What role did William Wilberforce's religion play in ending the slave trade in England?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce

Answer 1

It was the driving force behind his mission to end the practice of slavery. What Brendan G and others like him refuse to accept, although they are frequently told, is that the OT does not endorse the kind of slavery we think of in western culture. Sure people misused the bible but that shouldn't surprise anyone who has read it and knows that people will misuse it. The slavery of the OT and of the Roman empire was an economic necessity. Without that kind of "slavery" people would have starved to death. We aren't talking about a novel written by Alex Haley here.

Answer 2

William Wilberforce Religion

Answer 3

after reading this:
In later years he supported the campaign for complete abolition, which eventually led to the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, paving the way for the complete abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1928.[1] A tireless campaigner for the abolition of slavery, Wilberforce died just three days after hearing of the passage of the Act through Parliament. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to his friend William Pitt.

i would say he didn´t play much of a role, just supported the act to end slavery.
reading on, i found this:
The next step, then, was to make slavery illegal. A new Anti-Slavery Society was formed in 1823, with members including Thomas Clarkson, Henry Brougham, William Wilberforce, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Elizabeth Heyrick, Mary Lloyd, Jane Smeal, Elizabeth Pease, and Anne Knight.

looks like he was one of the founding fathers of the "Anti-Slavery Society" big role :)

Answer 4

William Wilberforce helped to make people aware of the plight of the slaves(since he had so many influential friends) and all the wrongdoings of the English people themselves,and the planters etc

Answer 5

particularly the question might desire to be are black human beings sorry for his or her ancesters place interior the slave commerce by using fact opposite to familiar perception plenty greater black human beings in Africa have been rapidly in touch interior the slave commerce than white human beings have been. Afrians have been indulging in slavery for 1000's of years and not in basic terms 1000's like the whites and Africans are nonetheless in touch in slavery at present. apart from, Africans enslave their very own human beings. i might desire to for this reason maximum suitable suited you, the 0.33 international debt is an prompt effect of eu (and African) slavery. it is likewise a actuality that eu slavery ought to not have existed if the Africans had not time-honored the commerce first. it is likewise a actuality that eu slavers did it with the explicit permission of the Africans, they does not have been allowed to do it had they not have been given permission from community tribal chiefs and payed the reported tribal chiefs lease for the slave conserving forts on the Gold Coast. the actuality of the subject is black human beings's ancesters are each bit as responsible as white human beings's ancesters are for slavery, much greater so in accordance to 3 Africans who're rapidly descended from the two slaves or slavers and nonetheless residing interior the place of the previous slave conserving forts. And are human beings of African origen sorry for the million and a million/2 white British people who they abducted into slavery 1000's of years earlier Columbus even got here upon the Americas? many all human beings is speaking approximately slavery at present, black, white, instructors and academics in faculties and universities besides as authors on the placement, very few of them certainly comprehend the impartial data.

Answer 6

Hmmm. Probably the same "role" as the Old Testament played in justifying it.

Answer 7

Many religious people only look at their scriptures though rose colored glasses. Let's be clear on some of the things the OT DOES say.

It may indeede be similar to an Alex Haley novel:

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. Ex.21:2-6

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money. Ex.21:20-21

Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever. Lev.25:44-46

(Here we see it was NOT an economic necessity.)



And from the NT:

Paul, who aproves of slavery, orders slaves "honor their masters" and to obey their them "in all things as unto Christ."

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. Eph.6:5

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Col.3:22

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 1 Tim.6:1

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Titus 2:10-11




Peter says that all slaves should "be subject to [their] masters with all fear," to the bad and cruel as well as the "good and gentle."

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 1 Pet.2:18




Why did it take almost 2000 years AFTER the time of Christ for Christians to see that the slave trade was wrong? Easy answer - there was nothing in the Bible to say that it was wrong, and many things saying it was OK.

You may say that it was only appropirate to the time, but why would God not have the foresight to recognize what would clearly become the worst crime in humanity?

It would have taken Christ only one statement (e.g. "Now set all of your slaves free because they are an abomination to God). Buy no such statement was ever made.

If we are wondering if the the Bible is a book of "morals" or even a good book, nothing has given us a clearer "NO" than this subject.

The only reasons some Christians sought to end the slave trade came NOT from the Bible, but from moderating forces outside the Bible and from the morality that has evolved in man and society.

Thank goodness this is another case where we have chosen to ignore that book.