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Frederick Douglass’s arguments
Frederick Douglass’s arguments
Frederick Douglass’s arguments
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Frederick Douglass’s arguments
Frederick Douglass’s arguments
Frederick Douglass’s arguments
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
1. Fredrick Douglass witnessed harsh and violent actions throughout his slave life, as slave owners utilized Christianity as a justification for these actions and for the system of slavery. Douglass experienced this religious abuse throughout his life as a slave. However, in 1832, when he began working for Captain Auld, he witnessed the misuse of religion in the setting of a violent action. After Auld whipped a young woman, he justified his actions by quoting the Bible: “He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many strips” (33).
He compares his never wavering faith and hope which stay with him through the tough times he is facing to being similar to ministering angels who are known in the Bible to guide, comfort, and protect people. Thus he is accrediting faith and hope to be the two reasons why he saw the other side of suffering, or slavery, which presented itself in the form of freedom. This enlightenment of freedom is the result of the comfort and the invisible shield of protection that these two factors provided. The two conventions helped deliver this point by providing a valid comparison to biblical figures which provides an insight into both Douglass’ Christian characterization as well as helping provide a tone of determination and positive spirit to
Douglass tells us this by saying that he believes anyone who is a slave owner cannot be a Christian. In his view, he believes being a slave owner violates the very principles of being a Christian. Auld quote he believes that the Christianity practiced by the Slave owners and the Christianity practiced by non-slave owners are two
From this quote, readers can clearly analyze that even when Douglass escaped to freedom in the North, he cannot rest easy, nor stay placid. Douglass anticipates that he might be taken back to the South, and reclaim his identity as a slave; and he is aware that anyone around him is
In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass tries to change what his readers believe about what it means to be dedicated to the American idea that “All men are created equal”. Through a clear and direct description, he conveys the reality of living as a slave, describing the harsh conditions he went through. As Douglass explains to the readers the effects of slavery, it begins to be seen as proven he and the other enslaved were deprived of basic human necessities. They had many orders they had to follow, and were often punished for even the slightest mistakes. In chapter 1, Douglass states, “The white children can tell their ages.
Choosing to go down a religious pathway does not appeal for everyone. It’s not just a hoop to jump through or to have automatic access to graduate from church; Christianity is a lifelong commitment that should change a person for the better. For slaves just like Douglass, they live their life with nothing but faith. Even in the field, “they would sometimes sing the most pathetic sentiment in the most rapturous tone, and the most rapturous sentiment in the most pathetic tone”(20). Douglass points out that singing is a refuge for slaves.
During the time when Douglass wrote this book, there were several myths which were used to justify slavery. The slaveholder during his time justified this inhuman practice using different arguments. The first argument they used was the religion. From the narrative, Douglass says that slaveholders called themselves Christians which was the dominant religion by then.
8. Explain Douglass? perspective on American Religion? Frederick Douglass sees religion as both meaningful and facilitator of slavery.
He was not the only one who “found religious sanction and support for his slaveholding cruelty.” In fact on a spectrum of christian slaveholders, he was quite moderate in his cruelty, as there was a slaveholder, Mr.Freeman, who saw to it that one of his slave’s backs was completely raw from lashings for several
Frederick Douglass Biography Summary Frederick Douglass was born into slavery sometime around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. His exact date of birth was never found. He became the most famous intellectuals of his time, he was advising president and lecturing about different causes including women’s rights. He was also writhing books about his experience during the civil war, his most famous book is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. He died in February 20, 1895.
Douglass does not hold anyone accountable for the way they use Christianity. Although, Captain Thomas Auld goes to church he uses Christianity to make him more confident in the harsh and cruel treatment of slaves. This is not the teachings of a christian and further separate slavery and the church. Also, it supports how religion can be changed to fit anybody’s personal beliefs .
Douglass also drives vast attention to the false accusation that suggests the loyalty between a slave masters is stronger than the loyalty between slaves. Within the first chapter, Douglass evidently mentions the clear hypocrisy of religion, specifically with “Christian” slave owners who used their religious teachings and the Bible to justify their gruesome treatment to their slaves. Christian slave owners and their religious practice throughout is a reoccurring theme within the text of Douglass’ autobiography. In the midst of the next several chapters, Douglass begins to describe the conditions of his plantation such as brutal beatings, murder, and many others. Within the remaining text, Douglass explains his journey of escaping freedom which fueled the creation of the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”.
He rather rejected the manipulation of doctrine utilized by the slaveholders to achieve their end. Douglass wrote that, "the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes,-a justifier of the most appalling barbarity,-a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds,-and a dark shelter under, which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection" (965). Religion was therefore not only a means of false justification for slave owners, but also a source of unified protection against any criticism of slave practices that could arise. Douglass seemed to insist that there was a genuine form of Christianity that was based upon love of God and love of "thy neighbor," but that these Southern practitioners certainly had not converted to the belief in such a doctrine.
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).
He reveals that he is incredibly grateful that Mr. Freeland isn’t religious. Douglass emphasizes his hatred of religious slaveholders by stating that they are not humane masters. He goes on saying that other slaveholders in his neighborhood profess that they are religious, but only use religion to justify their barbarity towards their slaves. He ends his statement about Freeland by describing him as his favorite master, second only to his own independence.