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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

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