Although we view religion as holy intuitions, slavery was an upheld establishment from the start of time. From slaves in Babylon to slaves in modern-day Africa, many people use their religious ideology to supplement their actions. However, as all things do, religion moves with time and all social ideas. Therefore, slavery has been condemned and shamed by heads of all major religions in some way.
Genesis IX,18-27 tells the story, incorrectly known as, “The Curse of Ham,” this was the ultimate misinterpretation that lead to Africans to be placed into slavery. “The Curse of Ham '' is actually “The Curse of Canaan”, Canaan and his descendents were cursed into servertudie under the transgressions of Ham. Christians saw Canaanites to be black and considered their enslavement as a way to save their souls.Truthfully it has been proven that Canaan and his descendents are not black at all, rather they were cursed early day lebanonese, Jordanians, Syrians, and Palstanians. With the Bible as the way of passage for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the bible also became a tool to keep slave obiendent. Slaves were encouraged to attend church where sermons promoting slaves to promote their earthly masters were preached; the publication of the ‘slave bible’ assisted in the push of slavery within Christianity as portions scriptures, including the Exodus story, were removed to prevent rebellious thinking.
Islam and Christianity worked hand in hand, as the Arab-controlled Trans-Saharan slave trade was the institutional foundation of slave trading on the contintent of Africa. This was witnessed by European Christians during the ‘age of expedition’. Although the Islamic religion promoted the taking of war prisoners and those in debt as slaves, Christians during these early periods looked to the Bible as the ultimate source of knowledge therefore they slavery as a result of ‘sin’. They turned to Genesis IX, 18-27 as the answer.
With long standing hostility between Islam and Christianity, Jews became the trading middle men between both religions. Aaron Lopez and Jacob B. Rivera were two prominent jewish slave traders. They were known to have 184 large vessels and 342 small coasters. With 20 rum distilleries under their belts, the men made consistent routines to Guinea; where they were known to trade around 180 gallons of rum per male slave. They would ultimately bring them back to Charleston North Carolina to be sold.
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At the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, African religious beliefs and practices were numerous and varied. Slavery was a common practice in religion. The bible stipulates the treatment of slaves in the Old Testament, which involved a variety of methods, statements, and restrictions. Different religions have different views on slavery. In the Jewish practice, slaves were given a range of treatments and protections. They were to be treated as extended family. They were property, but could also own material goods. Christians accepted slavery as an institutuion. Slavery in various forms has been a part of the social environment for much of christianitys history. Catholics would tend to welcome africans and convert them simply and with little fuss. Islams encouraged kindess towards slaves, while accepting slavery as an institution. When comparing slavery and religion back then and now its very different. Religion now welcomes with open arms and encourages people of all races to get involved.
In conclusion, slavery may have been held up by religious instutions in the past, however, our religious beliefs reflect those of our social beliefs. Christians and Jews could not deny the occurrence of slavery, it is something that occurs in the holy books they preach from, slavery is apart of their history. Islam ,however, appeared during this time and flowed with the current circumstances. Culture is to humans as water is to a fish, but the link between slavery and religion is simply the worm on the line.
References
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/slavery_1.shtml
https://time.com/5171819/christianity-slavery-book-excerpt/
https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/slavery/experience/religion/history.html
https://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/muslim/slavery.html
https://islamfyi.princeton.edu/islam-and-the-question-of-slavery/
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1995/09/slavery-and-the-jews/376462/
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