In many religious texts and documents, there have been verses and parables used to support both pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments. Despite both sides having deeply religious members, some condoned the awful mistreatment of humans for their own good, while others found it to be an egregious act that was morally and religiously wrong. Many arguments were made for and against slavery that used religious texts like The Bible to back their claims.
For Slavery: Alex Chen
Throughout the Bible, Quran, and Torah, there have been many examples of pro-slavery arguments. The Bible holds many verses that support the argument that slavery was a right and just activity that should be allowed in the United States. As the debate for abolishing or allowing slavery in the United States began to grow larger, many Southern Christian slaveholders rationalized their beliefs and arguments
with verses they found in The Bible. They often pointed to verses in the Old Testament and sometimes even used verses in the New Testament to support why they thought slavery should stay in the United States t. Some of those verses include:
As a majority of the United States was Christian, Southern slave holders claimed that because slavery was allowed by God, as seen by those verses in the Bible, those who opposed slavery were rebelling against God. They believed that it was
a contradiction against God to go against His word in The Bible. Additionally, Southern slave owners believed they were saving slaves and doing the right Christian thing to do, as they thought that African-Americans were a
"sinful, less humane, black race". They saw slavery infused with Christianity as a way to liberate African-Americans from their supposedly savage and inhumane ways. By bringing slaves into a Christian slave owners land,
they were able to provide slaves with religious instruction and salvation from sin.
They also argued that slaves were treated better than those in the Northern factories.
As stated in Colossians 4:1, "Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven". They used this verse to claim that they were obligated to treat their slaves fairly, giving them a better quality of life than they would have had in the North.
Against Slavery: Jordan Miles
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The bible includes quotes and sayings that shows that the author was in fact against slavery. One quote I found that shows the author is not in favor of slavery is in the book of Exidus 21:16. It says, “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.” This verse really reveals that one man thinking he has control and power over another is wrong and should not be tolerated. Many verses and quotes I have read prove that the bible believes that those who own slaves should die themselves as a punishment. Overall, the bible gives a lot of evidence to show that slavery or the misttreatmennt of another man would ultimately result in some sort of punishment from God such as death or pain.
In addition, Galatians 5:1 states that, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” In this quote it is showing that Jesus died for our sins and for us to be set free. With this freedom we must do our part and not allow someone's rights and freedoms to be taken, in order to honor God. To not submit again to a yoke of slavery means that people should not have to be slaves, causing them to live in a difficult, cruel state.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/anti-slavery
https://docsouth.unc.edu/church/bourne/bourne.html
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