Who Killed Slavery?

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Posted Jan 10th 2008 9:00PM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Christianity, History, Controversy, Atheism

Isn't it remarkable that atheists, who did virtually nothing to oppose slavery, condemn Christians, who are the ones who abolished it?

Consider atheist Sam Harris, who blames Christianity for supporting slavery. Harris is right that slavery existed among the Old Testament Jews, and Paul even instructs slaves to obey their masters. During the civil war both sides quoted the Bible. We know all this. (Yawn, yawn.)

But slavery pre-dated Christianity by centuries and even millennia. As we read from sociologist Orlando Patterson's work, all known cultures had slavery. For centuries, slavery needed no defenders because it had no critics. Atheists who champion ancient Greece and pre-Christian Rome somehow seem to forget that those empires were based on large-scale enslavement.

Atheist Michael Shermer says Christians are "late comers" to the movement against slavery. But if this is true, who were the early comers? There weren't any. Shermer probably thinks the Christians only got around to opposing slavery in the modern era.

Wrong. Slavery was mostly eradicated from Western civilization--then called Christendom--between the fourth and the tenth century. The Greco-Roman institution of slavery gave way to serfdom. Now serfdom has its problems but at least the serf is not a "human tool" and cannot be bought and sold like property. So slavery was ended twice in Western civilization, first in the medieval era and then again in the modern era.

In the American South, Christianity proved to be the solace of the oppressed. As historian Eugene Genovese documents in Roll, Jordan, Roll, when black slaves sought to find dignity during the dark night of slavery, they didn't turn to Marcus Aurelius or David Hume; they turned to the Bible. When they sought hope and inspiration for liberation, they found it not in Voltaire or D'Holbach but in the Book of Exodus.

The anti-slavery movements led by Wilberforce in England and abolitionists in America were dominated by Christians. These believers reasoned that since we are all created equal in the eyes of God, no one has the right to rule another without consent. This is the moral basis not only of anti-slavery but also of democracy.

Jefferson was in some ways the least orthodox and the most skeptical of the founders. Yet when he condemned slavery he found himself using biblical language. In Notes on the State of Virginia Jefferson warned that those who would enslave people should reflect that "the Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest." Jefferson famously added, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep for ever."

But wasn't Jefferson also a man of science? Yes he was, and it was on the basis of the latest science of his day that Jefferson expressed his convictions about black inferiority. Citing the discoveries of modern science, Jefferson noted that "there are varieties in the race of man, distinguished by their powers both of body and of mind...as I see to be the case with races of other animals." Blacks, Jefferson continued, lack the powers of reason that are evident in whites and even in native Indians. While atheists today like to portray themselves as paragons of equal dignity, Jefferson's scientific and skeptical outlook contributed not to his anti-slavery sentiments but to his racism. Somehow Harris and Shermer neglect to point this out.

In the end the fact remains that the only movements that opposed slavery in principle were mobilized in the West, and they were overwhelmingly led and populated by Christians. Sadly the West had to use force to stop slavery in other cultures, such as the Muslim slave trade off the coast of Africa. In some quarters the campaign to eradicate slavery still goes on.

So who killed slavery? The Christians did, while everyone else generally stood by and watched.

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Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 41)

Previous 15 Comments | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. Christians were commanded to go into the world to make disciples for Christ,not to go and enslave people,or to go and enslave people and then make them disciples.This is one of the tragedies of Christian history,that we enslaved Africans(i am an african) instead of preaching the word to them.Thank God,some of us remembered our prime directive,and stopped slavery,before it messed up Christianity.

The story of Christianity and slavery shows just how things go wrong,when the Christian's Prime Directive(Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all men)
is ignored.

aniekan thomas at 11:35AM on Jan 11th 2008

92. Thank you, mike! Thomas Paine was indeed considered an atheist in his time. But more importantly, supporters and haters alike called him a rationalist. Now if that isn't revealing...

And brian, why don't you travel around the world and do a comparison survey. I guarantee you, "the world" doesn't think atheists are a perversion, but it knows that you born-again evangelical christians are totally nuts. The only ones who don't think that they are, are, you guessed it, born-again evangelical christians! It must be tough living in such a small cage.

Aniekan, could you please just post links, rather than these super-long pastes?

emma at 11:37AM on Jan 11th 2008

93. When I was a young man every fundamentalist preacher in the United States used the very same bible to preach racial separatism. Now their target is gays and this obsequious little invertebrate is still attempting to build a straw adversary called an 'atheist'.

Being against an 'ism', theism, first does not constitute another 'ism' and second does not in any way imply organization.

In order for a-theism to be a uniform belief, it would have to be called atheism-ism.

There is no such word and no such organization, not formal, not ad hoc. It's a dominionist Big Lie in the grand tradition of the Nazis they either consciously or unconsciously imitate.

Every blog I've read so far has the same theme: atheists are organized, evil and out to get christians and republicans.

On at least one, homosexuals were specifically tied into the same attempt to create an üntermenchen class for his party to persecute.

It may be significant he's moving to the civil war at this time since his blogs are undisguised attempts at fomenting another one.

From what he presents, he is atavistic and contemptuous of our nation and its integrity.

To my ear he shouts Fire! in a crowded theatre in every post. He attempts to incite to riot and owes a lot to the likes of George Lincoln Rockwell and David Dukes with perhaps the cumulative wisdom of that adolescent fop and con boy, the Maharaj Ji.

His single thought, that he can build a caste of uncleans from the straw army of a-theist-ists and loyal patriotic and productive gay americans is all you'll read here.

Atheist-ists are organized
Atheist-ists are evil
Atheist-ists are democrats
Atheist-ists are gay
Atheist-ists are scientists
Atheist-ists have no moral compass

Science is evil
Knowledge is evil
Being informed is evil

and look at the dregs he attracts here who would rather hate than prosper.

They all hate gays and atheist-ists but hate each other nearly as much.

This man presents as an alien. He may be here legally but his mindset is that of an enemy of the United States Of America. What he preaches here is destruction of our nation.

He is literally attempting creating a RACE or ethnic group out of atheist-ists, democrats and homosexuals - he demonizes 'them' all equally and without restraint.

A caste of evil unclean people.

This piece of foriegn scum is NO friend of my America and there is no way to hedge what he says. He's a racist and paints it on his forehead.

I don't give a damn if he's here legally or not, he is an enemy of democracy and the American Way, perhaps one of THE enemy.

I am firmly convinced he wants to foment civil war in our country. I know of no other possible outcome of acceptance of his traitorous dogma.

He's a racist, no different from the Westboro christians that persecute dead soldiers' families on the psychotic pretext that they were gay if they died.

They just build a straw race and start trolling for a lynch mob.

Clif Kuplen at 11:38AM on Jan 11th 2008

94. Thank God,some of us remembered our prime directive,and stopped slavery,before it messed up Christianity.
____________
Veeeeery debatable. Point in case: brian.

emma at 11:40AM on Jan 11th 2008

95. aniekan thomas,
I heartily disagree with the "preaching the word to them". There's something very disgusting about invading cultures and converting them. This is always done under the guise of offering relief.

Mokele-Mbembe at 11:41AM on Jan 11th 2008

96. 81. brian thinks intellect is garbage

Mokele-Mbembe at 11:20AM on Jan 11th 2008
xxx

self referencing and reiterative statement.

Which reminds me - don't ever buy a Turing car - lousy brakes!

esoteric little computer gag there...

Clif Kuplen at 11:42AM on Jan 11th 2008

97. I was wondering what percentage of slaves could read back then GG.

danny at 11:46AM on Jan 11th 2008

98. DD's hindsight is blurrier than a Gaussian convolution viewed through nonprescription stained-glass spectacles.

Mokele-Mbembe at 11:56AM on Jan 11th 2008

99. 93. I have to say that one of the most disingenuous things I've ever read in my life is Dinesh's notion that "slaves turned to the bible for solace." Say what? When exactly was that? Considering that it was ILLEGAL for slaves to be educated, how exactly did that work?

xxxx

thanks for bringing that up. I damn near choked when I read that.

I had this vision of the slave going back to the overstuffed leather chair in the library in back of his shotgun shack, donning his silk batik smoking jacket and ascot, pouring himself a snifter of VVSOP cognac, filling his prized meerschaum with fine hand rubbed Latakia-Burley tobacco, and finding solace in his moroccan bound gilt edged volumes of Marcus Aurelius and Ptolemy. Then perhaps a lively sarabande at the harpsichord, who knows?

Does this guy think he's in a television show? That is one freakin' alien brain. I've known lots of people from india but sane ones, nothing even close to him!

Clif Kuplen at 11:58AM on Jan 11th 2008

100. Hardly any slaves could read Danny. As a matter of fact, many states (including Jefferson's Virginia) specifically prohibited the educating of slaves. Case in point:

Virginia.—Revised Code of 1819: “That all meetings or assemblages of slaves, or free negroes or mulattoes mixing and associating with such slaves at any meeting-house or houses, &c., in the night; or at any SCHOOL OR SCHOOLS for teaching them READING OR WRITING, either in the day or night, under whatsoever pretext, shall be deemed and considered an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY; and any justice of a county, &c., wherein such assemblage shall be, either from his own knowledge or the information of others, of such unlawful assemblage, &c., may issue his warrant, directed to any sworn officer or officers, authorizing him or them to enter the house or houses where such unlawful assemblages, &c., may be, for the purpose of apprehending or dispersing such slaves, and to inflict corporal punishment on the offender or offenders, at the discretion of any justice of the peace, not exceeding twenty lashes.” (1 Rev. Code, 424-5.)

GG313 at 12:01PM on Jan 11th 2008

101. Man! For once I wish I could read something (either from Dinesh or in the subsequent comments) that is worth remembering.

You folks really need to find new hobbies.

If you're an atheist and STILL debating Christians over the validity of their beliefs then you really are an idiot. Be honest, now. Are you really trying to convince the Christians or yourself about your atheism?

Stop wasting your time trying to convert the dough-headed zealots who would fall for any brand of dogma that promised to keep them safe and grant them entrance into utopia when they're dead.

Please! Atheists, get smart! Spend your time doing something FAR MORE PRODUCTIVE!

Need a suggestion?

Here's one:

Petition your politicians to remove all references to God from all official US government documents and from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Atheists, rather than wasting your energy debating Dinesh (the powerless puppet that he is) over who was MORE responsible for slavery in the US 150 years ago, try filling your representative's email box with petitions to remove all references to God, the Ten Commandments, and Christianity from all government issues.

Stop wasting your time here. Do something REAL for once!

Paul at 12:02PM on Jan 11th 2008

102. Man! For once I wish I could read something (either from Dinesh or in the subsequent comments) that is worth remembering.

You folks really need to find new hobbies.

If you're an atheist and STILL debating Christians over the validity of their beliefs then you really are an idiot. Be honest, now. Are you really trying to convince the Christians or yourself about your atheism?

Stop wasting your time trying to convert the dough-headed zealots who would fall for any brand of dogma that promised to keep them safe and grant them entrance into utopia when they're dead.

Please! Atheists, get smart! Spend your time doing something FAR MORE PRODUCTIVE!

Need a suggestion?

Here's one:

Petition your politicians to remove all references to God from all official US government documents and from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Atheists, rather than wasting your energy debating Dinesh (the powerless puppet that he is) over who was MORE responsible for slavery in the US 150 years ago, try filling your representative's email box with petitions to remove all references to God, the Ten Commandments, and Christianity from all government issues.

Stop wasting your time here. Do something REAL for once!

Paul at 12:02PM on Jan 11th 2008

103. Not sure why that turned up twice. My sincerest apologies to all.

Paul at 12:05PM on Jan 11th 2008

104. Isn't it remarkable that atheists, who did virtually nothing to oppose slavery, condemn Christians, who are the ones who abolished it? - DD

Yeah and rocket scientists stood by and did nothing, and computer programmers stood by and did nothing, and the astronauts stood by and did nothing, and rock stars stood by and did nothing....

Yes, remarkable Dinesh, and so is your seemingly bottomless ignorance, not to mention you transparent intellectual dishonesty.

fabio at 12:11PM on Jan 11th 2008

105. http://www.christian-thinktank.com/

aniekan thomas at 12:12PM on Jan 11th 2008

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.