Why Did so Many Christians Support American Slavery?

Throughout the church’s existence, there have been times when it was on the right side of history. Other times, it has been on the wrong side of history. And in other cases, it was on both sides, simultaneously. This was certainly the case in America when it came to the institution of chattel slavery.

Prior to and all throughout the American Civil War, devout Christians stood on either side of the abolition movement. They were all reading the same Bible, but somehow they were coming to drastically different conclusions when it came to the American system of slavery. As a result, America was one of the last western nations to abolish it, decades after much of Europe—and even British colonies around the world.

In this episode, we explore the history of the abolitionist movement through a theological lens. What biblical arguments were preachers and theologians making for (and against) abolition at the time? And why did it take America’s bloodiest war to settle the question once and for all?

RELATED RESOURCES

READ: Colorblindness and the Persistence of White Supremacist Theology
READ: 4 Ways Colorblind Theology Falls Short

REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

The Civil War as a Theological Crisis” by Mark Noll

Subscribe On Apple Podcasts | Follow On Spotify

Latest Episodes

Is There Such a Thing as a Gay Christian?
Do the 10 Commandments Belong on Public School Classroom Walls?
Tony Evans, Robert Morris, Carl Lentz, and the Fallout From Pastor Scandals
What If We’ve Gotten Heaven All Wrong?
Is the Pope Catholic? Francis' Appearance on 60 Minutes
PTSD, John MacArthur, and Mental Health Awareness Month
What Is the Purpose of the Church?
What To Make of Richard Dawkins' Cultural Christianity
When and How Should Christians Start Disciplining Their Children?
A Better Christian Vision for Immigration
Who Is the Devil? A Deep Dive on Satan
A Christian Perspective on IVF and Other Reproductive Technologies
Cremation, Sainthood, Unforgivable Sin, and Other Questions
Religious Scrupulosity: Super Faithful or Mentally Ill?
Is Alistair Begg Wrong About Christians Attending Same-Sex Weddings?
Does Paul Contradict Jesus? Progressive Christianity on TikTok
Is Joe Biden a Christian Nationalist?
Asian Jesus? Exploring Our Cultural Assumptions About Jesus Through Artwork
Pro-Life or Abortion Abolitionism: Who’s Right?
The Christian Origins of Santa Claus
Can You Walk Away From Church Without Walking Away From Jesus?
Are Ghosts Real?
Seeking Moral Clarity in Israel and Palestine
Unconditional Conference, Andy Stanley, and LGBTQ+ Issues in the Church
Ecumenism: How United Should the Global Church Be?

Explore More Episodes