[kosta50]

All those who feel slavery is okay, please sign up for a trial run (7 years) of being owned and treated as your master feels fit (you may want to read first what the Bible says about punishing slaves). And all the women who feel polygamy is okay, because it's in the Bible, please sign up now! :)

The Church in the West, not surprisingly, was the biggest proponent of slavery. In the 15th century, the pope signed a bull allowing hereditary slavery for all nonbelievers! Thus, western Christianity played a major role in advancing and perpetuating slavery.

[wintertime]

Thus, western Christianity played a major role in advancing and perpetuating slavery.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Toadies licking the boots of European warlords played a major role in slavery.

When the bible was widely printed and read, agitation for the end of slavery came about amazingly quickly. The demand for reform ( not only slavery) but of the abuses of the warlords and their religious toadies rose up spontaneously from the common people.

It is Christianity and it scriptures, when freely available to all, that tames warlords, promotes freedom, trust in your neighbor, and encourages respect for all people as children of God equal in His sight.

[PapaBear3625]

All those who feel slavery is okay, please sign up for a trial run (7 years) of being owned and treated as your master feels fit (you may want to read first what the Bible says about punishing slaves). An Israelite might be subject to a seven year sentence of slavery because of poverty, debt, or crime. For the case of poverty/debt, he had demonstrated his inability to operate as a free man. After seven years of being able to observe how a successful man runs his household, he gets a second chance as a free man.

The alternative would be starvation. In such a case, what would YOU prefer: to starve to death on the street, or to become somebody's slave for seven years. Remember, the prospective slave had the option, by simply going hungry rather than borrowing the money to feed himself, knowing the consequences if he did not pay up.

The other main avenue for becoming a slave was to be on the losing side in a war. Once again, if you were in such a position, what would be your preference: to be a slave, or to be killed? Remember, those were generally the only choices.