cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18423698
Christianity saved many lives for slavery. If you think back to Roman empire, this was build on human bodies. Many slaves from conquered countries working on farms and construction sites for Governmental sake. Even Romans could fell to slavery through debts. Unfortunately, it poor countries it still happens that parents sell their kids or even sell themselves (think about Bangladeshis, Bhirmese or Pakistani in Emirates, Khatar or Thailand) That way of society was stopped by Christianity. Btw Islam, Buddism, and Confucianism stopped it as well.
You might argue that slavery was active in the New World. Yes, indeed and it was against the Christianity. Out of this moral dilemma the European thinkers „invented“ Rassism to make slaves non human and being able to resell slaves from Africa to Americas. And guess who sold the slaves in Africa to the European merchants?
I know this is outside your comfort zone of thinking. It’s just a little brain gymnastic for you.
I have some news for you. The Spanish state, its church, and its representatives did a LOT of enslaving of the Native Americans. The missions that pepper California and Mexico were almost entirely dependent on the labor of enslaved natives, and they were horrifically brutal about it, too. In a book I have on the subject, there’s an example of one priest who complained about how the natives were treated, and he was summarily relocated. So, Christianity had an enormous role in enslaving and murdering native Americans, and it had nothing to do with Merchants.
You didn’t get my point that I didn’t neglect it. I just mentioned that it also saved Europe of being enslaved by ancient Roman Empire.
Later Christianity changed it‘s view on slaves and invented Rassism for put Africans and American natives into slavery. Ever heard of Spanish-born of French men slaves in Americas?
And to make it even less black/white or god/bad, some more nuances: Habe you heard of Munch armies in Americas? Or were it soldiers? Do you draw any difference between governments, church, and religion?
