA.

[Quix]

ALL, 100% of the early crusaders against slavery were strong Christians risking life, limb and property out of their faith filled love for others.

St Paul encouraged those who had a chance to get free from slavery honorably to do so.

Christ paid the ultimate price that we might be free from slavery to our own sins and share in His Abundant Eternal Resurrection Life.

LOVING OTHERS AS ONE LOVES ONE'S SELF and DOING UNTO OTHERS . . . would also indicate slavery's prohibition. And those are cardinal summaries of the Gospel according to Christ, along with Loving God wholly.

Christianity was certainly the source of efforts to end slavery.

[Skooz]

Post 55.

[orionblamblam]

> You are wrong to conclude the sins of the Christian expansion was bigger than the benefits.

Where did I make that claim?

> By the was they had slavery in Pagan Iceland.

Indeed, but it was absolutely nowhere near as evil as the slavery in Christian South and Central America, the Caribean or antebellum Southern USA. Not to say it wasn't evil *at* *all,* but there was a definite level of degree. In any event... when Iceland Christianized... it collapsed.

[orionblamblam]

What, you're admitting ignorance?

Or can you provide evidence of how Copernicus PROVED that the Earth goes round the sun? Or do you believe that such basic knowledge should be kept out of the hands and minds of the public? An appeal to an ad hominem does your arguement no good.

[yankeedame]

And your knowledge of Galileo is also lacking. The Church "smacked" Galileo not for proposing any theory or finding knowledge, but in a power struggle over who had the authority to disseminate the knowledge. The Church employed several astronomers whose finding were identical to Galileo's.

Excellent point! Few people know that the Church in Rome possessed one of the finest astronomical observatories in the world; and thanks to (mainly) the Jesuits it was put to good, and objective, use.

However I question the notion that Seignior Galileo's run in with the Church was over "who had the authority to disseminate the knowledge". The Church merely asked Galileo to compose his findings in Latin, not Italian. Why? B/c in the opinion of the Church the average man-on-the-street was simply not ready to such a revelation; whereas, the educated man who could
a) read, and
b) read Latin

was. After all, the Church had some precedent. Look what happened during the Reformation, when the Bible was printed in the vernacular -- every man became his own preacher.

[semaj]

I interpret this passage to mean that it is wrong to kidnap (steal) people for the purpose of enslaving them. A modern example of this practice can be found in the country of Sudan, where Moslem slavers, encouraged by their Islamic Government, kidnap Christian and animist (non-mslim) tribes-people and sell them as slaves.

[bmwcyle]

Oh good another Libertaian focused on nothing again. Go away.

[Skooz]

Ad hominem?

I am just saying that it is useless to attempt to debate the willfully ignorance who's only biblical knowledge was gleaned from ihatechristians.com.

Ok. Copernicus did not "prove" in a strictly scientific sense that the earth revolves around the sun. He did, however, discover it and developed the theory upon which our current understanding of celestial rotation stands.
That annihilates your point that it was the "heretics" who discovered the earth rotates around the sun. It was a Christian who discovered that.

Nowhere did I attempt to make the case that knowledge should be kept from the public, for any reason. I merely stated the fact that Galileo was not persecuted because he possessed some sort of knowledge which threatened the Church, as your post suggested.

Happy?

[yankeedame]

LOL! You got me wondering that too. So I trotted on over to google and came up with this:

Nicolas Copernicus
(1473-1543)

Copernicus is said to be the founder of modern astronomy. He was born in Poland, and eventually was sent off to Cracow University, there to study mathematics and optics; at Bologna, canon law. Returning from his studies in Italy, Copernicus, through the influence of his uncle, was appointed as a canon in the cathedral of Frauenburg where he spent a sheltered and academic life for the rest of his days....

So I guess he was a priest, as oppossed to being a monk.

[Skooz]

The Church merely asked Galileo to compose his findings in Latin, not Italian.

That's right. I had forgotten that. I have to admit I am kind of rusty on my Renaissance/Reformation period history.

[RobRoy]

Slavery comes in many flavors. It is not all immoral. Heck, we have two forms of slavery today in this country today. One is consumer debt and the other is welfare.