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From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Re: What does it mean to be a Christian?
Message-ID: <137@unc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-May-85 23:12:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.137
Posted: Fri May  3 23:12:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 4-May-85 09:12:57 EDT
References: <5802@duke.UUCP> <whuxl.614>
Reply-To: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Organization: CS Dept., U. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lines: 20
Xref: watmath net.religion:6820 net.religion.christian:694
Summary: 

In article <whuxl.614> orb@whuxl.UUCP (TIM SEVENER) writes:
> 
>When this country was debating slavery many Christians were active in trying
>to abolish it, but unfortunately there were also many who argued slavery
>was "supported by the Bible".

The pro-slavery Christians ignored the Hebrew laws regulating "slavery".
Under Mosaic law, a man could sell himself into slavery (e.g. to pay depts)
but for at most SEVEN YEARS.  There was no such thing as lifetime slavery.
Furthermore, children of slaves were free.  Such servitude is more of
a contractual agreement, reminicient of the status of many Irish immigrants
when they entered this country.  In the Bible, there is no assumption
of a permanent servant class, race or nation.

This is an example of people reading into the Bible what they want to believe.
This is why some churches are uncomfortable when laymen try to interpret
the Bible.  No doubt many pro-slavers would have insisted that they received
their interpretation by divine inspiration.

	Frank Silbermann