Slavery in a Biblical sense was very different than what we think of today. Actually Biblical slavery was voluntary, or as restitution for a crime. Also, the "master" was to allow a "slave" to leave, if the slave "ran away," and not pursue him. If a person wanted to be a lifelong slave to one "master," and the "master" agreed, the "master" was to pierce the ear of the slave with an awl in front of witnesses. (a pierced ear on a man is a sign of slavery) This also meant that the "master" would protect the slave and his family. In ancient times, it was actually very beneficial to be a "slave" to a powerful family; better than being poor and destitute. They also had "indentured servants" as well. But this is all way too above your brain to comprehend.
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"Slavery in a Biblical sense was very different than what we think of today."
And yet the slavery we think of today was defended by christians on biblical grounds.
But this is all way too above your brain to comprehend.
What Justanotheratheist said - if it's voluntary, it's not slavery because slavery is by definition involuntary. Of course, it's very close to it, due to its nature.
Surely an arsehole doesn't need to justify his depravity by appeals to superstitious guff?
It's like, "Bible God says it's alright for me to be a gigantic arsehole, that's why I love Bible God. No theocratic double-speak needed. No apologetic contortions necessary. No resorting to Desperanto required. Just pure contentment with my indolent ignorance".
Also, the "master" was to allow a "slave" to leave, if the slave "ran away," and not pursue him.
Bullshit. If this were true then the institution of slavery wouldn't have existed, since all a slave would have to do is run away and not be a slave any more.
A master could beat the slave to within an inch of his life, as long as the slave didn't die within three days (or something like that). Sounds faboulous, doesn't it?
Sure, very beneficial to not have to starve to death...
If it's so beneficial and "above our brains"; let's put YOU into indentured servitude, and let's see how you like all the "benefits"... Our brains manage to fathom what a bleak and depressing life it must have been, to not even own your own body.
Oh, slavery was like volunteer work and community service. Sure. That's believable.
Was slavery in the United States such a cake walk, as well? Slavery, remember, that was supported by God fearing good Christian men of the day.
Actually Biblical slavery was voluntary, or as restitution for a crime.
Or as spoils of war, if they didn't just outright kill everyone. That's all in the fucking Bible.
In ancient times, it was actually very beneficial to be a "slave" to a powerful family; better than being poor and destitute.
In the same way that waterboarding is better than pulling out all of your teeth. And just like waterboarding, being not the worst option doesn't mean it's a good thing.
Also, the "master" was to allow a "slave" to leave, if the slave "ran away," and not pursue him. If a person wanted to be a lifelong slave to one "master," and the "master" agreed, the "master" was to pierce the ear of the slave with an awl in front of witnesses.
If the slave was a Jew. If the slave was a gentile, there was no such option. You were a slave for life.
I seem to remember that there was some maximum amount of years (4? 6?) that a person could be held a slave beofre they must be allowed the choice of freedom.
On the other hand, if at that time they did not want to leave (for reasons such as that their wife and children were still slaves and owned by the master.) they would be marked and made slaves for life.
So there was a chance for freedom (And possibly some compensation as well for them to start their new life) but the slaveowner could manouver his slaves into a no-win situation in order to keep them.
Slavery is slavery no matter how you attempt to dress it up.
P.S. You left out the Bible's instructions about how one is allowed to beat a slave to within an inch of death as long as one doesn't actually kill said slave.
1) Except it wasn't voluntary unless you were a) an Israelite and b) had already served for seven years.
Isn't it strange that Bible and other fundies justify slavery, yet when it comes to Obamacare, the IRS, and gun control, along with Nazi Germany, the first comparison they resort to is slavery? Shouldn't that then be taken as a compliment?
I'm pretty sure the asshat is confusing slavery with indentured service, where someone who couldn't repay a financial debt could pay it off with labor instead. Or with being a retainer, which basically is a live-in employee.
Those rules applied to Hebrew slaves. Foreigners were not given the same protections. As for "voluntary" slavery, people did sell themselves into slavery, or indentured servitude, for whatever reason (to pay off debts, for instance. In ancient Rome, Greeks would sell themselves into slavery because the emperor's court used slaves in important positions, so it was an advantageous career move. Presumably, they would later buy their freedom).
Owning someone as property that can be bought and sold as well as passed down as an inheritance to one's children is not voluntary.
Actually Biblical slavery was voluntary, or as restitution for a crime.
Or because you were a civilian who's country got defeated in war, at which point the bastards who won just wander along, grab you, make you their slave FOR LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE PROPERTY... and can be beaten to death as long as you don't die within 2 days BECAUSE YOU ARE PROPERTY... and were never allowed to leave BECAUSE YOU ARE PROPERTY... and could be inherited by your owners son BECAUSE YOU ARE PROPERTY... and so on, and so forth...
Oh, and did I forget that any children the slave has either before or after being forcibly enslaved? ALSO PROPERTY FOR THE OWNER TO USE/KILL/SELL AS THEY FELT.
But this is all way too above your brain to comprehend.
Delusions of adequacy... and ignorance of what is in the Bible too.
@Sangfroid , you forgot the exclamation mark of TRUTH !!
BULLSHIT !!!!!!!! < capitals and exclamation marks show its truthfullness.
The buybull also says the master can beat slaves for any reason, as long as they don't die in a day or two. If they die in three days, it's ok.
You be the slave; I'll beat you so you die in three days, are you ok with that? Your book says it's ok.
The bible had 2 standards for slavery, chucklefuck. One for the jews, and one for the foreigners they conquered and enslaved.
It was still slavery, mind you, and therefore barbaric.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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