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Using Biblical Examples And Logos To Support Slavery

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Slavery was one of the most important economic aspects of life of the Old South. It depended on the perpetuation of slavery. When their system of life was being questioned, the author, who is claimed to be anonymous, defended their ways as morally correct as mandated by God. The essay appeared in De Bow’s Review in September of 1850. The author of the essay was anonymous because he “apparently did not want to be associated with such a straight forward summary of the pro slavery argument” (Finkleman, 108). The essayist makes excellent points by using Biblical examples and Logos to support slavery. However, it is unfair to use the Bible to simply account for slavery, unless someone can argue that all other immoral acts in the Bible can be emulated. …show more content…

The author states, “A very large party in the United States believe that holding slaves is morally wrong; this party founds its belief upon precepts taught in the Bible, and takes that book as the standard of morality and religion” (Finkleman, 108). The author of the essay ties slavery with morality since it was taught in the Bible as right. “The Bible teaches clearly and conclusively that the holding of slaves is right; and if so, no deduction from general principles can make it wrong” (Finkleman, 109). He states that the teachings of the Bible are regarded as the moral truth and because slavery is evident in the Bible, it must also be regarded as the moral …show more content…

The Bible is a book written by numerous men, a work that is indistinct and eclectic and can be understood in many different ways. Consequently, there will always be those people that fit the Bible for their own interpretations; utilizing the passages that are only useful to them while disregarding the passages that dispute their perspectives. Such a justification can never be shown “clearly” or “conclusively” as the author of this essay claims (Finkleman, 109). He speaks of Abraham’s servants being in a similar or worse condition than the slaves of the South in the 1850s. But, this statement cannot be proved. It is true that Abraham’s servants were referred to as properties. But it was not noted in the Bible that they were beaten, abused, or raped. The Bible does frequently assert to treat all with kindness and mercy, which this author

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