Christian Slavery - Bad News About Christianity
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Since they were merely property, there could<br />
be no objection to branding slaves just like any<br />
other animal. Neither was there any obligation<br />
to treat them more humanely than animals in<br />
other ways. Their prices depended on supply<br />
and demand like any other commodity. Female<br />
breeders would be sold at premium prices<br />
after the importation of African slaves to North<br />
America and the Caribbean ceased.<br />
Sometimes slaves were hamstrung to stop<br />
them escaping. If they had escaped before,<br />
they could have a leg amputated to stop them<br />
doing so again. Once their working lives were<br />
over, they were put down 27 . Black slaves in<br />
the Caribbean and Americas received little education, but what they were allowed was mainly<br />
religious. Preachers tended to concentrate on biblical passages, such as those already quoted<br />
that endorsed slavery and counselled passive acceptance of it. Surviving texts show that among<br />
missionaries, the problem of preventing slaves from enjoying themselves on the Sabbath was<br />
more important than the question of slavery itself 28 .<br />
Here is John Wesley on the Law in Virginia. (Note that the officials responsible for dealing with<br />
escaped slaves are not state officials, but Church officials):<br />
The law of Virginia ordains, "That no slave shall be set free, under any pretence<br />
whatever, except for some meritorious services, to be adjudged and allowed by<br />
the governor and council: And that where any slave shall be set free by his owner,<br />
otherwise than is herein directed, the church-wardens of the parish wherein such<br />
Negro shall reside for the space of one month are hereby authorized and required,<br />
to take up and sell the said Negro, by public outcry."<br />
And Wesley on the law of Virginia allowing any method of torturing to death slaves who ran away<br />
from their owners:<br />
"After proclamation is issued against slaves that run away, it is lawful for any<br />
person whatsoever to KILL AND DESTROY such slaves, by SUCH WAYS AND<br />
MEANS AS HE SHALL THINK FIT.<br />
We have seen already some of the ways and means which have been thought fit