Dear Josephus,

I think reason is a better guide to behaviour than mumbojumbo. In none of the words of Jesus can be found a condemnation of slavery. Of course we can't. If he existed he was a man of his time and accepted what most people of his time accepted. Nobody can take someone else's sins upon them. So far no human woman gets impregnated without a male sperm being introduced into her. There is no evidence that can establish that any of the miracles cited in the scriptures of different religions ever happened. There is no evidence to support the idea that there either is a god, a god in three parts or many gods. No matter how firmly you believe in something that does not establish its truth. Christianity like other religions is a compendium of nonsense.

Unlike Jesus I am against slavery. I probably am neither wiser nor better. I live in a different time where many people have discarded the superstitions of the past and have a different view of what is moral. If you want to hold on to the superstitions of the past you have a perfect right to do so. At one time some people believed in the Greek, Roman, Norse or other myths as true. Now many people believe in the Jewish Bible, the Christian Bible, the Muslim Koran, the Hindu Bhagavad Gita or the Buddhist Tripitaka as true. There is no evidence to support the idea that any of the foregoing is entirely true. However, you remain free to believe whatever mythology you choose to believe. Like most people who believe in mythology you probably believe in the one your parents accepted.

I don't think you are a bad person, but I think you have not questioned what you have been told. I prefer doubt to faith. Since I was a child I have questioned. I think religion offers certainty in an uncertain world. That is a way to deny reality. Of course, if your reality is too horrible you might want to deny it.

Josephus,

Christianity did not begin to Romanize until around the second century AD, its completion culminating with the adoption of Christianity as the official Roman religion by Theodosius in 380AD. Christians had realized that it was necessary to make their religion acceptable to both the Roman population and the ruling class. it was likely that around this time text about the "agonizing" of Pontius Pilate over Christs crucifixion, minimizing Roman culpability, and the inclusion of acceptable pro Roman text “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s” took place. The early Christian church was not a separate religion, but a sect on the fringe of Judaism, which never received official sanction from that religion. Judaism was, and still is an exclusive religion, it did not allow for the inclusion of what it termed gentiles (and sinners). It was Paul (not me the other one) and his followers which won the day and allowed for inclusion of others into the Christian religion, that then allowed for the shift to Romanized Christianity by the remove of unacceptable Jewish practices including. circumcision, working on the Sabbath and eating of certain foods. The Romanizatin is what turned Christanity from a small localized sect into the religion it is today. politics played a very big part indeed.

Dear Paul,

You wrote: "Judaism was, and still is an exclusive religion, it did not allow for the inclusion of what it termed gentiles (and sinners). It was Paul (not me the other one) and his followers which won the day and allowed for inclusion of others into the Christian religion, that then allowed for the shift to Romanized Christianity by the remove of unacceptable Jewish practices including. circumcision, working on the Sabbath and eating of certain foods."

Judaism does allow for the inclusion of gentiles. The Book of Ruth tells about a gentile who became Jewish. Trump's daughter, Ivanka, has become a Jew. Jews admit to being sinners. No religion could exist without including sinners. Judaism does not approve of working on the Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath is from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday." Most Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath with exceptions such as the Seventh Day Adventists. Judaism also enjoins not eating certain foods rather than eating of certain foods.

It is a pity you do not read the text of the New Testament. The inclusion of Gentiles have always been the focus of Scripture. Example Luke 2: 32. My niece and her family are now practicing Orthodox Jews in Israel. The apostle Paul just took up the commission originally given to Abraham, that Jewish nationalism ignored.

If you read Luke 4: 18 19, Jesus stating his commission said," The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed".

Does that sound like he supports slavery? NO! He came to release people from oppression, from slavery.

Keep on posting on slavery, you have not got a case; it is a fallacious claim. The Roman Church condoned slavery as it was practised by the State, and it was carried on in other religious breakaway groups till it was outlawed in the British Parliament.

Dear Josephus,

Please cite any place where Jesus spoke against slavery.

david f,

He is quoted as saying "Do unto others etc.,"
That seems to preclude slavery.