In the time of slavery how did the Christian Church justify it?

Question

In the US and Europe when slavery was legal how did the Christian church justify these racist actions? Arent all men supposed to be equal?(doesnt the bible say this) Were blacks not considered men? Than why are they considered men today? What changed?

Did the church do anything to stop slavery? Did it promote slavery?

PS I'm not racist

if the southerners change the bible, did the north go against slavery from day one?

what about europe did they also make their own version to justify slavery?

to Mr Math: what do you mean I dont get it?

to john: I know many nations have been opressed, espacially africa, I dont care about europe or US, but they are the countries in which christianity is dominant and where they had slavery for many years. How did the chuch make it seem ok? did the church make it seem ok?

I'm asking how did the church make this seem right? did they say its good to have slaves, did they say its wrong to have slaves?

I'm not feeling sorry for my self I'm a muslim in the month of Ramadan, I'm asking what the church's thoughts about slavery?

no I havent read the bible, I just assumed it said all men are equal

to john: I dont have a term in my dictionary as a 'good slave holder' holding some one is very wrong in it self, maybe the slaves didnt want to work for the good slave holder,(people can have a good boss it doesnt mean they will want to work for them)

to Somebody I have to disagree with your argument, people can quit jobs anytime(at least they have a choice no matter how unpractical it maybe) employees also have rights, insuruances,

slaves had none

Answer 1

They went to the extremes of trying to prove that they did not have a soul...

The Church has always sought to be allies with the powerful... In the time of slavery... those who could capture or buy slaves...

Answer 2

In terms of social norms and definitions through out history, certain concepts have changed names but the concepts are the same. For example, today house servants have been replaced by restaurant employees. A waiter or waitress takes the place of kitchen servants and usually makes slightly more than $2 an hour from the restaurant. The waitress or waiter then depends on tips from the customers. If the customer does not tip then the waitron has just done all that work for nothing.
You work for a company. The company has an "owner" for whom you work which makes you in essence a slave, worker or servant to the owner of the company. As long as you treat your employees, workers, slaves, servants or (whatever you care to call it) with respect and dignity then there was no problem within the Christian ethic in much the same way that is true today. The ethical problem was in how these people came to be slaves in the first place, not of their own choice, and how they were brutally treated once they became slaves both within the Breaking Camps in the Carribean and by the slave owners. Many Christian slave owners rationalized buying and keeping slaves by treating them well knowing that otherwise they would most likely be mistreated.

The Christian ethic, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" then becomes dynamic because it allows you to adapt to every situation. Was slavery wrong? In the context of the early American and European slave trade of Africans it was wrong because Africans were being treated in the most brutal manner imaginable. Does that mean that once in America that a Christian could not buy a slave to rescue him or her from a life of torture? On one hand it could be viewed as contributing to the slave trade. On the other hand, the slave is already here and will be sold to someone anyway. So, what to do? Abraham Lincoln was a Christian and as such was eventually murdered for his efforts to end the slave trade altogether.

Answer 3

Some people, SOME, decided that since the Bible tells slaves to obey their Masters - that the Bible condons it. Nothing could be further from the truth...........the Bible does teach that whatever situation you are in to honor God - and that was the point of that argument. The Bible even says that if you can get your freedom take it and in the Old Testament, slaves had to be released after seven years.

It was a different type slavery that we know - it was working to pay of a debt, etc.

Many Christians fought hard against slavery................ Many people refused to own slaves..... It was always wrong for one human being to "own" another. God doesn't see one person as more important than another and He wants us to see it the same way.

Answer 4

No, actually the bible does not say that all men are equal, but that christian slave should be good slaves. It also indicates that having sex with your slaves is ok. As far as basic humans rights are concerned, the Bible is silent.

Edit: Just to be clear, the Bible does not make a case against slavery and seems not to even question that it is right or wrong.

Answer 5

you look like a guy who loves history. i'm useful your conscious that slavery did no longer start up in united states of america. this is been a reality of existence from the earliest circumstances. i think of it got here an afternoon or 2 after the worlds oldest occupation. The Bible does not attack it. It seeks to alter it. There are scriptures telling one how slaves could be dealt with. Kindly. no longer whipped too plenty. no longer starved, could have scientific care whilst applicable. Slaves could do what they're informed. i'm no longer able to verify the place every person tried to justify it. It advance right into a reality of existence. i think of it advance into because of the fact there have been few compassionate classes to help human beings throughout the stressful circumstances. maximum persons given the call of ravenous and being a slave would come to a decision on being a slave. Hungry, chilly, and homeless does not charm to too many human beings. Slavery hasn't replaced too plenty even right this moment. no longer plenty in united states of america yet many center jap worldwide places do enslave adult males , women and young ones. so as undesirable as slavery is you would be wanting to have continued as many million years because it has...It could meet some desires.

Answer 6

Some people used the Bible to support the end of slavery and others used the Bible to justify its continuation. Unfortunately, it seems the Bible could be construed either way depending on the person reading it and what they wanted to get out of it. None of the authors condemned the practice outright and there were rules written concerning the treatment of slaves which seems to not condemn the right to have them.

Answer 7

Slavery justified that religion was not pure and not of god. it also showed that the churches were not teaching the words of Jesus concerning love. 1 John 2: 9- 10 proves the point that religion at the time didn't know god by stating that anyone that hates his brother is still in darkness. some forms of religion didn't go along with slavery like the Quakers...

Answer 8

When native people were taken from Africa and brought to the Americas , black people were not considered "men".
there was a great discussion going on for nearly two centuries ; the main objection came from the bible ,where it is written that "the Man was made similar to God!" and nobody could accept the idea of a black divinity! In the XVII Century , a Spanish monk tried to convince (he wrote a lot of letters) the kings of Spain that they "had a soul" ..and send some of them to Madrid to show their capacity pf singing christian hymns. but they did not need singers but good, cheap workers!
Quite strange is the attitude of White people in Northern America some centuries after!
What changed?
I would rather say what has to change? our attitude towards anyone different: for colours, religions, way of thinking and behaving, origin, etc.

Answer 9

The Bible has clear outlines for slaves. It does not promote it but it does address it. Joseph was a slave. Jacob was a slave. The whole nation of Israel were slaves.

This is from the New Testament.

1Pe 2:18 Servants, [be] subject to [your] masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19 For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.

Answer 10

The Christian Church was wrong about this. The Churches are run by people who are influenced by politics and who are not perfect and sometimes just plain bad. I am Christian, but I will admit that the Churches have done a lot of wrong.