What Is The Relationship Between Frederick Douglass And Religion

Frederick Douglass has wrote many autobiographies in his life time. But, the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, Written by Himself left a lasting impact on his readers. From slavery to freedom, Frederick Douglass tells his story of all his trials and triumphs throughout his life. Throughout his narrative he makes relations to the importance of education and learning how to read and write. Douglass also makes relations to the duality of Christianity and religion with slaveholders. The purpose of the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, is to show the cruelty within being a slave. To show the misconceptions of Christians, and to rise above slavery. Douglass rose above slavery by transforming

Frederick Douglass first encounter with Christianity was when he was living with his master in St. Michael’s. Douglass was first introduced to a Sabbath school where he would learn to read the New Testament. This ended very soon due to two class leaders and other “forbidding them to meet up again.” Douglass quotes “I have said my master found religious sanction for his cruelty (Slave narrative, 354).” Douglass wanted to show the duality of Christianity and religion within slave holders. Slave holders would constantly practice one thing, but do another. Douglass has created a certain stereotype of slave holders such as being a hoax. He illustrates the conception of how you can call a slave your family, but whip them severely and mistreat them. Use slaves for their labor and take their wages at the end of the day. How can we have “men-stealers for ministers, women whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunders for church member (slave narrative, 398)?” In Douglass’s Narrative he shows how corrupt the slave holders are and the “hypocritical Christianity of this land (slave narrative, 398).” As you can see religion plays a big role in Douglass’s life and in his search for freedom. While being a slave under Mr. Freeland, Douglass and others had a desire to read. On Sundays Douglass would meet everyone at the Sabbath school where he would teach his fellows how to read. For each slave who attended did not attend because it was popular but because they wanted to learn. For every moment each slave “spent at that school they were given thirty-nine lashes (slave narrative, 372).” Frederick Douglass did not teach them because it was reputable. Douglass taught them because their minds were heavy and ready to learn. Douglass wanted to enlighten his people and help them. With helping them he helped himself. For living through and being able to help teach his people Douglass makes a reference to “giving credit to Mr.