Chris Weimer

I just proposed over at CF that we should get rid of Paul's (Peter will be next - harder time to convince Catholics, and Chili ) letters. I expect turmoil to ensue.

Chris Weimer

No? Why not? I believe the south said the same thing in 1860.

Johnny Scholar

don't let Jesus completely off the hook. He also rebuked his disciples when Mary Magdalen was "wasting" perfume on his feet. When the disciples would have sold the fragrance to feed the poor, Jesus basically said that there would always be poor. He's right though. And my taxes are keeping them poor.

Johnny Scholar

What's CF?

Vorkosigan

Chili, the purpose of BC&H is to discuss Biblical Criticism and History. Theological interpretation, where not directly relevant to one of those two topics, belongs in General Religious Discussions.

PoodleLovinPessimist

I know this is off topic, but if the subject matter repulses you, why teach it? Presumably you're still some sort of Christian.

Johnny Scholar

Um, well, hehe, thats a tough one. The short story is that I'm deconverting. The long story is that I'm an enigma. the longer story is here.

Chili

I understand but in Galations 5:1-4 religious observation is called slavery and sin an illusion, and churches an abomination for those who have been set free in Christ. This would include each and every Christian, as the Galations were, wherefore we can be "free in prison" and this annihilates the entire negative connotation we attach to physical slavery. Happy is the man who through the submission of his ego identity doesn't become an selfrighteous egotist who will never see the end of his tunnel.

Edited to add . . . as self proclaimed Christian or self proclaimed atheist.

Both theism and atheism are just egocentric positions wherein only the light has changed within the tunnel.

andrewcriddle

Slavery in the South of the USA in 1860 was 'the peculiar institution' an anomaly in a largely capitalist society based around the exploitation of wage labour.

Inventing modern capitalism was probably not an option for the Roman Empire.

(Slavery was in subsequent centuries largely replaced by early forms of feudalism and serfdom on the one hand and wage labour by workers with very limited civil rights on the other. This did involve a modest improvement in working confditions. Whether Christianity was involved in any way in the replacement of slavery by serfdom is disputed but the answer is probably no. )

The early church did make attempts to improve the treatment of slaves but the effects were probably limited.

Andrew Criddle

Chris Weimer

Slavery is the institute of the rich. From what I remember about the Bible, Jesus wasn't a capitalist. Thus, even though the Roman Empire wouldn't have had to speak out against it, it would not be apropos for the Apostles to condone it.