Evidence of slavery has been found ever since man settled down to a civilized life. The origins of slavery however are not known. All old world civilizations, the Mesopotamian, Shang, Egyptian, Palestinian (Hebrew), Greek and Roman, are glaring examples of societies based on slavery in some form or the other! The bible was written in an era which attempted to define the concept of the “free” and the “enslaved”, the “master” and the “servant.” A scripture, a spiritual work, desperately needs to address all issues that affect society in a period. Slavery in the pre-Christ era was like an epidemic that had plagued humanity to an incurable extent. Therefore, it was one issue that needed to be addressed more than any other. Understandably, slavery finds ample mention in the bible.
However, the interesting aspect is that, nowhere in the Old or the New Testament is it condemned. All that we find are excerpts regulating the purchase, treatment and procedure of manumission of slaves. The issue is mostly dealt with in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Christ and his apostles mostly reinforce what has already been preached. Contrary to what most “Good Christians” would like to believe; the popularly accepted view is that the bible condones slavery. Some scholars even go to the extent of saying that the bible encourages this evil.
The Essay on Slavery In The Territories
SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES It has been said that the institution of slavery caused The Civil War. In the years leading up to America s bloodiest war, the new territories the United States acquired began to get enough citizens so that they may become states. The question that ripped Congress and this country apart was whether or not these new states would be admitted as free or slave states. You ...
Many supporters of slavery in America put up the argument that the bible sanctions it, making it an absolutely moral institution. Slavery was not an institution invented by Christianity or Islam. It was there long before these religions came into being. The practice of slavery is coeval with human existence. Historically its traces are visible in every age and in every nation… The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans and the ancient Germans, people whose legal and social institutions have most affected modern manners and customs, recognized and practiced both kinds of slavery, involuntary servitude as well as household slavery.
An open-ended debate exists amongst Christian and Islamic writers regarding the legitimization and approval of slavery in the KORAN vis-‘a-vis the BIBLE. Christian writers have often represented Islam as a religion, which not only tolerated slavery but also encouraged it. Contrary to this the Islamic writers, believe that Slavery offended the spirit of Islam as much as idolatry did and That Christianity’s history with centuries of Massive slave trading, in comparison to Islam’s massive freeing of slaves, shows the True Message of humanly Love that is preached in Islam. It is also believed that though slavery was an ancient institution, which started in pre-historic era of mankind, it is safe to say that the volume of this trade reached its zenith through the Christian nations of Europe and America who, turned it into a meticulously organized commerce and started capturing slaves by thousands. Religion not only provided the justification for slavery but also for its abolition. While religious movements shaped the slave systems that developed in particular societies, the practice and interpretation of those religions were themselves affected by the slavery in their midst..
