While I’m checking and replying to emails at school, I’m listening to this caller on The Atheist Experience with Matt Dillahunty and Jen Peeples explain how the “commandment’ Thou Shalt Not Steal is evidence that God actually condemns slavery. Check it out about 57 minutes into the show. That’s the biggest reach I’ve ever heard by a Christian! The caller said that since slavery is stealing…and God’s forbids stealing…therefore God forbids slavery.
That’s the biggest reach I’ve ever heard by a Christian! The caller said that since slavery is stealing…and God’s forbids stealing…therefore God forbids slavery. Matt proceeds to read a few of the numerous passages which thoroughly describes how to treat your slaves.
Sidenote- the caller claims that as soon as he saw the world through the lens of faith, he then was able to believe the Bible and see the truth. This has always baffled me. I’ve been told that before you can know God, you already need to know God. What the fuck is this shit!? If a person reads the Bible without faith, they are more likely to question what they read; however, if you indoctrinate the children to “just believe or have faith” then the Bible already makes sense to them when they read it. One more note about his shithead caller- he referred to “all my atheist friends.” I just love it when Christians say they either were atheist or have lots of atheist friends. Oh, I’m sure this guy, living in the South, works with and/or has several friends with are openly atheists…along with all of his openly gay or black friends!
Continuing with the Bible condemning slavery, browse through Ken Hamm’s Answers in Genesis site for some laughs. The site claims that bible slavery was not really the icky, evil, slavery that the slaves experiences for hundreds of years in the Americas. “God cared for them (Bible slaves) as well.”
Answers in Genesis continues….
“Had God not protected slaves/bondservants by such commands, then many people surrounding them who did have harsh slavery would have loved to move in where there were no governing principles as to the treatment of slaves. It would have given a “green light” to slave owners from neighboring areas to come and settle there. But with the rules in place, it discouraged such slavery in their realm.”
The author attempts to conclude with:
Though this short chapter couldn’t delve into every verse regarding slavery, the basic principles are the same. In light of what we’ve learned, here are a few pointers to remember:
- Slaves under the Mosaic Law were different from the harshly treated slaves of other societies; they were more like servants or bondservants.
- The Bible doesn’t give an endorsement of slave traders but just 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 slaves/bondservants to have their debts covered, make a wage, have housing, and be set free after six years. Foreigners could sell themselves as slaves/bondservants as well.
- Biblical Christians led the fight to abolish harsh slavery in modern times.
It’s funny how the author keeps referring to the enslavery of Africans as the “harsh” slavery and distinguishes it from biblical slavery, which he calls servants or bondservants.