As we know, slavery has been around for centuries and has only recently abolished in the year 1865. But the question that seems to be on my mind is was it justified? When we ask that question, there becomes two sides to a story.
But what we seem to forget is that slavery didn't just "happen." There is a reason why slavery has been around for so long; the Bible. Today, we will speak to both sides of the story; the side that argues in favor of the Bible justifying slavery, and the other side who does the complete opposite, and argues against the Bible justifying slavery.
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF SLAVERY
Before slavery was abolished many masters, if not all, used the Bible to justify their cruel and violent wrong doings. Slave masters would learn the Bible and would then proceed with a baptism. The problem with this is the change within the masters' mindset. A baptism gives most people a fresh start, or as I say, a wash from their previous sins. Because of this, masters believed that their wrong doings towards enslaved people were gone and forgiven.
But why is it that slave masters start to believe that they have a right to treat enslaved people in the cruel way because of the Bible? Well, there are many times that the Bible does encourage slavery. For example, 1 Timothy 6:1-2 explains how enslaved people should look up to their masters and should show respect towards those who believe in the faith. This citation gives a view into the concept of how slave masters should be the ones who hold the power in the relationship. Titus 2:9-10 also goes more in depth about the concept of a master holding all power by stating that masters should "Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything... showing complete and perfect fidelity."
ARGUMENTS AGAINST SLAVERY
Slavery did in fact exist in the Bible. Often slaves were depicted as people who had debts to pay, impoverished, or captured soldiers and hostages from war. Most importantly though the slaves would be treated as humane. If a slave was impoverished or had debts to pay, then they would sign a contract and be set free after their contracted term ended.
The slavery of the Bible, in contrast to the slavery of America was almost never directly involved with the color of their skin but instead their religion. In fact Leviticus 25:44-46, and Exodus 21:2-6, slavery was outlined in a very detailed manner. It details the length of contracts, freedom terms, and even reproductive arrangements. I say all of this to say that the slavery in the Bible is nothing like the slavery practiced in America.
Almost the entirety of Exodus 21 itself is against slavery, for example Exodus 21:16 explaining how stealing and selling men into slavery is punishable by death, Exodus 21:20-21 explaining how is a slave dies from being beat then they shall be avenged, and Exodus 21:26-27 explaining how if a slave loses and eye or a tooth due to beatings they get set free. Obviously American slavery was very brutal, and when the bible was brought up by these slave masters they completely ignored this point.
Slavery is a very sore topic in the American community to this day, especially since the worlds largest religion supports slavery. Based on the Bible though, the slavery supported was not the same horrible treatment that black people were subjected to in Americas past. The Bible is always up to interpretation of course, but there were clear guidelines with slavery and how it should be utilized. So in short was slavery in the Bible? Yes it was. Does it justify the treatment of black people? No it did not.
No comments:
Post a Comment