Slavery

[Dodge_pursuit]

Hi.

Today I read in the Catechism where it clearly declares that slavery, the owning of one human person by another, is gravely wrong and an insult to human dignity. I personally agree.

But how does this reconcile with scripture, wherein slavery is accepted and even carefully regulated?

For example:

*“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed."

“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money."

“When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth."* Exodus 21

And the New Testament is no different:

*“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Ephesians 6

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.”* 1 Peter

I don’t understand. God never said “slavery is wrong,” when he was giving commandments. Some say, “well that was the culture at the time so God allowed it.”

But why didn’t Jesus or the apostles say “Stop owning people,” or words to that effect, if God did not approve of it? They mentioned many less important things, such as eating meats, giving to the collection plate, women speaking in church, speaking in tongues, gossip, etc…

The southern states quoted the bible when defending slavery in the pre civil war United States. Which is correct, the bible or the catechism?

Thanks.

 

[dallas_r]

God works in mysterious ways. I know that isn’t the answer you are looking for though, I am confused on this too. I hope someone wiser than I can answer your question.

 

[e_c]

There is a spectrum of slavery. For instance, we force some criminals into community service as punishment, just like in Scripture. The CCC is condemning the extreme end on the strict side, viz., chattel slavery.

It was not the prerogative of Christ or the apostles to fix all social ills. Leading a slave revolt (if they are really wrongfully enslaved) is not always advisable and distracts from the initial proclamation of the Gospel.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I think the answer is that moral doctrine develops over time. Slavery was commonplace in the ancient world. Most people were slaves. Christ simply could not end it abruptly. Christianity had to develop to the point where people would see slavery as an evil and something to be ended.

 

[GEddie]

Slavery existed for something like 99% of human time. Even in places where formal legalities eliminated it, societal institutions (such as sharecropping) were emplaced to maintain it in all but name.

We have not given up slavery because we became better people, but because modern economics have made it no longer desirable. If the “back to nature collapse” that some survivor types seem to long for, were to occur, some forms of slavery would reappear within two generations.

ICXC NIKA

 

[e_c]

You have to realise that the Bible is an inspired text but is written by men. Therefore, the perceptions of the individual men are reflected in the texts they wrote. For example, when Saint Paul says gentile converts only need to abstain from blood, meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality, that was his opinion. It very well might be the right one but it is his none the less. There have been and are many people who disagree with Saint Paul on this particular issue.

???

 

[7_Sorrows]

Slavery has existed for thousands of years. It took civilization thousands of years to reach the point to do away with slavery. Slaves were captured and used for many things in the ancient world - building and farming. They saw it was necessary. Unfortunately, ISIS has reinstituted slavery in the areas they have conquered.

All men are created equal. Unfortunately, evil exists in our world and for thousands of years it was not believed that men are created equal.
The slave trade existed for a long time before it became unacceptable.
Societies and cultures evolve and thankfully, the slave trade ended.
America was not alone.

 

[Viki63]

It hasn’t ended… It has just become socially unacceptable in the Western world.
Here is an article on a government website on how to identify and help victims of human trafficking.

 

[Reepicheep]

To address the OP:
The Old testament laws regarding slavery do not mean God condoned slavery. The laws were there to put limits on what could be done to a slave, and to give the slave at least some rights that had to be respected by the owner.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

It hasn’t ended… It has just become socially unacceptable in the Western world.

That is a very good point. Christianity ended slavery in the Christian world. It continues to exist in various non-Christian areas. We used to talk about “Christendom” or “Western Civilization.” Those terms have become unfashionable today, but Christianity changed the world for the better.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

There is a spectrum of slavery. For instance, we force some criminals into community service as punishment, just like in Scripture. The CCC is condemning the extreme end on the strict side, viz., chattel slavery.

The fact that God gives his people the green light to purchase slaves from neighboring nations; the fact that he said slaves could be raped, manslaughtered, and blackmailed; the fact that God multiple times calls slaves property, these facts should dispel the fiction of chattel slavery versus Biblical slavery. Slavery is cruel in the Bible and outside of it.

It was not the prerogative of Christ or the apostles to fix all social ills. Leading a slave revolt (if they are really wrongfully enslaved) is not always advisable and distracts from the initial proclamation of the Gospel.

If God were silent on the matter of slavery it would have been better than what it’s claimed he did say. He approved of its use and gave great detail on how to invoke misery and cruelty upon slaves. There is no conflict between proclaiming the Gospel and not telling people that it’s ok to own and harm slaves.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

I think the answer is that moral doctrine develops over time. Slavery was commonplace in the ancient world. Most people were slaves. Christ simply could not end it abruptly. Christianity had to develop to the point where people would see slavery as an evil and something to be ended.

Catholics are supposed to avoid moral relativism, not use it as an excuse for advocating the practice for millennia.

Also, and this is key, the claim that God had to consider that there was slavery all around withers under the very mildest of scrutiny:

1. When God gave his detailed instructions on how to acquire and use slaves his people hadn’t owned slaves for over four centuries.
In Exodus 20-24, where God first gave those instructions to the Hebrews, they were in the desert having escaped the enslavement of the Egyptians. Depending the verse they had been enslaved for 400, 430, or 450 years. Slaves don’t own slaves, so that means they hadn’t practiced it in all of that time. Not only that, they witnessed firsthand the cruelty that comes with being enslaved.

In short, none of the people in that desert had ever owned a slave and thus God did not have to work around any ongoing enslavement.

2. In numerous ways God had no trouble telling his people to not do things that other cultures did, and to do things other cultures didn’t do.
God told his people what to eat and not eat, what to wear, to honor the Sabbath, and numerous other regulations. To say God had to let the Hebrews enslave people because this tribe or that tribe ignores all the various ways God set a unique path for his people.

3. In Leviticus 20:23 God in no uncertain terms says not to follow the practices of neighboring nations.
“You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.” Apologists always ignore this passage when the topic of Biblical slavery comes up. Either he didn’t mean what he said, or God sees no problem with slavery. Based on other passages the latter seems more likely.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

You have to realise that the Bible is an inspired text but is written by men. Therefore, the perceptions of the individual men are reflected in the texts they wrote. For example, when Saint Paul says gentile converts only need to abstain from blood, meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality, that was his opinion. It very well might be the right one but it is his none the less. There have been and are many people who disagree with Saint Paul on this particular issue.

These directives are said to come directly from God in Exodus and Leviticus – straight from his mouth. The instruction In Exodus are in the same speech where he first laid out the 10 Commandments. Was he misquoted? Did he not say what he said? Did Moses make it up? The Catechism says all scripture is true in either a literal sense or one of three non-literal senses. If it’s not literal, then it what specific non-literal way is it true?

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

Slavery existed for something like 99% of human time. Even in places where formal legalities eliminated it, societal institutions (such as sharecropping) were emplaced to maintain it in all but name.

The problem isn’t so much what humans do, but what God says humans can do with no fear of punishment. It doesn’t make sense that God, supposedly he who can’t do evil, would tell someone they specifically can do evil.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

To address the OP:
The Old testament laws regarding slavery do not mean God condoned slavery. The laws were there to put limits on what could be done to a slave, and to give the slave at least some rights that had to be respected by the owner.

If one gives instructions on how to do an evil act he certainly is condoning it. My go-to analogy is imagine if there was a town that said you can capture and rape women, but you couldn’t rape them on Wednesdays. No sane person would accept the notion that the elders of that town weren’t condoning the practice, nor would we call them good by saying they could only be harmed 6 of 7 days (like slaves in the Bible having the Sabbath off).

Also the limit of “rights” for a slave aren’t much more than only being beaten so hard that he or she lingers a day before dying as opposed to dying the same day.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

To address the OP:
The Old testament laws regarding slavery do not mean God condoned slavery. The laws were there to put limits on what could be done to a slave, and to give the slave at least some rights that had to be respected by the owner.

It’s almost a mockery to use the word rights to describe any benefits the instructions God gives in handling slaves.

It’s about the same as the South Carolina Slave Code which said in part:

XXXVII. And whereas cruelty is not only highly unbecoming those who profess themselves Christians, but is odious in the eyes of all men who have any sense of virtue or humanity; therefore to restrain and prevent barbarity being exercised toward slaves, Be it enacted, That if any person or persons whosoever, shall willfully murder his own slave, or the slave of another person, every such person shall upon conviction thereof, forfeit and pay the sum of £700 current money, and shall be rendered, and is hereby declared altogether and forever incapable of holding, exercising, enjoying or receiving the profits of any office, place or employment civil or military within this Province: … And if any person shall on a sudden heat of passion, or by undue correction, kill his own slave or the slave of any person, he shall forfeit the sum of £350 current money, And in case any person or persons shall wilfully cut out the tongue, put out the eye, castrate or cruelly scald, burn, or deprive any slave of any limb or member, or shall inflict any other cruel punishment, other than by whipping or beating with a horsewhip, cow-skin, switch or small stick, or by putting irons on, or confining or imprisoning such slave; every such person shall for every such offence, forfeit the sum of £100 current money.
XXXVIII. That in case any person in this Province, who shall be owner, or who shall have the care government or charge of any slave, or slaves, shall deny, neglect or refuse to allow such slave or slaves under his or her charge, sufficient cloathing, covering or food, it shall and may be lawfull for any person or persons, on behalf of such slave or slaves, to make complaint to the next neighbouring justice in the parish where such slave or slaves live, or are usually employed; and if there shall be no justice in the parish, then to the next justice in nearest parish: and the said justice shall summon the party against whom such complaint shall be made, and shall enquire of, hear and determine the same: and if the said justice shall find the said complaint to be true, or that such person will not exculpate or clear himself from the charge, by his or her own oath, which such person shall be at liberty to do in all cases where positive proof is not given of the offence, such justice shall and may make such orders upon the same for the relief of such slave or slaves, as he in his discretion shall think fit, and shall and may let and impose a fine or penalty on any person who shall offend in the premises, in any sum not exceeding £20 current money, for each offence.

---

XLIV. And whereas many owners of slaves, and others who have the care, management and overseeing of slaves, do confine them so closely to hard labour; that they have not sufficient time for natural rest—Be it therefore enacted, That if any owner of slaves, or other person who shall have the care, management, or overseeing of any slaves, shall work or put any such slave or slaves to labour, more than 15 hours in 24 hours, from the 25th day of March to the 25th day of September, or more than 14 hours in 24 hours, from the 25th day of September to the 25th day of March; every such person shall forfeit any sum not exceeding or under £20, nor under £5 current money, for every time he, she or they shall offend herein, at the discretion of the justice before whom the complaint shall be made.

Both Bible slavery and 19th century U.S. slavery were remarkably cruel, and any protections on the slave were minor at best.

 

[Dodge_pursuit]

There is a spectrum of slavery. For instance, we force some criminals into community service as punishment, just like in Scripture. The CCC is condemning the extreme end on the strict side, viz., chattel slavery.

It was not the prerogative of Christ or the apostles to fix all social ills. Leading a slave revolt (if they are really wrongfully enslaved) is not always advisable and distracts from the initial proclamation of the Gospel.

No one said “lead a slave revolt.”

How about* “Thou shalt not own people”*?

Or how about Jesus saying, *“You have heard it said, don’t mistreat a slave. But I say to you, do not buy and sell others at all.”
*
They say Jesus “raised the bar” on moral teaching, right?

I mean, how can God be concerned about “adultery in your heart” if you look at an attractive person but not care at all about people bought and sold like property. Exodus actually says, “…he is your property,” when referring to a slave.

???

 

[Dodge_pursuit]

I think the answer is that moral doctrine develops over time. Slavery was commonplace in the ancient world. Most people were slaves. Christ simply could not end it abruptly. Christianity had to develop to the point where people would see slavery as an evil and something to be ended.

Exactly. Human morality evolves over time. We once burned witches but now we don’t. We once denied women the vote but now we don’t.

But God’s morality is supposed to be once for all time, uttered and perfect in the first draft, no?

Bible says kill witches, kill apostates, kill adulterers, kill homosexuals, kill people who work on the Sabbath… why don’t we do it? The bible is the same, WE, as a species, are evolving, getting better.

 

[NeedImprovement]

Hi.

Today I read in the Catechism where it clearly declares that slavery, the owning of one human person by another, is gravely wrong and an insult to human dignity. I personally agree.

But how does this reconcile with scripture, wherein slavery is accepted and even carefully regulated?

. . .

And the New Testament is no different . . . Thanks.

Father John Hardon S.J., considers the New Testament to be a type of turning point where new principles of justice and charity were introduced which gradually removed slavery as an institution from Christian nations ; a key word being, * “institution”*.

The definition of slavery he presents in his Modern Catholic Dictionary appears to be in at least partial agreement with most of the opinions which have been posted on this thread :

SLAVERY.
The subjection of a human being to another as a captive of war, descent from such captivity, oppression by the state, or by purchase. As an institution, it existed from the earliest times, as may be seen from certain restrictions in Mosaic legislation. The New Testament accepted the fact of slavery but introduced new principles of justice and charity that gradually removed the institution from Christian nations. But slavery, as a state of servitude by which a person is the property of another human being, has by no means disappeared. It is a fact of life in countries where doctrinaire theory, e.g., Marxism, deprives people of all rights that are not consistent with the policy of the State. (Etym. Latin sclavus, from Sclavus, Slav, from reduction to slavery of many Slavic peoples of Central Europe.)

Zoom with a wider lens a minute guys:

Prostitution is one of the oldest trades that exist. But right from it’s beginning, it has never been something women really wanted to do. Most of them are forced into it as a means of survival; due in large part to the fact that there have always been wealthy, less than charitable types, who were willing to exploit the prostitutes for their own personal pleasure.

Prostitution is also a type of slavery - where the prostitute becomes the property of the other person to be used when and how they wish.

Out of all slavery’s ugliness comes a very striking analogy where our personal sin is concerned ; when we become slaves to sin. We need a Redeemer.

 

[Dodge_pursuit]

1, As unfortunate as it sometimes is, a person decides to be a prostitute. One exception is SLAVERY, under which a woman born a slave becomes a “female servant” whether she wants to or not.

1. So, slavery is a metaphor of our situation regarding sin and salvation? So it’s good to allow millions of innocent human beings to be born, live and die slaves, just so others might have a visual “reminder” of sin?

That’s a great idea! I doubt it would take an all-knowing, wise, loving creator to come up with a cruel plan like that, do you? Honestly? Then why get rid of it? It might be better (spiritually) if we re-instituted slavery as it was in 1850!