Frederick Douglass And Religion Analysis

Though a Christian nation, American’s practices and believes are not consistent to Bible’s laws and commandment. Douglass argues that “the existence of slavery in this country brands republicanism as a sham, humanity as a base pretence, and Christianity as lie” (35), meaning that America is a nation of “inconsistencies.” Though they call themselves Christians, their religion is nothing but a lie as they do not follow God’s commandment of piety, they are full of pride, insolence and vices. He further argues that the “national inconsistencies… saps the foundation of religion” since it “shelters crimes” (35) against humanity. However, he does do that to ridicule Americans, rather he does it to emphasize the inconsistence amongst American believes and practices. He does it to bring to light “the attitude of the American church towards the anti-slavery movement” (32).

That which is inhuman, cannot be divine!” (19). The “American religion” was used as “a thin vail to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (20) and their “prayers and hymns, your sermon and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety and hypocrisy” (20). Hence, Douglass purpose was not to primarily motive to can “American religion” a lie was to emphasize the “national inconsistencies” and bring up change. Douglass also uses the same method when stating that “it [the Constitution] will be found to contain principles and purposes, entirely hostile to the existence of slavery” (38). Indeed, not even their own constitution approved the idea of slavery. Americans were proud of both their religion and constitution because that was what defined them as a free nation, however, as Douglass points out, America has “national inconsistencies” since some of their practices and believes neither align with their religion nor