Why slavery was acceptable in Christian religion?

Question

Because the slaves weren't considered as a human?

Chritianity doesn't say human equality? or didn't say that at that time?

Answer 1

We read in Genesis, chapter nine, that Noah's son Ham comes upon him sleeping off a drinking binge and sees his father naked. Instead of covering him, he runs and tells his brothers. Shem and Japheth, the "good" brothers, return and cover their father. In retaliation for Ham's "sinful act" of seeing his father nude, Noah puts a curse on his grandson (Ham's son) Canaan: ?Cursed be Canaan; lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers" (Gen 9:25).

Over time, this curse came to be interpreted that Ham was literally "burnt," and that all his descendants had black skin, marking them as slaves with a convenient color-coded label for subservience. When and how this gained widespread acceptance is questionable, but anti-slavery religious and political leaders have worked to refute it for more than a century. Today, biblical scholars note that the ancient Hebrew word "ham" does not have to be translated as "burnt" or "black" - but there is unfortunately little consensus on how the name and passage should be interpreted. Further complicating matters is the position of some Afrocentrists that Ham, although not actually cursed (despite what the Bible says!) was indeed black, as were many other characters in the Bible. Once again, people end up reading the passage as supporting their own racial assumptions.

Although many Christians today would be horrified at using the Bible as a support for racism, they should recognize that it was used in just such a fashion by Christians in America in the same way and with the same justification as Christians today use the Bible in their defense of their favorite ideas. Even as recently as the 1950's and 60's, Christians vehemently opposed desegregation or "race-mixing" for religious reasons. The "curse" of poor Ham lingered on in the minds of white Christians who fought to preserve a constant separation of the races.

A corollary to the inferiority of blacks has long been the superiority of white Protestants - something which has not yet dissipated in America. Although "Caucasians" are not to be found anywhere in the Bible, that hasn't stopped members of Christian Identity groups from using the Bible to prove that they are the true "chosen people" or "true Israelites." This may seem bizarre, but it has long been popular among American Protestants to see themselves as being "divinely appointed" to tame the American wilderness despite the "demon Indians." Americans are supposed to be blessed with a special destiny by God, and many read an American role in Armageddon in the book of Revelations. I am ever amazed at the degree to which Christianity encourages extreme egotism and inflated sense of self-importance or personal destiny.

Christian Identity is just a new kid on the block of White Protestant Supremacy - the earliest such group was the infamous Ku Klux Klan. Too few people realize that the KKK was founded as a Christian organization and still sees itself in terms of defending true Christianity. Especially in the earliest days, Klansmen openly recruited in churches (white and segregated, of course), attracting members from all strata of society, including the clergy.

Although Klan ceremonies have varied greatly, one common form will include an American flag, a cross, and a Bible opened to Romans 12, exhorting Christians to "godly conduct, godly nature." Also common is a sword representing the war against all enemies of the Christian life an the American "Christian Nation." Opening and closing prayers may often include "The living Christ is a Klansman's criterion of character." The origin of a burning cross is unclear - it may stem from the ancient Scottish tradition of burning a cross on a hill to call together the clans, or it may be representative of spreading the light of the True Cross in an effort to promote Christian faith.



Interpretation and Apologetics

The cultural and personal assumptions of the pro-slavery Christians (and pro-slavery biblical authors) quoted above are probably obvious to all of us now, but I doubt that they were obvious to slavery supporters at the time. Similarly, today, I'm sure that few people are aware of the cultural and personal baggage which they bring to their readings. They assume the truth of what they believe, and are determined to find divine sanction for their beliefs in their holy book. I think that these Christians would be better off defending their ideas on their own merits, but I quite honestly doubt they are capable of it. Perhaps they doubt themselves too, and that's why they don't try.

My recommendation is against ever accepting any sort of "common sense" defense of any biblical interpretation. Throughout history, the idea that someone's interpretation is just "common sense" has been used on every side of every issue, including today's topic of slavery. Defense of an interpretation can only be done via rational, logical argument. Unfortunately for Christians, that has been used effectively on every side of every issue, too - including today's topic of slavery.

Maybe that means that using the Bible isn't a valid defense of an idea? Could be...

Answer 2

Slavery goes on all over the world, not just in the Christian religion - the Africans enslaved each other long before the whites came to take them to America to make them slaves there. The blacks STILL enslave each other today.

The Native Americans enslaved each other as well after a battle - that's what they did with the men they didn't kill from the other tribe they were fighting, and they kept the enemy women as breeder - slaves.

It wasn't anything new anywhere in the world at the time the blacks were brought over from Africa to America. It was common practice the world over (and still is in 2nd and 3rd world nations). The Christians were just doing what had always been done by basically everyone.

Why do you ask that question anyway? Do you expect Christians to be more enlightened, more humanitarian for some reason? LOL! Christianity has been the cause of more slaughter, war, bloodshed, forced conversions, wiping out of indigenous peoples the world over, and rape of the planet over its 2000 year old history than any religion in known recorded history, and that's a fact.

Fundamentalist Christians have the highest statistics of child and spouse abuse and incest than any other group in the USA, period. Don't expect Christians generally to be holy in either thought or action - they may like to think they are, and like to talk like they are, but they aren't, by far.

Answer 3

It was not acceptable. The Bible also states historical facts--good or bad. When Paul said that you lords treat your slaves well. He was not endorsing slavery. Rather he was stating a fact of society at that time--that there were lords and slaves.
If you read your bible well, you will know that Paul urged Christians to treat everybody as brothers. Have you read that part?

Yes, even today, slavery takes on many forms--like the sweat shop, the 9 to 5 $20/ day employee. If a writer mentions this thing, do we conclude that that writer is evil?

Answer 4

Not all Christians in pre-Civil War America believed slavery to be okay. In fact, most abhorred the practice and engaged in smuggling slaves into Free States. Many others assisted in the underground railroad.
The Christian faith did not condone slavery. Slave States were a blight on Christianity. Ignorance was the state of mind that allowed slavery to fester with Southern ministers approval.

Answer 5

There were 2 kinds of "slavery" in the Bible. The kind that you are talking about wasn't the same kind of slavery as what people think of today.

The kind of slavery that was by Jewish law was more like when a person goes to prison because he either commit ed a crime or to pay off a debt.

In this kind of slavery, the slave had to be treated well and released on the 7th year. The master also had to help his slave to be able to survive independently by the 7th year.

God clearly condemns the bad kind of slavery in the Bible, such as when the people of Israel were enslaved and oppressed by the Egyptians. This was more like what the slavery in America was like with how the whites treated the Africans.

God was against this kind of slavery. If you read the Bible you can see what happened to the Egyptians.

Someone who signs a contract to serve in the military could be called a "slave" in the way that "slavery" was understood according to Jewish law.

Remember that it says in the Bible that a master should treat his "slave" as he would treat himself. Does that sound like the kind of slavery that was in American history? I don't think so.
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Answer 6

It wasn't. Slavery was an institution though, and was a fact of life in Biblical times. It was Christians who worked to end slavery throughout the world. Yes, I realize it still exists in some places, but it is no longer an accepted practice.

Answer 7

The Lord said many would come in his name...that they
would be be false prophets and they would in the end
be spewed out.....sure many professing to be 'Christians'
believed they were right by containing slavery...." LET MY
PEOPLE GO!" The very theme of Moses to Ramses...
God fearing people like Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman
and the brave people...unsung heros if I may use the term..
who ran the 'underground railroad'...these people did not
accept slavery as being right......No true Christian ever
accepted slavery....self rightous people who who place
their views above God will be in danger of commiting
blasphemy....a sin that has no forgiveness.....divine law
as with civil law...ignorance of the law is no excuse to
violate it..if found guilty, one must pay the consequences
and the sentencing comes down from the Judge!

Answer 8

Slavery was acceptable because it was a resource for potential survival.

Some religions gave slaves their freedom in the 1600s after 7 years, as they Bible says they should.

This is why there were free blacks in the North in the 1700s.

Answer 9

It is not acceptable in Christianity but people would do anything to be cruel even in the name of the religion. For me, even the apostles and prophets can make mistakes coz they were human after all. It's like God is not going to come down and tell us himself what He thinks so people try to be His spokesmen and either misrepresent Him or misinterpret!

What if we are all Gods playing a "lets be some characters called human beings and pretend not to remember who we really are"??!!

Answer 10

In the Christian religion, slavery is very UN-acceptable.
If people went about catching and abusing slaves and at the same time called themselves 'Christian' ....they were hypocritical liars.

Answer 11

Because in the OT it was a common practice and the Jesus came to fulfill the law not to abolish it, I think the only things that changed in the OT was laws Jesus mentioned , like turn the other cheek - not an eye for an eye, crap like that.
But in the holy bible all the people are refereed to as sheep, Shepard, host, master. So the bible is plainly telling us to do as we are told are the rapture will get ourasses. Hopeless bull shi t