Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodsrsr
(Post 4009102)
As we already know, slavery was common in the Middle East as far back as ancient Egypt. If God had simply ignored it, then there would have been no rules for their treatment and they could have treated them harshly with no rights. But since they did have rights and rules for their protection, it showed that God cared for them as well. However, this is often misconstrued for an endorsement of slavery, which it is not. God listed slave traders among the worst of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:10 (kidnappers/men stealers/slave traders). This is no new teaching as Moses was not fond of forced slavery either: Exodus 21:16He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
Here are some more posts that are copied for you.
A few pointers to remember:
Slaves under Mosaic Law were different from the harshly treated slaves of other societies, more like servants or bondservants.
The Bible doesn’t give an endorsement of slave traders but the opposite (1 Timothy 1:10). A slave/bondservant was acquired when a person voluntarily entered into it when he needed to pay off his debts.
The Bible recognizes that slavery is a reality in this sin-cursed world and doesn’t ignore it, but instead gives regulations for good treatment by both masters and servants and reveals they are equal under Christ.
Israelites could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant to have their debts covered, make a wage, have housing and be set free after six years. Foreigners could sell themselves as a slave/bondservant as well.
Biblical Christians led the fight to abolish slavery.
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None of the distinctions you claim between how Christians (or Israelites) treated slaves compared to other cultures are born out in any historical evidence. Slaves were mistreated in all ancient cultures.
A quick search in my library provides this information.
“The role of slaves in Israelite society has long been a crucial topic in biblical ethics. There were at least two categories of slaves: non-Israelites who were taken captive in wars or bought as foreign slaves, and Israelites who were forced into slavery because of their debts or for some other reason. Both Canaanites and Israelites could be conscripted as slave or corvee labor, but Israelites were not to be considered permanent slaves of the king (1 Kings 9:20:22).
By contemporary standards, there is no social justice for slaves in Israelite law. Every Israelite slave is to be released after six years: in the Hammurabi code, a slave is to be released after three years. But for non-Israelite slaves, there is no release. In the law codes, the slave is reckoned as property (Exod 21:21; Lev 25:45). In cases of death or injury, the worth of the slave is clearly much less than that of an ordinary citizen (Exod 21:28-33). The memory of Israel’s slavery in Egypt provides a basis for not enslaving its own people permanently (Lev 25:42=43). This same experience, however, does not prevent Israel from making permanent slaves of aliens or foreigners (Lev 25:44-46).
Old Testament Interpretation
May, Mays, Tucker, Petersen, Richards
1995
"Christians" were as adept as any religion in claiming slavery was god's will for over 2000 years. They defended that viewpoint by use of "gods word" the bible. "Christians" only fought against slavery rather recently in history and they were the only ones to do that. Look how long “Christians” fought against mixed race marriage. Christians hardly have a good track record on morality. In fact in comparison with other cultures they are the same, morality is applied to themselves in a much different manner than to others. Christians (or any religion) do not own the moral high-ground. They are not superior in any manner in matters of ethics or morality. Their own deeds betray them every time.
My favorite defense of these past horrors, is that they were not committed by “real” Christians! Yeah, right! I’ve got a bridge to sell you too. :rolleyes:
By your deeds, shall you be known. :eek:
