Slavery

There has been much research into the historical relationship between the world’s religions and the practice of slavery. Many historians have noted that both the Old and New Testaments recognize and condone the use of slavery under specific circumstances. The Bible was actually used during the American Civil War by both slaveholders and abolitionists to justify their views on slavery and whether or not it is legal and pleasing to God. The King James Version of the Bible has one familiar quotation which appears in two separate chapters. This quotation is in regards to a deliverance from slavery which is also in effect a deliverance from sin in the speaker’s eyes.

The “Curse of Ham” has for years been used to justify black slavery in America as well as in other countries. The story of Ham has been interpreted by many as God’s condemnation of the black race. This condemnation is a direct result of a crime against family and honor. The basis for Ham as the origin of the black race would depend on the belief that all of humanity descended directly from the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth. These three sons, along with Noah, were chosen to have survived the Great Flood according to the Christian Bible. It is believed that because Noah’s son Ham saw him drunk and naked, and looked upon his nakedness that Noah cursed Ham and made him and his descendents to be servants to men. Earlier passages of the bible point to the fact that Ham was different from his brothers due to his darker complexion. This is why many people believe that African blacks were given to them to be servants, without value and simply put on earth to serve others.

The Hebrew Bible has specific rules that allow slavery, while forbidding anyone to return a runaway slave. In one passage of the Jewish Bible, a Jew was obligated to fee his Jewish slave after six years of servitude. Non-Jewish slaves however, are believed to have been allowed to be slaves for life. It is however, not clear if this was a common practice or if it was a voluntary action on the part of the slave. If a slave owner were to beat a slave to the point of death, then that master is also to be killed.

In many circumstances, Islam also allows slavery. Slaves may be permitted to purchase their own freedom. The prophet Muhammad owned a multitude of slaves, one of which bore him a son. Slavery is endorsed by the Qur’an which also provides for emancipation of a slave as a means of remorse for sins.

Hinduism very explicitly prohibits selling, purchasing or any subjugation of human beings either male or female. There is a specific difference made between a slave and a servant. Servants enter into service of their own free will. Slaves are forced into servitude.

Throughout history there have been many instances of slavery throughout the world. Whether or not a specific religion believes in slavery or permits it has been debated many times. Although there are notations of slavery in both the Christian and Jewish Bibles, many believe that as times changed so have the allowances that these Bibles hold. Although today slavery is still evident in many countries, it is not acceptable in places where it was once practiced freely. Whether or not a specific religion allows slavery, society today has a completely different view from several centuries ago when slavery was considered to be part of our daily living. Slavery today is abolished in many areas, despite what is written in the religious text of those areas.

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