The Koran, which the Christians look upon as a ridiculous smattering of
utterances of a spurious prophet, sets a superior example to the
Christian "Divine Revelations."
"God hath ordained that your brothers should be your slaves, therefore,
let him whom God hath ordained to be the slave of his brother, his
brother must give him of the clothes wherewith he clotheth himself, and
not order him to do anything beyond his power.... A man who illtreats
his slave will not enter paradise.... Whoever is the cause of separation
between mother and child by selling and giving, God will separate him
from his friends on the day of resurrection."
The New Testament follows the Old Testament, and there is nowhere to be
found in its contents anything to suggest the elimination of this
practice. Jesus did not condemn this practice, but accepted slavery as
he accepted most institutions about him, and all superstitions. The
teachings of Paul on the question of slavery are clear and explicit.
Pope Leo, in his letter of 1888 to the Bishop of Brazil, remarks:
"When amid the slave multitude whom she has numbered among her children,
some led astray by some hope of liberty, have had recourse to violence
and sedition, the Church has always condemned these unlawful efforts,
and through her ministers has applied the remedy of patience...."
St. Peter was addressing himself especially to the slaves when he wrote,
"For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God a man endures
sorrows, suffering wrongfully."
The Church certainly saw nothing wrong with slavery when she preached
patience to her slaves. It did not condemn slavery, but condemned the
slaves for revolting. This in 1888!
In the "Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics" is found: "There is no
explicit condemnation in the teaching of our Lord.... It remains true
that the abolitionist could point to no one text in the Gospels in
defense of his position, while those who defended slavery could appeal
at any rate to the letter of Scripture."
It is true that slavery existed under Pagan civilization, but there it
represented a phase of social development, while Christian slavery stood
for a deliberate retrogression in social life. It was Seneca who said,
"Live gently and kindly with your slave, and admit him to conversation
with you, to council with you, and to share in your meals."
Think of what would have occurred if one of our philosophers had
admonished a slave-holding Christian in the above manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account