Christianity - Does it Sanction Slavery?

Christianity Sanctioning Slavery

Now consider the question of Christianity sanctioning slavery.  Such arguments that postulate such as being so take a slanted if not critical view of Christianity and of the Church.  Such a view is found in the source referenced at the end of this posting and prompts this discussion.  One would not be surprised that the writer chooses a few Scriptures from across several hundreds of years and from two cultures in his attempt at making his point. 

While it is true that no one can legitimately argue that slavery was unknown to those of Judeo-Christian faiths, there is much more to be considered in the discussion.  For example, one must exercise some caution in viewing the cultures of the Old Testament and of the Greco-Roman period with 21^st Century eyes, attitudes, and assumptions.

Aristotle and Slavery

Not unimportant to the discussion is this.  Often those who reject Christianity or at least seek to disparage same will hearken back to the Greek Philosophers such as Aristotle.   

It is interesting that he endorsed slavery believing that some are born to be slaves and some born to be freemen.  He called those born to be slaves as “living tools.”  Thus they were little more than chattel to those who thought similarly.

 He was not alone for Plato and Homer thought similarly.  I wonder why the critic of Christianity does not seek to invalidate the thinking of the Greek Philosophs based upon the same criterion?

Christianity Ended Slavery

While the antagonist points to Christianity and in doing so seeks to decry its relationship with the slave trade, at least it was those of Christian persuasion who actively worked to end slavery.  To be sure they were opposed by others who named themselves as Christians.  Certainly such is one of the failing of 19^th Century Christianity.

It should be noted that slavery existed long before Christianity came upon the scene of history.  Not only did it predate Christianity, it also predated the inception of Judaism.  In fact slavery was such a common practice in the cultures in which Judaism and Christianity were located, that it found few if any critics outside Israel and the Church. 

Truth be told it was those of Quaker belief and conservative Christians who took to heart and then to action the notion of equal treatment of all which is found in the Scriptures but conveniently ignored by those who make such claims against Christianity.  It was slavery as in other matters, when the pulpits of America and of other western countries thundered with messages that decried the evils thereof that things began to change. 

Such was not without precedents throughout history.  For example, one of the Apostle Paul’s personal letters, Philemon, was written for the purposes of the restoring of a relationship between two fellow Christians one a slave the other a master.

The Influence of Judeo-Christian Ethics on Government

As well it should be noted that it is nations whose governmental ideals were built upon Judeo-Christian ethics that ended slavery.  Such cannot be said for other government systems.  An example is found in and among several Muslim countries where at his writing there is an active slave trade.  Curiously the secular atheists make no criticism of those so involved.  It must be that they are too busy criticizing those who were instrumental in the abolition of such.

Current Slave Trade

Such selective focus and the lumping of all Christians into one monolithic “glump” is neither fair to the discussion nor is it logical.  It is tantamount to saying that because some doctors are inept all doctors are inept.  No one would accept the logic of that argument, so too those who lump all Christians together and then heap blame upon them for some misdeed or another are not logical.

However, there is a greater problem and that is the degree to which the secularist ignores the current slave trade.  It is well and good that one point out the failings and evils of the Church in the past but would it not be more profitable for such efforts to be expended in seeking the end to slave trade today?  

Whether it be the slave ships, fishing off of the coasts of Africa, the Christians being sold into slavery by Muslims, or those held in bondage for sex trade purposes, slavery does exist today.  Does this deplorable situation not deserve attention by those who level such accusations against the historical church?  Once again we might well have an example of one's biases blinding such a person to present realities.

The Secularist’s Mixed Message

A certain disconnect exists among those who criticize the Church for not acting earlier.  On one side there is the notion that it is wrong to interfere with the culture in which said Church is located.  The modern manifestation of that is in the separation of church and government movement.

On the other hand, those same voices are critical of the Church for not taking a more militant stand against slavery in the Greco-Roman period.  The reality is that slavery in that culture was far different than it is today.  For example, one reads about the treatment of slaves in the Old Testament and it is clear that such treatment is to be within certain limits.

Background

To see the list of subjects to be discussed in this series see my blog (Christianity – Is it a Faith Driven by Fear? http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/11/christianity-is-it-faith-driven-by-fear.html).  Contained within that blog is a reference, 20 Reasons to Abandon Christianity and in that reference is a list which is the springboard from which this subject has been discussed.