Frederick Douglass Religion

In the year of 1800, Christianity was very prevalent among the times, and America’s dependence was on slavery. Frederick Douglass, one of the world’s best orators at the time, was a former slave that was primarily ignorant of most things, specifically religion as he questioned the exist and being of God regarding him and his people's situation in society. Eventually Frederick escaped slavery learning to become literate. With that came Fredrick’s ability to account for his situation in society, along with the morality of human beings and the divinity of this inanimate God. Overall Frederick Douglass came to accept catholic views, with his stances on, violence, poverty, and inequality. A way Frederick Douglass supports Catholic views is by

“Everything looked clean, new, beautiful… I saw few or no dilapidated houses” (Douglass n.p). Douglass here discretely, is trying to display the adversity poor slaves face by portraying the lavishness of the white slaveholders. In addition, Catholic views are in agreement to Douglass’ views. “Within the community of believers there can be room for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life” (Deus Caritas Est ). The Catholic church is distinctly stating that physical poverty is wrong and among the “christian world” there should be none. Douglass’ views on spiritual poverty convincingly supports catholic values. “I finally found that change of heart which come by “‘casting all ones care’ upon God, and by having faith in Jesus Christ, as the redeemer, Friend, and savior of those who diligently seek him” (Douglass n.p). This brilliantly shows catholic values reinforced by douglass’ conversion after his previous doubt in God in his My bondage and my freedom (... Black Atheism). Disregard to human life and dignity destroys the spirit of the living. “For slavery can change a saint into a sinner, and an angel into a demon” (Douglass n.p). This relates to an earlier paragraph about the perverted mind which in this case eventually affects the spirit as well which leads up to eternal poverty, simply without God. Douglass again in complete agreement with the Catholic stance on spiritual poverty.

For instance, during his fight with the “nigger-breaker”, Covey in My Bondage and My Freedom, Douglass earned a sense of freedom and manhood. There’s a underlying theme which goes to show Douglass’ support for just violence when necessary in order to achieve freedom. Moreover, Douglass subtly supports just violence, stating, “The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion” (Douglass n.p). Here Douglass amounts the blame on the cause of rebellion which in this case is slavery discreetly showing his support for the justified slaves resisting slavery. Likewise, Catholicism essentially supports just violence. “As long freedom has not bound itself definitely to its ultimate good which is God, there is a possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach” (CCC 1732). Comparatively, Repudiation of violence is prevalent amongst Frederick Douglass’ stance. “ … mangled and emaciated creatures… the head, neck, and shoulders of Mary were literally cut to pieces. I have frequently felt her head and found it covered with festering sores caused by the lash of her cruel mistress” (CCC 1197). Indicated by these accounts master were able to maintain slaves by using dehumanization and violence as a tool, further, using female slaves to