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Originally Posted by shakran
I didn't mention it because it's irrelevant. Presumably this means "don't torture them." Well, not beating the hell out of them does not mean that it's OK to own them. That the bible dictates how one should treat one's slaves indicates that the author of the bible (presumably god) condones slavery. If the bible didn't condone slavery, it would say "don't HAVE slaves."
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It's not irrelevant by any means.
You're still not acknowledging the fact that Biblical slavery is/was vastly different than the definition of slavery in which we hold today. Biblical slavery usually consisted of one person willingly selling themselves to another in order to pay off their debts or to provide for their families. Rarely, if ever, did Israel take slaves when they conquered a neighboring group of people (They were typically commanded not to). So yes, the Bible condones slavery but it does so within certain parameters. However, to make a blanket statement that the Bible condones
all types of slavery is faulty. The type of slavery (Racial prejudice) which occurred the last two hundred or so years would is not condoned anywhere in the Bible.
And, to Will, I quote Ephesians 6: 5-9;
<i>5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.</i>
And Collosians 4: 1;
<i>1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.</i>