FALSE RELIGION & AFRICAN SLAVERY: What's The Connection?

[Alter2Ego]

[font=Verdana]ALTER2EGO -to- EVERYONE:

The Judeo-Christian Bible was written by more than three dozen JEWISH MEN under divine inspiration from God. The ancient Israelites/Jews were not considered Caucasians. Christianity came through the Jews by means of Jesus Christ when his pre-human life force was transferred into the womb of a Jewish woman named Mary. In other words, the person who founded Christianity was a Jew, not a Caucasian.

In spite of the foregoing facts, flawed reasoning has caused many people to reject Christianity and the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible. They look at the bad example of false Christians (such as the European slavers) and proceed to reject God, Christianity, and the Bible. In reality, the European slavers merely claimed they were Christians. They never adopted Christian qualities, which is what enabled them to commit human rights violations for centuries without blinking an eye. Therefore, they were rejected by Jesus Christ and his heavenly Father. Concerning such ones who claimed they were Christians while brutalizing others, Jesus himself said the following:

"{21} Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but THE ONE DOING THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in the heavens will. {22} Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' {23} And yet then I will confess to the: I never knew you! Get away from me, you WORKERS OF LAWLESSNESS." (Matthew 7:21-23)


Both the European slavers and the Muslim Arab slavers used the Biblical curse against Canaan as justification--in THEIR deluded minds--for their enslavement of members of the Negroid branch of the human family. In fact, the Muslim Arabs were the ones who coined the phrase: "black is the color of a slave."

In reality, the curse against Canaan had no connection whatsoever with skin color. Truth be told, black people did not descend from Canaan. Furthermore, the Judeo-Christian Bible makes it clear that God does not discriminate against people because of the color of their skin. According to the Bible, all members of the human family are equal based upon the fact that all humans are the offspring of the first man Adam.

"{34} At this Peter opened his mouth and said: 'For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial,{35} but in EVERY NATION the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.' " (Acts 10:34-35)


"And he [Jehovah] made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of the dwelling of men." (Acts 17:26)


The Europeans commenced their scramble for Africa in the 15th Century AD or 1,500 years after the completion of the Bible and 1,500 years after the establishment of Christianity by Jesus and his Jewish disciples. In other words, the Europeans who committed human rights violations against people of color were not representative of true Christians and they DID NOT write the Bible.

BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.


DEBATE QUESTIONS:
1. Since the Bible makes it clear that Christianity came through the Jews who were not Caucasians--by means of Jesus Christ who was born into a Jewish family--is there any basis for people to continue insisting that Christianity is a "white man's religion"?

2. Since the entire Bible was written by ancient Israelites/Jews who were not Caucasians, is there any basis for people to continue insisting that the Bible is a "white man's book"?

3. The Europeans claimed they were Christians while brutalizing Africans and other indigenous peoples. According to Matthew 7:21-23, did Jesus say that all those claiming to be Christians are acceptable to him and to his Heavenly Father?

4. The European (and Muslim Arab) slavers claimed they were justified in enslaving Africans because God gave them permission by means of the curse against Canaan. Since black people did not descend from Canaan, what does this do for their flawed argument?

5. The Bible makes it clear that God does not discriminate against people based upon skin color and that instead, he looks at the person's heart and behavior. Therefore, by whose authority did the European and Arab slavers decide that "black is the color of a slave"?

6. The scripture at Acts 17:26 confirms that all humans descended from the first man Adam—indicating we're all equal. Therefore, by what logic can one branch of the human family make the baseless and erroneous claim that certain branches of the human family are inferior?[/font]

[Clownboat]

[font=Verdana]ALTER2EGO -to- EVERYONE:

The Judeo-Christian Bible was written by more than three dozen JEWISH MEN under divine inspiration from God. The ancient Israelites/Jews were not considered Caucasians. Christianity came through the Jews by means of Jesus Christ when his pre-human life force was transferred into the womb of a Jewish woman named Mary. In other words, the person who founded Christianity was a Jew, not a Caucasian.

In spite of the foregoing facts, flawed reasoning has caused many people to reject Christianity and the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible. They look at the bad example of false Christians (such as the European slavers) and proceed to reject God, Christianity, and the Bible. In reality, the European slavers merely claimed they were Christians. They never adopted Christian qualities, which is what enabled them to commit human rights violations for centuries without blinking an eye. Therefore, they were rejected by Jesus Christ and his heavenly Father. Concerning such ones who claimed they were Christians while brutalizing others, Jesus himself said the following:

"{21} Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but THE ONE DOING THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in the heavens will. {22} Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' {23} And yet then I will confess to the: I never knew you! Get away from me, you WORKERS OF LAWLESSNESS." (Matthew 7:21-23)


Both the European slavers and the Muslim Arab slavers used the Biblical curse against Canaan as justification--in THEIR deluded minds--for their enslavement of members of the Negroid branch of the human family. In fact, the Muslim Arabs were the ones who coined the phrase: "black is the color of a slave."

In reality, the curse against Canaan had no connection whatsoever with skin color. Truth be told, black people did not descend from Canaan. Furthermore, the Judeo-Christian Bible makes it clear that God does not discriminate against people because of the color of their skin. According to the Bible, all members of the human family are equal based upon the fact that all humans are the offspring of the first man Adam.

"{34} At this Peter opened his mouth and said: 'For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial,{35} but in EVERY NATION the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.' " (Acts 10:34-35)


"And he [Jehovah] made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of the dwelling of men." (Acts 17:26)


The Europeans commenced their scramble for Africa in the 15th Century AD or 1,500 years after the completion of the Bible and 1,500 years after the establishment of Christianity by Jesus and his Jewish disciples. In other words, the Europeans who committed human rights violations against people of color were not representative of true Christians and they DID NOT write the Bible.

BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.


DEBATE QUESTIONS:
1. Since the Bible makes it clear that Christianity came through the Jews who were not Caucasians--by means of Jesus Christ who was born into a Jewish family--is there any basis for people to continue insisting that Christianity is a "white man's religion"?

2. Since the entire Bible was written by ancient Israelites/Jews who were not Caucasians, is there any basis for people to continue insisting that the Bible is a "white man's book"?

3. The Europeans claimed they were Christians while brutalizing Africans and other indigenous peoples. According to Matthew 7:21-23, did Jesus say that all those claiming to be Christians are acceptable to him and to his Heavenly Father?

4. The European (and Muslim Arab) slavers claimed they were justified in enslaving Africans because God gave them permission by means of the curse against Canaan. Since black people did not descend from Canaan, what does this do for their flawed argument?

5. The Bible makes it clear that God does not discriminate against people based upon skin color and that instead, he looks at the person's heart and behavior. Therefore, by whose authority did the European and Arab slavers decide that "black is the color of a slave"?

6. The scripture at Acts 17:26 confirms that all humans descended from the first man Adam—indicating we're all equal. Therefore, by what logic can one branch of the human family make the baseless and erroneous claim that certain branches of the human family are inferior?[/font]

I was in total agreement with you until about 4 or 5 words in when you stated: "written by more than three dozen JEWISH MEN under divine inspiration from God."

Once you assumed this part "under divine inspiration from God", you lost me.

[Crazee]

[font=Verdana]
BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.
[/font]

Which bible prophecies have come true? The bible may have predicted some large events in history, but which ones would you say have been confirmed?

It also will depend on interpretations. I'm not sure even bible scholars would agree that hundreds of prophecies have come true.

[Haven]

What exactly leads you to believe that other religions are false? What evidence do you have to support your assertion that all non-Christian religions are false?

I agree that Christians existed on both sides of the slavery issue (both pro and con), however, I don't think there is any basis for insisting that pro-slavery Christians were "not true Christians." This is a version of the No True Scotsman fallacy and is logically invalid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

Additionally, the reason Christianity is sometimes called a "white man's religion" is that it primarily developed and is most widely practiced within Western (European and European-derived) culture. Although Christianity began in the Middle East, it was popularized in Athens and Rome and became well-established in Europe (and later the European colonies in Australia, N. America, and Latin America), while it was supplanted by Islam in the Middle East and much of Africa. The vast majority of the leaders of the faith -- especially during medieval times -- were white males. This does not mean non-whites can't practice Christianity, only that, for better or worse, Christianity is a Western religion.

[Autodidact]

I'm going to guess that many of the thousands of Christian slave-owners justified their actions based on the several verses in the OT that regulate and permit slavery, as well as the statements in the NT that direct slaves to obey their masters, together with the utter absence of anything, anywhere in the Bible, that prohibits slavery. Another factor may have been Paul's actions in sending a slave back to his master. Can't read their minds, but that would be my guess.

Under the Old Testament Dispensation, Slavery was permitted by the Deity himself. Thus it is recorded, in Levit. Chap. 25. Ver. 44, 45, 46. 'Both they Bond-men, and Bond-maids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the Heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy Bond-men and Bond-maids. Moreover, of the Children of the Strangers, that do sojourn among you of them shall ye buy, and of their Families that are with you, which they beget in your Land, and they shall be your Possession, and ye shall take them, as an Inheritance for your Children after you, to inherit them for a Possession; they shall be your Bond-men forever.' This Permission to possess and inherit Bond Servants, we have Reason to conclude, was continued through all the Revolutions of the Jewish Government, down to the Advent of our Lord. And we do not find, that either he or his Apostles abridged it. On the Contrary, the Freedom which the Followers of Jesus were taught to expect, was a Freedom from the Bondage of Sin and Satan, and from the Dominion of their Lusts and Passions; but as to their outward Condition, whatever that was, wether Bond or Free, when they embraced Christianity, it was to remain the same afterwards. This Saint Paul hath expressly told us 1 Cor. Chap. 7. Ver. 20th. where he is speaking directly to this very Point; 'Let every Man abide in the same Calling, wherein he is called'; and at Ver. 24. 'Let every Man wherein he is called therein abide with God.' Thus it is evident the above Attempt is unsupported by the Divine Word.

from here: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/lib-edu/edu ... alifax.htm

[Alter2Ego]

BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.

Which bible prophecies have come true? The bible may have predicted some large events in history, but which ones would you say have been confirmed?

It also will depend on interpretations. I'm not sure even bible scholars would agree that hundreds of prophecies have come true.

[font=Verdana]I presented an example of a fulfilled Bible prophecy on page 5 of my thread entitled: "The Bible: Gods Word or Mans?" Feel free to examine what I posted. You can get there quickly by using the following forum weblink. [/font]

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... c&start=40

[Mithrae]

[font=Verdana]ALTER2EGO -to- EVERYONE:

4. The European (and Muslim Arab) slavers claimed they were justified in enslaving Africans because God gave them permission by means of the curse against Canaan. Since black people did not descend from Canaan, what does this do for their flawed argument?[/font]

The story runs that Noah got drunk one day, and when his son Ham saw him lying naked in the tent he had a good ol' laugh and fetched his brothers Shem and Japheth to oggle him too (Genesis 9). When he woke up Noah for some reason then cursed Ham's son Canaan (!?) and said he'd be the slave of his brothers (??) Shem and Japheth. The most likely reason for swapping Canaan with Ham is the Israelites' later supposed genocide and enslavement of the Canaanites; but validly or not, it's not hard to see why Christians would interpret it more generally as a curse against Ham, the one who'd actually wronged his father. And going by the table of nations in Genesis 10, the descendants of Ham were loosely associated with Africans.



I can't imagine anyone these days says that it was valid reasoning (except perhaps Christian apologists claiming it as fulfilled prophecy), any more than it's valid reasoning to ignore science or biblical scholarship in the name of faith. But as Autodidact pointed out the Bible is definitely not anti-slavery, and in fact can be taken as approving of slavery - and this 'curse of Ham' was a part of the way in which greedy people cherry-picked from their religious heritage to justify their brutality against others.

It's good for Christians to respond to this aspect of history by emphasising the parts of the bible which teach compassion, equality, social justice and the wrongness in trying to impose our will on others.


Edit: In fact though I do harp on about it somewhat, I'd go on to say that colonialism (not just in Africa) as part of the social and economic heritage of western nations is even more important to acknowledge and attempt to rectify than as part of our religious heritage.

It's not a good thing for Christians to attempt to whitewash or deny the negative influences which their scriptures have had in history; but by the same token throughout society in general there seems to be virtually no acknowledgement whatsoever that our wealth as developed western nations has in very large part come about (and still does) through theft and deprivation of the poor elsewhere in the world. Much fun as discussion of religion can be, I believe the partisanship which it often seems to promote is doing no good to anyone - some thoughts on the subject which I posted in the thread Does religion make you more or less moral? quite naturally passed without comment.

[Slopeshoulder]

[font=Verdana]
BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.
[/font]

Which bible prophecies have come true? The bible may have predicted some large events in history, but which ones would you say have been confirmed?

It also will depend on interpretations. I'm not sure even bible scholars would agree that hundreds of prophecies have come true.

Biblical scholars would agree that prophecy is speaking truth to power, calling back to covenant, bearing moral witness, and analyzing social ills. It is not predicting future events beyond this. The idea of fulfilled prophecy is an element of folk religion and to be ignored by serious people.

[Goat]

BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.

Which bible prophecies have come true? The bible may have predicted some large events in history, but which ones would you say have been confirmed?

It also will depend on interpretations. I'm not sure even bible scholars would agree that hundreds of prophecies have come true.

[font=Verdana]I presented an example of a fulfilled Bible prophecy on page 5 of my thread entitled: "The Bible: Gods Word or Mans?" Feel free to examine what I posted. You can get there quickly by using the following forum weblink. [/font]

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... c&start=40

Yet, what you didn't respond to what the fact you were claiming it was about the destruction of the second temple, yet, it was actually talking about the First diaspora when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, and that section was written AFTER the event.

[Alter2Ego]

BTW: The Bible's authenticity has been proven by the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, some written centuries before the occurrence of the prophesied events. The fulfillment of these prophesies has been confirmed by secular history and archeology.

Which bible prophecies have come true? The bible may have predicted some large events in history, but which ones would you say have been confirmed?

It also will depend on interpretations. I'm not sure even bible scholars would agree that hundreds of prophecies have come true.

[font=Verdana]I presented an example of a fulfilled Bible prophecy on page 5 of my thread entitled: "The Bible: Gods Word or Mans?" Feel free to examine what I posted. You can get there quickly by using the following forum weblink. [/font]

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... c&start=40

Yet, what you didn't respond to what the fact you were claiming it was about the destruction of the second temple, yet, it was actually talking about the First diaspora when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, and that section was written AFTER the event.

[font=Verdana]GOAT:
that section was written AFTER the event.

ALTER2EGO:
Prove it. The person giving rebuttal testimony has the burden of proving that the prophecy was written after the event. That's the way it works in human courts of law, and that's how it will work here. Where's your evidence? Yours and the opinions of professional Bible critics isn't proof of anything. The forum wants proof aka EVIDENCE.[/font]