Did you knew that slavery was a good thing in the bible?

The Bible does not explicitly condemn slavery. Colossians 3:22 even states, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything."

This was much debated before and during the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865), four hundred years after the Catholic Church became one of the first groups to condemn slavery.

The condemnation of slavery is one of those nonbiblical doctrines that Catholics have developed through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit over the centuries (and that Sola Scriptura Christians criticize us about).

+ Under the influence of the Catholic Church, slavery disappearedi from Western Europe by the mid-12th century

Unfortunately slavery was reborn during the age of Discovery and the Renaissance.

+ Sixty years before Columbus “discovered” the New World, Pope Eugene IV condemned the enslavement of peoples in the newly colonized Canary Islands. His bull Sicut Dudum (1435) rebuked European slavers and commanded that “all and each of the faithful of each sex, within the space of fifteen days of the publication of these letters in the place where they live, that they restore to their earlier liberty all and each person of either sex who were once residents of [the] Canary Islands . . . who have been made subject to slavery. These people are to be totally and perpetually free and are to be let go without the exaction or reception of any money.”

+ In 1462, Pius II declared slavery to be "a great crime" (magnum scelus). Note that this was 30 years before Columbus "discovered" America.

+ In 1537, Paul III forbade the enslavement of the Indians

+ Urban VIII forbade it in 1639

+ Benedict XIV forbade it in 1741

+ Pius VII demanded of the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, the suppression of the slave trade

+ Gregory XVI condemned it in 1839

+ In the Bull of Canonization of the Jesuit Peter Claver, one of the most illustrious adversaries of slavery, Pius IX branded the "supreme villainy" (summum nefas) of the slave traders.

+ Leo XIII, in 1888, addressed a letter to the Brazilian bishops, exhorting them to banish from their country the remnants of slavery -- a letter to which the bishops responded with their most energetic efforts, and some generous slave-owners by freeing their slaves in a body, as in the first ages of the Church.

For more information: see:

+ The Popes and Slavery (1996) by Joel S. Panzer

+ Catholic Encyclopedia: Slavery and Christianity

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14036a.htm

With love in Christ.

Nice try but these Scriptures do not imply that slavery is good, it just shows that slavery was a reality back then and God had guidelines even for slaves on how to conduct themselves in a godly manner

Knowing people God knew there would always be slavery in the world and these Scriptures were still useful almost two thousand years later during the African American slave trade

Joseph (a prominent Biblical character) was also sold into slavery for a few years during his lifetime, just as the Israelites were enslaved by Egypt for 400 years even though they were God's chosen people.

The Bible says that God uses trials and hardships to refine His people (See Psalm 66:10-12) and after this life they will be rewarded (Hebrews 11:35-40)

Slavery, while not what I would necessarily call a "good" thing (even in those days) was a fact of life. So, my short answer is "no,"

Polygamy (in a certain manner of speaking) was also a "good" thing for many women who would otherwise find themselves homeless, abused, raped, starved to death, or enslaved because they would otherwise have no means of support-or even feeding themselves-at a time when so many young men were dying at war! While polygamy is not condoned anywhere in Scripture, it is also not specifically condemned, although it is clearly not in keeping with God's design for marriage. Perhaps it is for this aforementioned reason that God appears to have tacitly allowed the practice at the time. Obviously, in this day and age, there is no longer a compelling reason for God to continue to allow such practice that is clearly not in keeping with God's designs as spelled out in Scripture.

It still can be, if she is very attractive, sensuous and submissive. Well, perhaps a little defiant.

:3

***

I probably shouldn't joke about slavery in a time where there are actually more slaves in the world than at any time in history.

***

Ray and Leroy: May I utter the sincere, heartfelt wish that you both get to experience slavery. You clearly need it. Geez.

They were not saying this for the master's benefit, but for the slaves. A rebellious slave was killed. What is better, a live slave or a dead one?

tip of the iceberg!

Welcome to realization. The bible is filled with all kinds of stuff like that, not just slaves.