Slave Religion
Is the bible a basis of survival or a crutch to promote slavery?
Ancestors were bound, not by choice, but against their will, serving as the property of a slaveholder or household. The only source of faith came from the belief in religion. However, that same belief in religion is the same belief that sanctioned slavery. Is that notion true, or not? For years, it has been known that African Americans live closely by depending on prayer to uplift their spirits as well as guide them to the light “positive success”. Most of the first black congregations were formed before the year of 1800, and many were founded during slavery. Even during slavery there was a split in churches when it came to the master’s family and the slaves. After slavery was abolished, most blacks continued to host their own congregation but instead of having to praise behind closed doors, they were allowed to praise in public. What was different about the white church and the black church was the fact that the slaves created a unique experience by exercising African spiritual traditions within their faith. However when you think of Religion, you think of God, the ultimate belief in Savior. This same belief could also possibly be the reason why slaves remained captive. The bible wasn’t used in a positive nature when it came to preaching to the slaves. But yet, illiteracy played a major part as to why the bible was interpreted the way it was. What alarmed me was the irony behind something so sacred being used as a crutch to slavery. If slaves didn’t believe in a higher being, would slavery have even been held out so long? Slavery was continuous due to the belief that Jesus said that it was okay to be held captive; at least that’s what masters told the slaves. But in reality, the bible was misconstrued into placing belief that it was African American people’s duty to serve the white man.
The question that I proposed was has religion been used as a crutch to promote slavery? The answer to
Ancestors were bound, not by choice, but against their will, serving as the property of a slaveholder or household. The only source of faith came from the belief in religion. However, that same belief in religion is the same belief that sanctioned slavery. Is that notion true, or not? For years, it has been known that African Americans live closely by depending on prayer to uplift their spirits as well as guide them to the light “positive success”. Most of the first black congregations were formed before the year of 1800, and many were founded during slavery. Even during slavery there was a split in churches when it came to the master’s family and the slaves. After slavery was abolished, most blacks continued to host their own congregation but instead of having to praise behind closed doors, they were allowed to praise in public. What was different about the white church and the black church was the fact that the slaves created a unique experience by exercising African spiritual traditions within their faith. However when you think of Religion, you think of God, the ultimate belief in Savior. This same belief could also possibly be the reason why slaves remained captive. The bible wasn’t used in a positive nature when it came to preaching to the slaves. But yet, illiteracy played a major part as to why the bible was interpreted the way it was. What alarmed me was the irony behind something so sacred being used as a crutch to slavery. If slaves didn’t believe in a higher being, would slavery have even been held out so long? Slavery was continuous due to the belief that Jesus said that it was okay to be held captive; at least that’s what masters told the slaves. But in reality, the bible was misconstrued into placing belief that it was African American people’s duty to serve the white man.
The question that I proposed was has religion been used as a crutch to promote slavery? The answer to