The Bible Said Owning Slaves Is Okay If They Come from Neighboring Nations … I Wonder How Mexico and Canada Feel About That

I find human inconsistency fascinating.  The ability for the civilized mind to endure cognitive dissonance is breathtaking.  For example, it is perfectly Biblical and accepted by God to own slaves and enslave the nations around you.  Leviticus 25:44 says, “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.”

Thus, the horrific bigots of the late 19th century that believed slavery was perfectly acceptable had solid Biblical footing and yet, as Americans, we reject it because our culture rejects it.  I believe completely that the Bible is wrong on the issue of slavery.  I believe the concept of owning another human being as chattel is inherently evil, whether it applies to slaves or spouses.

When was the last time, though, that you saw people who believed in the literal interpretation of the Word of God standing outside and publicly advocating for the return of slavery?  This illustrates my point that much of what we call religion is nothing but a regional brand of homogenized patriotism wrapped in a flag.

We, as a society, made a choice and decided the Bible was wrong on slavery.  It isn’t popular to say this, and a lot of evangelicals would deny it because by refusing to acknowledge this inherent moral contradiction, they can continue to condemn equal rights for women (there are a lot of denominations that believe a woman’s place is in the kitchen), equal rights for gays, equal rights for animals (which we now know are sentient, in many cases), etc.

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2. Does God Reward Nations Economically Based Upon Their Religious Beliefs?
3. Don’t Spend Money to Feel Better About Yourself
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5. Sometimes, I Feel Like I Live in Oakfield from Fable II (or “The Utility of Home Ownership”)
6. Mail Bag: Does Owning Nice Things Make You Materialistic?
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