Is slavery morally wrong?

[mpshiel]

On the surface, at first glance, that seems to be the obvious answer.

But a look from a different perspective reveals that "slavery" exist in society today. It's not as easily recognized as some people think.

Have you ever known anyone who is truly not capable of managing thier own life properly?. These people are made wards of the state. Could it be that this type of person is happier, healthier and lives more comfortably by someone else ruling over them?

Just food for thought.

There is a vast difference between being a ward and being a slave - a ward is a person who is given into the care of another - that is because they cannot care for themselves another is responsible to care for them. You don't come home from a ward hearing to be told to go mow the lawn, clean up the kitchen, make and serve dinner, lay out and prepare the bed and then sleep outside the door in-case the person responsible for you needs something during the night.

Remember, the care of slaves is because it is in MY best interest to keep slaves healthy in order to get the maximum usage out of them. If I want a strong buck male to work for me 18 hours a day, then I best make sure he gets the appropriate amount of calories. Same way if I want to think long term I might buy a particularly good breeder in order to improve the long term outlook of my herd...I mean slaves.

You cannot be a half slave or a quarter slave, you either are or are not a slave. You don't get freedom of speech, or freedom of religion or freedom of assembly or any other freedoms because....you're a slave. Am I saying that there haven't been slaves who weren't treated well or bought thier freedom? No. But having a small percentage of the slave population treated as equal to humans...I mean freemen and women I don't think is a compelling arguement on the value of slavery.

The military is not slavery - any examination of WWII in the different theatres will demonstrate this - for instance the use of Korean slave workers compared to Japanese soldiers. Basically it seems your arguement is that any profession where you have to follow orders and/or could die is slavery - does that mean you see monks, priests, firefighters, etc as slaves? Even soldiers get rights, and a soldier is a discription of a job, it ends and the person continues. When you are a slave, that is who you are as a human being - what name you have could change depending on your owner. Perhaps a comparison could be made between soldiers and bondservants in that you have pledged over a time of service in exchange for things: training, money, food, shelter, etc. But at the end of the contract, you are free to go.

Is a maid a slave? It depends. If the person is selling thier time for renumeration then they are not a slave - because the time is thiers to sell, but they still retain the commodity - themselves. I have been in servant jobs, in jobs requiring extremely high obedience - but at the end of the day I could determine what I wanted to do and after weighing up the consequences, I could leave.

Again, for those who disagree. My standing offer of $50 for any of your children you wish to sell to me. Those little nimble fingers have always been of good use in manufacturing jobs where tiny hands can reach into machinery.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Your right, there is a big difference between being a ward and a being slave.
The point I'm trying to illustrate is that, in some cases, a person is better cared for when someone else "rules" over them.
I believe that slavery, biblical slavery that is, is much different than most people imagine. Take Joseph for example. Sold by his brothers to the Eygtpians into slavery. Joseph, altough he was a "slave", retained certain rights and privledges and was given opportunity to better himself. He was allowed to continue worshiping his God.
So who is to say that a "slave" is one who is not afforded these things?.

 

[alexeeah]

Your right, there is a big difference between being a ward and a being slave.
The point I'm trying to illustrate is that, in some cases, a person is better cared for when someone else "rules" over them.
I believe that slavery, biblical slavery that is, is much different than most people imagine. Take Joseph for example. Sold by his brothers to the Eygtpians into slavery. Joseph, altough he was a "slave", retained certain rights and privledges and was given opportunity to better himself. He was allowed to continue worshiping his God.
So who is to say that a "slave" is one who is not afforded these things?.

And another difference between present day slavery and biblical slavery is that often times the person who was in slavery chose to be there. Instead of going to jail bacause they didn't the money to pay the debt they owed a person they would work it off. Also Jacob was a slave for 7 years. He chose to be a slave so that he might recieve the hand of Rachel. He got leah instead and then had to slave for 7 more years until he got the woman he originally wanted. Slavery in biblical times was more of a contract than a dictatorship. Now it is a helpless person being forced to work without pay and little food to boot. Unfortuneatly today's slavery isn't a contract. I'd like ot see an end to slavery but as the end times draw near the bible say that things like this will only get worse.

 

[repentandbelieve]

there is some people who take the risk of being a slave just to live their life...

are maids can be also identified as a slave?

I think maybe they see slavery as being a better alternative compared to the lifestyle they presently have.
I think that practically everyone who works for someone else feels like a slave at times. Sure, we are free to quit our jobs at any time (unless your in the military) but we need to earn a living. If you quit working for this person you will just have to go be a "slave" for someone else. So in a way we are slaves to the type of society we choose to live in.

 

[repentandbelieve]

And another difference between present day slavery and biblical slavery is that often times the person who was in slavery chose to be there. Instead of going to jail bacause they didn't the money to pay the debt they owed a person they would work it off. Also Jacob was a slave for 7 years. He chose to be a slave so that he might recieve the hand of Rachel. He got leah instead and then had to slave for 7 more years until he got the woman he originally wanted. Slavery in biblical times was more of a contract than a dictatorship. Now it is a helpless person being forced to work without pay and little food to boot. Unfortuneatly today's slavery isn't a contract. I'd like ot see an end to slavery but as the end times draw near the bible say that things like this will only get worse.

Thanks for your response. Jacob is a perfect example of how biblical slavery is different than what most people picture slavery as being.

 

[repentandbelieve]

And another difference between present day slavery and biblical slavery is that often times the person who was in slavery chose to be there. Instead of going to jail bacause they didn't the money to pay the debt they owed a person they would work it off. Also Jacob was a slave for 7 years. He chose to be a slave so that he might recieve the hand of Rachel. He got leah instead and then had to slave for 7 more years until he got the woman he originally wanted. Slavery in biblical times was more of a contract than a dictatorship. Now it is a helpless person being forced to work without pay and little food to boot. Unfortuneatly today's slavery isn't a contract. I'd like ot see an end to slavery but as the end times draw near the bible say that things like this will only get worse.

In biblical times it was shameful if the slaveholder mistreated his slaves.

 

[alexeeah]

In biblical times it was shameful if the slaveholder mistreated his slaves.

Very true.

 

[praying]

Will you folks please stop defending slavery, my gosh. The institution is evil. no matter where, no matter when. Period, end of story!

 

[Crispie]

Lets use some common sense here and see if Slavery is right or wrong. Is putting another man beneath you and "owning" him as property legally, right or wrong? Yeah...common sense.

 

[jgarden]

"The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example." (R. Furman, Baptist from South Carolina)

The ownership of slaves, polygamy and the massacre of whole cites (ie. Jericho) are all troubling parts of the OT that I find incompatible with Christianity. Although not condemned explicitly, Paul does encourage slave owners to treat their slaves as equals (Philemon). What was particularly disturbing during those early times was that Christian slaveowners had Christian slaves. The idea of one Christian owning another is particularly repugnant.

 

[repentandbelieve]

"The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example." (R. Furman, Baptist from South Carolina)

The ownership of slaves, polygamy and the massacre of whole cites (ie. Jericho) are all troubling parts of the OT that I find incompatible with Christianity. Although not condemned explicitly, Paul does encourage slave owners to treat their slaves as equals (Philemon). What was particularly disturbing during those early times was that Christian slaveowners had Christian slaves. The idea of one Christian owning another is particularly repugnant.

It's not particularly disturbing when you consider the way that slaves were expected to be treated. Some actually preferred over being free, perhaps because they considered it a better option than trying to make it on their own.

I\think that it's quite possible that the system they had then is a better alternative to chapter 13, welfare and overcrowded prisons.

 

[Magisterium]

First of all, the word slave is in modern language completely different from what is has meant historically.

In ancient times (and some modern) the slave was a social class just below poor. A slave differed from the modern worker only in that they could not choose for whom they would work and therefore for what rate of pay. They were bound to their employer by some social contract or another.

Therefore, slavery in the basic sense of the word (apart from hard bondage and persecution which generally accompanies slavery) is not necessarilly in and of itself morally reprehensible.

That said, persecution and unjust dealings with servants (bound or unbound) is always morally reprehensible.

 

[repentandbelieve]

First of all, the word slave is in modern language completely different from what is has meant historically.

In ancient times (and some modern) the slave was a social class just below poor. A slave differed from the modern worker only in that they could not choose for whom they would work and therefore for what rate of pay. They were bound to their employer by some social contract or another.

Therefore, slavery in the basic sense of the word (apart from hard bondage and persecution which generally accompanies slavery) is not necessarilly in and of itself morally reprehensible.

That said, persecution and unjust dealings with servants (bound or unbound) is always morally reprehensible.

I agree. Everyone should be entitled to be treated with repect and dignity. Servants, in the Jewish culture during in Biblical times were.

 

[nessa8223]

Maybe, the moral meaning behind the scripture which describes the Master and Slave, is Employer and Employee. I know I slave away and am underpaid and exploited.

Seriously though, slavery is wrong. God also asked us to be kind to one another and I honestly do believe that he was talking about people obeying their bosses and working hard for what they earn.

 

[nessa8223]

By the way, check out the achives on Oprah's site. I just recently saw an episode where she interviewed Lisa Ling about what is happening in the US today that most of us are naiive to. It was very disturbing that one man can go to another country and pay $20-40 for a young girl to enslave her. Some were even purchased to be forced to kill other people for their masters, and if they showed rmorse they we're severely beaten or killed. I will try to find a link for you all. It really is something you all should read.

 

[nessa8223]

it wont allow me to post the link... not enough posts... thats dumb... but anyways, go to oprah.com and in the search box, type in Lisa Ling. It will bring up a list of each topic she covered. It's very informative, but very graphic so please if you have kids, sendthem to another room or wait until they're sleeping.

 

[Pastor_Benjamin]

Yes, it is