These People Need To Be Exterminated

[MajGenl.Meade]

it's all a matter of what some semi-literate goatherd thought the meaning of "is" is, isn't it?

It's "is".

Well, that's the semi-literate goatherd opinion then

[wesw]

because you are already half way there old son....

I ll assume that you prefer good to evil, so....

you are one of us!!!! yah!!!!

[Crackpot]

I know I'm going to regret this....

Yes Wes, why?

And here I thought you relished demolishing those with half formed inconsistent beliefs. (Well at least those more inconsistent than your own )

[rubato]

All the ocean of self-serving apologetics cannot admit that what the bible does not say that it is morally wrong to enslave another person.

For so many things the Bible give clear moral instruction:

Stealing = wrong
Adultery = wrong
Failure to honor your father and mother = wrong
Coveting = wrong
Eating Pigs and Shellfish = wrong
Failing to keep the Sabbath = wrong
Killing = wrong unless God orders it.
Witchcraft = wrong (and God might require you to kill to enforce it)

Slavery = "let me tell you how to get manage it to get the most out of them and not have them rise up and kill you in your sleep."

The only reasonable interpretation is that it is a practical manual on how to run a reasonably successful primitive pastoralist society and manage social conflict. An omniscient and omnibenevolent God would have thought to mention that enslaving people (even if you limit the cruelty somewhat) is a bit wrongo. And if God really wrote this and he really did know the future he would have known that we would (after a long while) figure out that enslaving people, while popular and with many economic benefits, is a moral evil. So maybe a little clarity could have been in order here. Might have hurried things along, temporally speaking.


yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

But it wasn't morally wrong to be a slave or to have one (or any number) then, was it? You persist in a non-scientific (not to mention a-historical and a-sshole) refusal to recognize the differences between race-based chattel slavery and the practice of slave-service in ancient ... Mesopotamia? Palestine? you choose the geographical name. Consider the story of Joseph and the historical removal of Jews to Bablylon/Assyria.

Your God-complex is even more evident than your I'd-be-a-better-cop-alter-ego and your awe-inspiring omniscience that reveals what a politician is thinking.

[rubato]

But it wasn't morally wrong to be a slave or to have one (or any number) then, was it? You persist in a non-scientific (not to mention a-historical and a-sshole) refusal to recognize the differences between race-based chattel slavery and the practice of slave-service in ancient ... Mesopotamia? Palestine? you choose the geographical name. Consider the story of Joseph and the historical removal of Jews to Bablylon/Assyria.

Your God-complex is even more evident than your I'd-be-a-better-cop-alter-ego and your awe-inspiring omniscience that reveals what a politician is thinking.

Chattel slavery is what it was there too. The ownership of the body of another person is chattel slavery. A chattel slave is someone you can buy or sell.

You're just blowing smoke out of your ass by saying that the racial aspect was worse. Was it? So it wasn't so bad when Africans enslaved each other? it only became really wicked when they sold them on to white people? When the Roman civilization was based on slavery that was ok? The Greek? The Persian? The Aztec ? &c?

Your arguments are unintelligent and uninformed. The remarkable thing about slavery is that after thousands of years when nearly all civilizations were based on that institution we realized it was morally wrong. We humans. Your god was fine with it. But we humans have spread the idea that slavery is abhorrent so that now, while it still exists, slavers are ashamed.




yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

"Your God was fine with it" - your statement demonstrates how bigotry feeds stupidity.

Slavery in the Old and New Testament

Slavery was commonplace in Old Testament times, all nations had slaves. Israel as a nation were slaves for over 400 years; when they were freed God gave them laws for slaves that were not the same as the other nations. The slaves had rights in Israel’s social system, unlike other nations. When we think of slavery it conjures up the image of racial prejudice, but this was not the case. They did not treat them as non - human or animals but as men made in the image of God.

Israel had the majority of their slaves from among themselves. Some sold themselves into slavery (Leviticus 25:39; Deuteronomy 15:12-17); others were sold to pay debts (2 Kings 4; Nehemiah 5:1-8).

Jewish slaves could not be held for more than six years and were given a choice to leave (Exod.21:2). they could voluntarily choose to remain: (Exod.21:5-6).

Slavery was more an occupation, servanthood with rights.

Those who came into slavery with a wife and children could take them when they left.

Slaves who were abused by their masters were to be set free (Exod.21:26-27)

Their religious rights. such as enjoying the Sabbath rest, were also protected: (Exod.2:10)

Slaves also enjoyed civil rights.

The murder of a slave brought punishment :(Exodus 21:20)

Foreign slaves seeking asylum in Israel were to be protected: (Deut23:15-16)

Slaves had economic rights, including the right to own their own slaves: (2 Samuel 9:9-10)

Whether one was an Israelite or stranger, provisions were in place for their protection (Lev. 24:17,22; Exod. 21:20). A minor personal injury, such as the loss of an eye or a tooth, were to be compensated by giving the servant his liberty (21:26-27).

The nation of Israel even had state slaves, similar to civil service employees: Overall the idea of slavery from the Bible does not equate to what is known as abject slavery from the 16-1800’s or what is taking place today. The abuses came from the evil hearts of men, which had nothing to do with the laws God gave Israel to abide under as a theocracy:

The majority of non-Hebrew slaves were war captives, either of the Canaanites who had survived the general extermination of their race under Joshua, or such as were conquered from the other surrounding nations <Num. 31:26-28>. Besides these, many were obtained by purchase from foreign slave dealers <Lev. 25:44-45>; and others may have been resident foreigners who were reduced to this state either by poverty or crime. The children of slaves remained slaves, being the class described as "born in the house" <Gen. 14:14; 17:12; Eccles. 2:7>, and hence the number was likely to increase as time went on. The average value of a slave appears to have been thirty shekels <Exo. 21:32> (from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

In the New Testament Jesus did not free the slaves but gave instructions on how they were to continue

Paul speaks of all being baptized into Christ which makes us united, God sees us as equals. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28) No one is greater than the other if he is their master or has greater wealth or authority.

Eph 6:5-7: “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

A bondservant was one who willing to be a slave (servant) and did his work because he loved his master.

Eph. 6:9 “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

Masters of slaves were to be aware that they too had a master in heaven.


Eph. 6:8-9 “knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

1 Pet. 2:18: “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.” God is over the master and he will deal with them if they are abusive.

Col. 3:22-23: “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Paul made sure they understood their service was to God not man

1 Tim. 6:2 “And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.”

In other words they still have this boss employee relationship, it did not end because they were both believers

1 Cor. 7:20-23: Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”