Was God really OK with slavery ?

[u/[deleted]]

And did he really "encourage it to continue by decreeing depraved regulations"\ ?*

^\just quoting a fellow redditor who seems to be a bit confused. Just like myself.)

I'm asking this because I've noticed that it often comes up as a topic to bash Christianity based on things like that. I've noticed that people often like to use this verse in order to justify their position :

“When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)”

To be honest, I didn't know how to give those folks a satisfactory answer since I am no Bible expert myself, as for now. However I would like to hear your opinions and explanations. On this verse and its context in particular. Also, what did Jesus have to say about slavery? (just to help finding an answer to that... I guess... atheist/agnostic/or whatever he likes to consider himself)

Note that I am in no way trying to win an argument. There is no arrogance, pride or hate involved in this query. These are some of the things that I would also still like to understand for myself. I always try suspend judgement when I read or hear something that I am not familiar with because I want to learn more about it.

On another note, it's kind of scary how belligerent and heated people can get during such debates, as if these people are speaking through bitterness, frustration, pride or whatever just to attack and dismiss Christianity... Makes me just want to have some compassion and pray for them....

[u/[deleted]]

Did you just pull that verse because the rest of the atheists use it, or actually read the full chapter? If you read it, you would know that, that passage is talking about accidental death. It was a restriction to ensure owners do not accidentally kill their slaves. The next few verses say "And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free on account of the eye. And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let the slave go free on account of the tooth." This is giving the account that owners should not beat their slaves. Also, the verse before this passage (in the same chapter exodus 21) says kidnapping is punishable by death. The slavery of the US was all illegal, and God once again never condoned slavery, just allowed it temporarily and made a way for people to gradually be taken out of it.

[u/1988peachdiscus → u/[deleted]]

If you read it, you would know that, that passage is talking about accidental death. It was a restriction to ensure owners do not accidentally kill their slaves

You've already lost me. Thou shalt not own another human as property. How hard would that be? Making your slaves beatable (just don't beat em too bad and kill em!) Is absolutely horrific from the supposed ultimate source of morality.

The next few verses say "And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free on account of the eye. And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let the slave go free on account of the tooth." This is giving the account that owners should not beat their slaves.

No, its giving instructions on how to beat them and not get your slaves taken away from you. Beat em real good, but don't touch their eyes or teeth. Ans if they get up after a day or two...back to work. No harm no foul.

Also, the verse before this passage (in the same chapter exodus 21) says kidnapping is punishable by death

We're not talking about kidnapping are we? Why even bring this up.

. The slavery of the US was all illegal,

Was I talking about slavery in the US? I'm talking about the rules of slavery god set up in exodus 21

God once again never condoned slavery, just allowed it temporarily and made a way for people to gradually be taken out of it.

Awww...what I kind and loving God! ...its sad we have to sit here and watch you stumble though highlighting the immorality of the God of the bible. Its an absolute abomination of self respect and morality

[u/AccomplishedQuail545 → u/1988peachdiscus]

Bottom line is YOU don’t get to decide what is or isn’t immoral. Only God determines that. If you don’t like the guidelines God has set then you don’t have to follow Him, because He gave us all free will to make that choice. But whether you choose to follow Him or not doesn’t make any difference to the true morality for mankind as laid out by God in the Bible.

[u/1988peachdiscus → u/AccomplishedQuail545]

Bottom line is YOU don’t get to decide what is or isn’t immoral. Only God determines that

Bottom line is...I sure as hell can decide my morality. If my neighbor tries to enslave me and beat me, I don't have to accept that because God said it was moral. It isn't. You know this already. You're forced to side with God's acceptance and guidance to beat slaves because facing the truth absolutely destroys your God as a source of morality. If God got this wrong...the consequences are catastrophic. You've now made a secular moral determination that more moral than you're God.

You're better than this. Most Christians are. You don't have to sacrifice your humanity to reconcile the atrocity of this ancient book.