were slaves in the 1800s allowed to convert to christianity? writing a paper, please helpp?

Answer 1

I am assuming you mean here in the US. They were encouraged to for a number of reasons to better control them; hopefully teaching them a work ethic and in all honesty to pass along eh Christian word spreading the word of God. God Bless You and Our Southern People.

By the way they were not forced the whites were happy to teach them and they were happy to have learned!

Answer 2

Yes they were allowed to convert against the will of most masters originally. Later slave holders hired their own (That would do what the holders wished.) ministers to preach a Gospel of "obedience" as an attempt to set up a self control valve which would act as one of many means of re-enforcing the status que. It should be noted that giving the slaves a week or two of freedom around Christmas time and giving the slave that could get the drunkest the reward of more boozes was also used as a release valve and the masters who used "religion" were hardly religious men themselves. Many slaves held night services in the woods to practice their faith as well as take council as for their liberation and this was cracked down on by many masters. Others however, regarded the spiritual well being of their slaves and taught them to read and even freed them. I am going to give you a book list if you have time to employ it good luck.
P.S. Most of the anti-Christian bigots above love to make fun of Christianity but would be hard pressed to give a source to back up the assumptions they make about it.

The Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglas (under 150 pages short read-primary source)
To be a Slave, by Juliet Lester (A collection of primary sources accounts by former slaves strung into a narrative which has its bias but nonetheless, is a good secondary source.)

War Dairies such as Elisa Hunt Rhodes' are also good sources in that they give glimpse into the lives of slaves during the civil war as well as accounts of how they were viewed by their white counterparts.

Another indirect source which I recommend is Booker T. Washington’s: Up from Slavery (For his recollections of his mother under slavery/he were free as a child.)

Answer 3

They were offered conversion and their refusal was used as reason to enslave the heathens. If they did convert they were often told to accept their plight as God's will.

However abolitionists were almost all christians and felt it was God's will to free them. Freed slaves were often so grateful they became open to the God of the people who freed them which is quite different from conversion as it involved a real experience with Christ through a voluntary exploration of God. Free exploration is the only path to God. LOL

Answer 4

Yes, they were allowed. However, it was their slave masters version of Christianity that they preferred. The slave masters emphasised the parts of the Bible that told slaves to obey their masters in an attempt to keep the slaves in line.

Answer 5

Allowed? Thats a very good question and of course I never lived it, but I would imagine it was just the accepted thing among slaves. Period.

Answer 6

yes huge numbers of black people were taught about Jesus .
the white people taught many blacks to read and to write .
contrary to what you may have heard once the slaves were granted freedom many stayed right where they were because the people were both kind and generous toward them
in addition white Christians went to Africa and attempted to convert the heathens in there home land . many many white people were killed by the savages but many more still went as white Christan's sought to save the wild savages from hell

Answer 7

Yes! slaves were force to accept Christianity.

Answer 8

Yes, a lot of them were converted to Christianity.

Answer 9

Slaves were forced to do ANYTHING their masters wanted that includes converting to christianity, a slave was never 'allowed' to do anything, unless their masters approved.

Answer 10

Allowed? Probably forced.