Regardless of the other atrocities caused by religion, slavery is the most atrocious act that the United States of America has ever practiced because of religion. Although the act is now abhorred by the American population, it was one the most historically important stepping stones that made the United States the country it is today. The parts that slavery and religion, namely Christianity, play are historically important on an enormous scale due to Christianity endorsing slavery, slavery was the main cause of the American Civil War, and it gave a reason for the beginning of true Civil Rights after the end of the Civil War. Historically there have always been slavery, but there has never been such an endorsement for it before Christianity.
…show more content…
Numerous early Church Fathers had stated they condone slavery, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas stating “Slavery among men is natural, for some are naturally slaves according to the Philosopher. Now 'slavery belongs to the right of nations, ' as Isidore states. Therefore the right of nations is a natural right.” (Christianity 1). Slavery has been further condoned throughout the Bible in multiple renditions of New and Old Testaments. In the Old Testament’s Leviticus 25:44-45 it is stated “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.” This rendition of the Old Testament gives ‘buyers’ a guideline to follow in regards to buying slaves and is further expressed in Genesis 9:25-26 and Exodus 21:2-6, 20-21. The renditions of the New Testament are known to be worse than the Old Testaments in regards to slavery. The New Testament commands those in slavery to regard their ‘masters’ as high as God in many ways. Such as in Ephesians 6:5-6, “Slaves, obey …show more content…
The act of slavery drew a wedge between the American people, dividing the country between the North and South causing the Civil War. Although many acts for slavery brewed the storm that lead to the American Civil War. One such act was the Wilmot Proviso. On August 8, 1846 David Wilmot, a Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania, endorsed the annexation of Texas as a slave state. The Wilmot Proviso poked an issue that had been festering since the temporary solution, the Missouri Compromise of 1819-1821. Although the Proviso was withheld through President James K. Polk convincing Wilmot, it had already stoked the fire provoking secession and the Civil War. Another act against slavery that contributed to the Civil War was the Compromise of 1850’s Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act allowed slave catchers to kidnap liberated blacks from ‘free’ states and deny the alleged fugitive’s right for a trial by jury. In addition to slave catchers, Federal Marshal could force citizens to participate in the hunting and capturing of runaways. Citizens who violated the Federal Marshals command would be fined $1,000 and imprisoned up to six months. The Fugitive Slave Act caused many people to rise up against it, such as a mob in October 1850 who were only stopped by military force. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote out his astonishment of the Act and the audacity of
Numerous early Church Fathers had stated they condone slavery, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas stating “Slavery among men is natural, for some are naturally slaves according to the Philosopher. Now 'slavery belongs to the right of nations, ' as Isidore states. Therefore the right of nations is a natural right.” (Christianity 1). Slavery has been further condoned throughout the Bible in multiple renditions of New and Old Testaments. In the Old Testament’s Leviticus 25:44-45 it is stated “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.” This rendition of the Old Testament gives ‘buyers’ a guideline to follow in regards to buying slaves and is further expressed in Genesis 9:25-26 and Exodus 21:2-6, 20-21. The renditions of the New Testament are known to be worse than the Old Testaments in regards to slavery. The New Testament commands those in slavery to regard their ‘masters’ as high as God in many ways. Such as in Ephesians 6:5-6, “Slaves, obey …show more content…
The act of slavery drew a wedge between the American people, dividing the country between the North and South causing the Civil War. Although many acts for slavery brewed the storm that lead to the American Civil War. One such act was the Wilmot Proviso. On August 8, 1846 David Wilmot, a Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania, endorsed the annexation of Texas as a slave state. The Wilmot Proviso poked an issue that had been festering since the temporary solution, the Missouri Compromise of 1819-1821. Although the Proviso was withheld through President James K. Polk convincing Wilmot, it had already stoked the fire provoking secession and the Civil War. Another act against slavery that contributed to the Civil War was the Compromise of 1850’s Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act allowed slave catchers to kidnap liberated blacks from ‘free’ states and deny the alleged fugitive’s right for a trial by jury. In addition to slave catchers, Federal Marshal could force citizens to participate in the hunting and capturing of runaways. Citizens who violated the Federal Marshals command would be fined $1,000 and imprisoned up to six months. The Fugitive Slave Act caused many people to rise up against it, such as a mob in October 1850 who were only stopped by military force. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote out his astonishment of the Act and the audacity of