Post by Mestemia on May 29, 2006 23:38:16 GMT -5
I shall start this thread with my bringing quotes from the thread this thread is split from:
The "slavery" mentioned in the Bible is actually indentured servantry... where a person agrees to serve someone to work off a debt. That was the "slavery" in Christ's time and before, and there is nothing sinful about such an agreement entered into willingly.
You're right... I don't see indentured servantry as creating a problem for Natural Law, since there is no violation of Free Will involved.
"If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. (Deuteronomy 15:12-18)"
Numbers 31:9-18
"9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."
This sounds to you like a bunch of "willing" servants?
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dianaholberg said:
The Bible does not look upon slavery as sin.
In fact, provided you follow the rules and regulations put forth by the Bible comcerning slavery, slavery is perfectly acceptable.
In fact, provided you follow the rules and regulations put forth by the Bible comcerning slavery, slavery is perfectly acceptable.
The "slavery" mentioned in the Bible is actually indentured servantry... where a person agrees to serve someone to work off a debt. That was the "slavery" in Christ's time and before, and there is nothing sinful about such an agreement entered into willingly.
Which tends to put Diana in an awkward position when it comes to her 'natural law' defense. Though she will not see it as thus.
You're right... I don't see indentured servantry as creating a problem for Natural Law, since there is no violation of Free Will involved.
polytheist said:
A slave owner can free his slave, if he wants to. If the slave desires to stay with him, he wears a peice of jewelry to signify that. I can't remember what the heck this is called, but it's biblical. So, the slave wears this to let others know that he is a willing servant. There wouldn't need to be this distinction, if all slaves were willing servants, would there?"If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. (Deuteronomy 15:12-18)"
Numbers 31:9-18
"9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."
This sounds to you like a bunch of "willing" servants?
.
dianaholberg said:
Polytheist, that is not the topic here. If you want to discuss slavery, please start a topic in an appropriate forum.