Sunday, June 3, 2012

According to Douglass, what is the role of the church in slavery?

The notion of "false" and "real" Christianity occupies a great deal of importance in Douglass' work.  The fact that many of the slave owners, perpetrators of abuse and cruelty, were actually church going people on Sunday is where the hypocrisy resides.  Douglass, who does believe in the tenets of pure Christianity, cannot understand how people can sit in the pews on Sunday and listen to the teachings of Jesus who stresses to "love thy neighbor" and then in the afternoon, whip slaves, break up families, and engage in rape of slaves on both physical and emotional levels.  In this light, Douglass parallels the ringing of the auction and church bells as one in the same.  At the same time, the larger implication is where the Church was during the time of slavery?  If it was silent, then Douglass implies the it was complicit in the dehumanization, death, and suffering of millions.  If it spoke out, it certainly was not heard, indicating the lack of faith amongst its professed followers.

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