Is it justified that Blacks were put into slavery and the bible was used to support there claims?

Question

In Africa before slavery blacks had their own language, own religion, own beliefs and morals. When we were captured into slavery we were forced into Christianity and we were made to believe that we were animals before we accepted "Christ". How does this take away the creditablity of the Bible and its justification of its interest?

Answer 1

It wasn't long ago that conservatives were still supporting slavery. While fortunately we've overcome this hurdle as a society, racism is still strong in many conservative families, they've just shifted their outward focus of hatred and bigotry on the gays, something more culturally acceptable at this time.

The Bible has been used to start countless wars. Christianity is by far the most violently religion historically ever created. It saddens me because if you look past some of the twisted passages obviously products of their time of composure there are some great moral values that can be learned from the stories in the Bible.

Somewhere along the line people began thinking it not important to act our wha they claimed to believe. I see a lot of people who claim to be religious, but sadly, very few who seem to be serving any kind of higher purpose.

Answer 2

No to your first question.

And what I think is...well...a religion can't be judged on the actions of its followers.

One of the things (of many) that was wrong with the African slave trade was the fact that Africans were being kidnapped to be sold into slavery.

In the Old Testament, such an act would have been punishable by death. Read the story of Joseph, and what happened when his brothers sold him into slavery after kidnapping him.

I think the slave traders "accidentally" forgot about that passage.

But you know, I may not like how those of African descent originally came to America, but I sure am glad you guys are there. America has been SO enriched by our black brothers and sisters. Imagine, if it hadn't been for the slave trade, there never would have been a Martin Luther King, Jr., there never would have been Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Denzel Washington, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Beyonce Knowles, India Arie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Halle Berry...the list goes on and on. Can you imagine? I sure can't.

Answer 3

Whoever used the bible as justification for slavery didn't have a clue about the bible or took it completely out of context. There is nowhere in the bible that comes even close to supporting slavery and the claim that blacks are somehow sub human.

Answer 4

Who captured these blacks and sold them into slavery? Other blacks.

The bible says slaves should obey their masters. That implies that slavery is just. Christians believed it at one time but changed their minds after times changed in society. They will twist any scripture to fit their wants and desires, so it's a hopeless cause trying to rationalize with them.

I do find it sad, however, that some African Americans can be so hateful toward whites and everything involving them except for their religion which was forced upon the blacks during slavery. There's no rationality in it at all.

Answer 5

To my knowledge the bible never singled out black people as slaves. In the Old Testament it was OK to take any "foreigner/non Hebrew" as a slave for life. Or a Hebrew could sell a family member as a slave for a period of 6 years.

Those Wacky Hebrews!

You would think that Jesus and the New Testament would have a different view of slavery, but slavery is still approved of in the New Testament, as the following passages show.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

So yes the bible does justify slavery, but your argument of racism doesn't really hold from a scholarly standpoint.

As my grandmother once pointed out to me, "You can use the bible to prove anything. Even Jesus was a horse theif." God bless that crazy old woman.

Answer 6

First of all, there were many African Christians before slavery, before Roam Catholicism, even, read your Bible a little more closely. It was the way of practising Christianity that is different. Second, just because a group of people misused the Bible, doesn't take away it's credibility, that's just something they have to answer to God for on Judgment Day. For millenia, people have taken various scripture, out of context, and used it to support their own agendas, that's a human failing, not a Godly one.

Answer 7

Black slavery has nothing to do with the Bible. Mean horrible men are responsible for the slave trade that happened many many years ago. Maybe you need to learn the african language, renounce Christianity and take up voo doo and move back to Africa. I get tired of hearing people play the "slave card". Many injustices were done to many different nationalities -- not just african americans. We live in a different time and different culture now and you need to get over it.

Answer 8

It doesn't have anything to do with the credibility of the Bible. If I tell you that the Bible says the moon is made of green cheese, that doesn't mean it actually says that. The Bible does not say that blacks (aka Africans) were animals. It doesn't even say they are under a curse as many others assert. Religion is a powerful tool, and power-seekers will always try to use it to control people. -yk

Answer 9

Well, you can take a hammer and kill somebody with it. Does it make the hammer bad? No. It makes you bad.

People who did this weren't Jesus' true disciples! I mean, I'm glad that black people heard the gospel, the same way my pagan ancestors (I'm from Europe) heard the gospel, and that I heard the gospel while I was still pagan (even thought I live in "Christian" country and considered myself a christian before I met Christ!

Christ created black people (actually, he created mid-brown people and then depending on climate we became more black or more white, so there is only one RACE! Christ loves black people! He died for black people!

Therefore, all Christians should love black people, and those who don't aren't true Christians since they don't follow Christs commandment to love our neighbors!

I trully hope that you will not reject Christ who loves you so much because of some idiot's in the past and now who think they are in any way better than you! You are precious in God's eyes! May God bless you!

Answer 10

It did not happen just to blacks....When Christianity started to spread missions were sent all around the world to convert peolple to Christanity. They(we) were all told we would not go to heaven if we did not accept Christ. None believers were killed if they did not accept Christ. Look at most of the South America when the Spanish came. The Celts in Britain. Everywhere....they too all had their own languages, beliefs and morals. the missions today, although they may not kill anymore still preach that you will not go to heaven if you do not accept Christ.