Slaves were welcomed into the early church. And slavery as practiced then was dramatically different from the chattel slavery practiced in the West in more recent history. Not to say that slavery was ever okay ethically, but in various forms it has always been part of human history, unfortunately.
Right, but they were still slaves. The Bible has several sections endorsing slavery (Old Testament and New, including tacit approval of the practice by Jesus himself).
This is why slaveowners created and distributed amongst their slaves, Bibles that had any mentions or notions of freedom removed, but the slavery parts kept in.
They used Christianity, and it’s outright support of slavery, as a tool of oppression and it worked. Not only did it help them keep their slaves, “in line,” but it provided a convenient rationalization for the “god fearing Christian slaveowners” that went to church every Sunday.
Abrahamic religion is poison to society, and likely the worst thing that humanity has ever created.
I really like the quote about drawing lines versus circles. I’ve always believed Jesus’ teaching to love one another is the core of Christianity.
Unless you’re a slave, of course.
Slaves were welcomed into the early church. And slavery as practiced then was dramatically different from the chattel slavery practiced in the West in more recent history. Not to say that slavery was ever okay ethically, but in various forms it has always been part of human history, unfortunately.
Right, but they were still slaves. The Bible has several sections endorsing slavery (Old Testament and New, including tacit approval of the practice by Jesus himself).
This is why slaveowners created and distributed amongst their slaves, Bibles that had any mentions or notions of freedom removed, but the slavery parts kept in.
They used Christianity, and it’s outright support of slavery, as a tool of oppression and it worked. Not only did it help them keep their slaves, “in line,” but it provided a convenient rationalization for the “god fearing Christian slaveowners” that went to church every Sunday.
Abrahamic religion is poison to society, and likely the worst thing that humanity has ever created.