Why were Christians in support of slavery and why were atheists against it?

Question

From the 1500s to the 20th century, Christian Europeans colonized and oppressed non-Christians and non-Europeans. Like Europe's science and its government, its religion sometimes aided causes that modern people see as racist and jingoist.In 1452, Pope Nicholas V instituted hereditary slavery of captured Muslims and pagans, which effectively meant Africans or Asians. As he read the Bible, God had instructed his faithful to make slaves of the neighboring heathens. Various Christian teachers and sects have taught that Africans were the descendents of Ham, cursed to be servant to the descendents of Japheth (Europeans) and Shem (Asians). In 19th century United States, so many Baptists in southern states supported slavery that the Baptist convention split into northern and southern branches. Similar theological justifications were offered for apartheid in 20th century South Africa.

Driven by revolutions of 1848 in the German states, the 19th century saw immigration of German freethinkers and atheists to the United States. Many of them settled in Texas, founding the town of Comfort, Texas. These newcomers were persecuted and sometimes killed for their opposition to the institution of slavery. Even Abraham Lincoln was an atheist.

Answer 1

Most religious people are detached from reality, and like to live in the dark ages. As the 'devil wanted to rule over man, they wanted to rule over men. Athiests are more realists, they believe what they see, and what proves to be the real truth, not what you are told. They are able to think independantly or, for thier own selfs, they don't have to be told what to think. They have free will.
Was it "christians" that coined the term, athiest, because they did not identify themselves with an established christian group?
I think "Christians are Satan worshippers, and they want the rest of the world to join them. But in this modern age they can't force thier will anymore, so they must tempt, or seduce, with many promises. No thanks, I no longer worship the false god, Satan.

Answer 2

I think that everyone is making huge sweeping statements here. Yes, there were Christians that supported slavery, but there were also loads who tried to abolish it. For example, William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and James Stephen. The verses you use to support your answer are taking from the old testament. Have you looked at some of the verses in the new testament for example John 13:34.

The final answer is that no one knows why some Christians supported slavery. No one knows why non-Christians supported slavery. It just happened. But it is unfair to put all Christians in one group and say that they all feel the same way as each other. At the end of the day what Christians choose to believe is an individual choice and they aren't always right or wrong, just like everybody else.

Answer 3

Uh, no the Bible does help. Why might God provide particular instructions as to the thank you to precise save and breed slaves if he's against it. the U. S. became professional slavery for a protracted time in no small area with the aid of fact theists who supported slavery have been on sturdy Biblical floor. Jesus in no way pronounced that he got here to unfastened the oppressed (no longer in those right phrases a minimum of). He did state many eye-catching issues yet he had no concern comparing a Samaritan woman to a canines. He pronounced that salvation comes in the process the Jews. He became unabashadly a bigot who additionally pronounced that each letter of the Bible became authentic thereby holding the Levitican rules favoring slavery. Sorry, I desire what you're saying became authentic besides the shown fact that that is no longer.

Answer 4

There is nothing to indicate that 51% of the World's Atheists were opposed to it and 51% of the Religious were in favor of it.

Some religions, by the way, gave Black Slaves their freedom at the end of 6 years or when they turned 25 in New England, which is why so much of NY, MA and other upper states had so many "free" blacks by 1860.

You know 25 white guys off a Dutch ship can't go into the African Jungle and bring back 1,000 black guys.

I mean, you go into Harlem and try that with 25 white guys! See how long you survive.

So, why did other Blacks HELP the Whites round up and dragg off 1,000 slaves to America!

Go ask that question in Africa!

Answer 5

Slavery itself was authorized in many biblical passages. The most common slaves were those conquered by the Holy Armies. In some cases, one person could sell himself into slavery for a time. We call tha working for someone these days. Freethinkers tended to refute the words and established ideas of the Bible. They pointed out, quite clearly that a book should not be used to justify the mistreatment of other human beings. Giving religious justification to slavery made it more palatable to those that wished to practice it.

Answer 6

Well first in that times when the catholic church was governing the country's remember that the majority of the people was not reading the Bible it was read by the priests and then tough to the people. Now if God tell you what He is going to do you have to be obedient. Now talking about South African go and take the log out of your own eye before looking at the splinter in another persons eye

Answer 7

Since your post includes the information that Lincoln was an atheist, which is incorrect, it puts all your facts into question. I'm not going to look them all up, but here's a quote from Lincoln:

"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord." March 1863

Answer 8

why were Romans,Greeks ,etc, oh and of course, Africans in support of slavery through the years?Slaves were used to do their work, And blacks were NOT the only slaves in the world.There were a great many of 'European' slaves bought from Africans and I feel your statements are really of no consequence.
As for Lincoln , the civil war has been over for years,141 of them, other than self induced ones , how many brandings or lashings or masters have you had?Are we trying to be a philosopher?Some of my best friends are black and I never hear this much whining from them.And NO,I do NOT support slavery !!

Answer 9

This is truly a biased question resulting from little, if any, research into the subject. Lincoln was not an atheist; in fact, he was an admitted Christian. He referenced Jesus and God in many of his speaches.

Another point you seem not to understand is that nearly ALL of the anti-slavery demonstrators were Christians. I've searched and cannot find an atheist among them.

Answer 10

Hi. This is obviosly a rhetorical question but I will try my best.

You are correct. Historically Christian nations supported slavery for a very long time. In fact, slavery has support in the Bible. Fortunately Christians realized this was wrong and now no longer support slavery. It did take them a long time to come around so it is a shameful part of Christian history.

I think the reason has to do with the many references to slavery in the New Testament. From a certain perspective (and I do not agree with this) it can be said that the Bible supports Slavery. But it also supports things that we do not accept in our culture today (women as less than men for example).

Atheists (or more properly "humanists" as they were known then) did oppose slavery.

This is a true paradox if there ever was one. From my perspective the most "christian" people I've ever met were not "Christians" and the most "un-christian" people I've met called themselves "Christian". Jesus said it best "The first shall be last and the last shall be first". Those who were invited rejected Christ and his teachings so Jesus has given the keys of the kingdom to: Atheists, non-believers, etc. because they actually did the things that Christ commanded.

Weird, eh?

Answer 11

The periods that you talk about, are periods of man's transition from irrational absurdity to our present questionable rationalism. Don't rush to victimize people like Muslims and pagans, go into the trouble to read all the wars waged and the forced slavery compelled by the Muslims, and the wide slaughter of the non-Muslims, I am sure that you will not endure the shock.