OK slavery was ok in the bible...but what about killing the Indians was that in the bible too?

Question

Our founding fathers were so Christian and all and I read in a response to a question that "slavery was ok according to the bible"
So what about killing the Indians was that ok too.
Sure our founding fathers were Christian and not part of a cult as you say?

Answer 1

Sometimes, even among the most dedicated to their beliefs, personal wants and desires supersede all teachings. For many of us, myself included, those people were our ancestors and we cannot change what has occurred, most of us will not condone what occurred and if we are smart we will never again let ourselves come into a situation where it happens again. It was greed, pure and simple.

The early settlers did not see the Native Americans as fully human nor did they see them as animals; they had kind of an in between status and thus were called savages, especially as they did not have the same belief in their deity. The settlers were aggressive in taking the land they felt was theirs by divine right and used the bible as example of that and because the Natives were heathens it was deemed justifiable. Anything can be justified if you are willing to turn a blind eye.

What they did was wrong but at least there were a few good people there. Roger Williams who founded Rhode Island as a state based upon religious freedom actually negotiated and paid for the land rather than stealing it. That was the way it should have been done as it gave dignity to both sides.

Answer 2

No, the Christian bible does not condone slavery as we know it today. It was more of an indentured servitude. Exodus 21:16 explicitly forbids kidnapping people, for one thing. Deuteronomy 23:15-16 says, "If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them." Meaning, slaves in biblical times could choose where to live and who to work for, and it was forbidden to stop them. Further, Ephesians 6:9 tells the master not to threaten his slave. Slaveowners in our nation's history may have CLAIMED the bible was okay with their brand of slavery, but it very clearly wasn't. And the verse about beating slaves is not saying it's OK (again, keep Ephesians 6:9 in mind), it's drawing a line between when the master should be punished (if the slave dies as a result of the beating) and when he shouldn't be punished (if the slave lives). It's not a logic I would DEFEND, but hopefully this verse in conjunction with the ones I presented you give you the understanding that, slaves could pick up and leave if they didn't want to serve that particular master any longer. "Property" obviously didn't mean "as in an object with no rights". Indeed, the bible also says that slaves should be given the Sabbath day to rest.

Answer 3

Columbus slaughtered the islanders, committed genocide and sold their eight year old children as sex slaves, and we celebrate him every year because of the Christians.

That's all you need to know about Christianity.

And look at the freak above me. He belongs to a religion that is based on the ritual sacrifice of the first born son, but he criticizes the Aztecs.

Ignorance is a hilarious trait.

Answer 4

So because someone is of one faith that means they are perfect? No it does not, it was wrong and horrible- but I dont blame christianity for it, I blame the people that did it.

Answer 5

have you seen how evil those indians were? have you seen how evil the aztecs used to rip out hearts from innocent people, mayans too, and indians used to scalp and do all sorts of nasty things...they had God's vengeance coming, I dont feel sorry for them.

Answer 6

So, I can expect you to leave the continent? Or perhaps return to the stone-age? That's so noble...blondy...