My original plan, to compare the northern and southern states of antebellum America with regard to the influence of religion on the attitude to slavery, proved to be problematic, because of the difficulties connected with getting information about the local residences of the different denominations. I found a lot of information about several aspects dealing with connections between religion and slavery, and thus I concentrated on the other aspect of the title, which were southern proslavery argumentations. As far as the idea of comparison is concerned, I collected information about the different denominations of antebellum America and their contribution to abolition or their indifference and inability to take a stand against slavery. To find relevant secondary literature I searched the university library Magdeburg, the university library Hamburg and the digital library of the “Making of America” website. I also found secondary literature in the internet through a search via the search engine www.google.de.
First I want to present the different churches and denominations of antebellum America and their attitude to slavery. In most cases a development in the attitude can be observed. The second part of this essay concentrates on religiously oriented proslavery argumentations and is separated in different approaches and biblical aspects. The final topic deals with the conversion of slaves, which I found interesting, too, but I decided to mention this aspect only to some extent, because the centre of attention was supposed to be the attitude to slavery in connection to religion. Since I found more information than I initially had expected, I found myself compelled to make more footnotes, than I would have preferred to do. Since this is caused by the wealth of information, I ask to be excused for this.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Different Churches and their Attitude to Slavery
2.1. Churches and Slavery in General
2.2. The Protestant Episcopal Church
2.3. The Methodist Episcopal Church
2.4. The Presbyterian Church
2.5. Congregationalists
2.6. Baptists
2.7. The Society of Friends / Quakers
2.8. Other Denominations
3. Religious Proslavery Argumentations
3.1. Southerners’ Self-Assessment and the Justification of Slavery
3.2. Noah’s Curse on Ham and his Son Canaan
3.3. Jesus and Slavery
3.4. Comparisons between Slavery in the Bible and in America
3.5. The Terms “Slave” and “Servant” in the Bible
4. Aspects of the Conversion of Slaves
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives & Core Themes
This work examines the complex and often contradictory relationship between Christian religious institutions and the institution of slavery in Antebellum America. The primary research goal is to analyze how various denominations navigated the issue of slavery, focusing particularly on the rhetorical strategies used by Southern proponents of slavery to justify the practice through biblical interpretation.
- The role and attitude of various American church denominations regarding slavery.
- The prevalence of pro-slavery arguments rooted in biblical exegesis.
- The interpretation of specific biblical figures and narratives, such as Noah’s curse on Canaan.
- The social and psychological impact of religious conversion on enslaved populations.
- The inherent conflict between Christian doctrine and the dehumanization required for slavery.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Noah’s Curse on Ham and his Son Canaan
In the story of Noah proslavery clergymen found a biblical defence for the racially based slavery of the South. After the ark came to rest, Noah planted grapes “and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without“ (Gen. 9:21-22). For Ham’s indiscretion, Noah cursed Ham’s son Canaan, and declared: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren” (Gen. 9:25). Southern ministers interpreted the curse of Canaan to mean that he became black, and thus they argued that the Bible justified not only slavery, but the enslavement of Africans, the descendants of Canaan. 33 With regard to the question, whether Africans can be seen as the descendants of Canaan, John Patrick Daly claims that antebellum abolitionists as well as proslavery southerners accepted that blacks were “the children of Ham”. 34 In his book “Noah’s Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery” Stephen Haynes clarifies that the connection between Canaan and Africa was established in the eighth century by Alcuin and was based on the co-called Table of Nations in Genesis 10.35 But Haynes emphasizes that it is actually not possible to identify Canaan as the exact ancestor of Africans according to Genesis 10.36 He says that proslavery intellectuals did not take the passage about Noah’s curse literally and Genesis 10’s Table of Nations contained that Canaan had no connection to Africa.37 This view is confirmed by Joseph Parrish Thompson, who says that the descent of the black race from Ham has never been satisfactorily proven. 38 Whether the Table of Nations in Genesis 10 contains a connection between the black race or not, it cannot be justified by any means to enslave a complete people, to my mind. In 1845 Frederick Douglass observed that the mixture of races implied that there could not be a “race of Ham”, because many slaves, like himself, had white fathers, who were their masters at the same time.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the influence of religion on attitudes toward slavery and the shift toward analyzing Southern pro-slavery arguments.
2. The Different Churches and their Attitude to Slavery: Examines how various denominations, including Methodists, Presbyterians, and Quakers, reacted to the slavery question and their varying levels of participation in or opposition to the institution.
3. Religious Proslavery Argumentations: Analyzes the theological and hermeneutical methods used by pro-slavery advocates to justify slavery through biblical texts and characterizations.
4. Aspects of the Conversion of Slaves: Discusses the motivations behind the religious conversion of slaves, highlighting the use of religion as a tool for control and obedience.
5. Conclusion: Reflects on the author’s findings, noting the inherent hypocrisy in Christian slaveholding and the malleability of religious interpretation.
6. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used for the research.
Keywords
Antebellum America, Slavery, Religion, Christianity, Churches, Proslavery, Biblical Interpretation, Abolitionism, Noah's Curse, Ham, Canaan, Conversion, Denominations, Ethics, Social control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the relationship between the Christian religion and the institution of slavery in Antebellum America, specifically examining how churches and religious leaders navigated the controversy.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The themes include the differing stances of various denominations, the use of the Bible to justify slavery, the concept of biblical "servitude" versus American slavery, and the strategic conversion of enslaved people.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to determine how Christian organizations and proponents of slavery utilized religious discourse to reconcile their faith with the existence of enslaved populations in the American South.
Which methodology does the author use?
The author employs a literature-based historical analysis, evaluating theological arguments and official church statements from the Antebellum period alongside modern secondary historical research.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body analyzes the official attitudes of denominations like the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches, as well as specific biblical justifications such as the "Curse of Ham" and interpretations of Jesus' teachings.
What are the key terms associated with this study?
Key terms include Antebellum America, biblical justification, slavery, religious interpretation, abolitionism, and denominational schisms.
How did Southern ministers use the story of Noah to justify slavery?
They interpreted the "Curse of Canaan" as a divine mandate, claiming that the descendants of Ham (identified as Africans) were divinely destined to serve as slaves to the "superior" white race.
Why does the author argue that Christian slavery was hypocritical?
The author argues that the core tenet of Christian morality—treating others as one would wish to be treated—is fundamentally irreconcilable with the dehumanizing nature of slavery, regardless of theological justifications.
What was the role of slave conversion in the South?
Conversion was often encouraged because slaveholders believed "saved" slaves were more disciplined, obedient, and would perceive their servitude as part of a divinely ordained social order.
- Quote paper
- Jascha Walter (Author), 2004, Slavery and Religion in Antebellum America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45623
