Slavery and the Bible

[tchalla]

What do you think about Peter 2:18:
You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you--not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.
From the NLT bible.

[Altair]

It makes sense within the context (society) in which it was written. Slavery was normal. And what if a slave was treated nicely? I guess it would still be 'Jesus sound'. The modern notion of being a free individual is just that, modern.

[tchalla]

Originally Posted by Altair

It makes sense within the context (society) in which it was written. Slavery was normal. And what if a slave was treated nicely? I guess it would still be 'Jesus sound'. The modern notion of being a free individual is just that, modern.

Slavery can never be justified... treat the slave nice? Owning someone goes against the definition of being nice... I think people justify the horrors of the bible because it threatens their belief system. Many Christians have been taught since early childhood that the bible is a good book and realizing that there are things that are evil in that book would destroy their belief system.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by tchalla

Slavery can never be justified...

I was providing context. You can't understand that biblical quote without understanding its context.

[sky]

Originally Posted by tchalla

Slavery can never be justified... Many Christians have been taught since early childhood that the bible is a good book and realizing that there are things that are evil in that book would destroy their belief system.

It doesn't destroy my belief system to acknowledge the 'evil ' in the Bible as my beliefs don't need a book written by some primitive (imo) individuals to fulfill them.

[tchalla]

Originally Posted by Altair

I was providing context. You can't understand that biblical quote without understanding its context.

There is not much to explain, it clearly acknowledges slavery, supports it, and it also wants slaves to obey their masters even when they mistreat them. Just telling slaves to accept that they are the property of someone is bad, it gets worse when it tells them to accept mistreatment. This book has been used to enslave people and to brainwash them into not rebelling.

[tchalla]

Originally Posted by sky

It doesn't destroy my belief system to acknowledge the 'evil ' in the Bible as my beliefs don't need a book written by some primitive (imo) individuals to fulfill them.

It is good that you acknowledge the evil in the bible... but I am not sure how you build your belief system if your holy book says something that you don't agree with. But don't worry because I am a Buddhist and I found bad things about Buddhism too.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by tchalla

There is not much to explain, it clearly acknowledges slavery, supports it, and it also wants slaves to obey their masters even when they mistreat them.

Which makes it a book of its time. Slavery was normal back then.

Lets also not forget Jesus said his 'kingdom' was 'not of this world', one is to be 'free' in the hereafter with God, and in this world one has to suffer and prepare for the end times. Meanwhile, one has to 'give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar', obey masters, etc.

[sky]

Originally Posted by tchalla

It is good that you acknowledge the evil in the bible... but I am not sure how you build your belief system if your holy book says something that you don't agree with. But don't worry because I am a Buddhist and I found bad things about Buddhism too.

It's not my 'Holy' book, I see the Bible as a guide book.

I also follow the philosophy of Buddhism.

[Miss Hepburn]

''I found bad things about Buddhism too.''

tchalla, you are new here ---I hope it's not a mission of yours or an agenda to go from Christianity, then Buddhism to chip away at their beliefs?
Sounds pretty familiar to another person that came to do that and is no longer here.