What Is The Relationship Between Frederick Douglass And Religion

Religion, is viewed as having two identities; false and true. During this time, the forms serve different purposes and functions depending on the people. Published in 1845, the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass written by Frederick Douglass was an inspirational autobiography to others. It shows the true institution of slavery and how slaves are affected by it. One of the many themes brought up throughout the Narrative, especially the theme of religion. Religion, including Christianity, affected both Douglass and other slaves. Religion and slavery have a lot to do with each other due to the fact that many of the slaveholders are religious. Douglass describes how religion affects their treatments. The religious slaveholders tend to

He questions his faith in God saying, “O God, save me! God, deliver me! Let me be free! Is there any God? Why am I a slave?” (Douglass, 38). Douglass does not understand why God chose Douglass to live a life full of hardship. He does not know how righteous God is when God is allowing Douglass to be a slave which is wrong. Douglass does not really know if there is any God. If there is one, he wanted God’s help in order to become free. Religion is very powerful. Douglass does believe in God. However, religion is kind of a mockery to Douglass since his beliefs are toyed back and forth to a point that it seems to be a

The Narrative states, “He seemed to think himself equal to deceiving the Almighty...Poor man! such was his disposition, and success at deceiving, I do verily believe that he sometimes deceived himself into the solemn belief, that he was a sincere worshipper of the most high God," (Douglass, 38) Mr. Covey and Thomas Auld were both slaveholders who are very religious, much so that they seem to be deceiving. They act like they are above all the slaves and as high as God. To Douglass, Mr. Covey is just an act and a hypocrite. He is not really considered a Christian. Thomas Auld was a cruel slave owner, religious, and had confidence in himself. Douglass shows the distinction between false and true Christians. They deceived themselves, but also to Douglass and the rest of their slaves. They used the Bible against the slaves showing them how holding slaves was not wrong. The slaveholders believed that institution of slavery is valid and they used the text to make the slaves believe that it is true. They use the example of Ham from the scripture about how God enslaved Ham’s descendant’s. Slaveholders hid behind the words of the Bible to excuse the way they treat the slaves. Another way that they appealed to the slaves, was when they gave the slaves a break for Christmas. This was used in order to prevent the slaves from rebeling. They used Christianity more so as a ideal than