Question by AvidReader: If Biblical “slavery” was such a horrendous thing,why was there a voluntarily means of becoming lifetime slave?
…….in perpetual servitude to a particular family?
Surely someone wouldn’t voluntarily “doom” themselves under “contract law of the land” to a permanent state if it was a miserable position under which to live.
Best answer:
Answer by Jon M dn ǝpıs sıɥ┴
If it was between that and starving to death or being killed by rival tribes, I think I’d go with slavery.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Originally posted 2010-12-04 18:28:42.
it was done with contracts..
You’d be surprised what a person might do in order to provide for their family.
There’s no way you’re going to whitewash this one, Junior — slavery is inherently WRONG, and there’s nothing you can say that’s going to make a wrong thing right.
Lots of us volunteer to do jobs we hate because we have limited opportunities.
I’m going to need a source that backs up your claims.
I assume that you have never been hungry.
That’s why it’s voluntary. If the master is cruel or mean to his servant, then he by no means is required to stay with him. But if he was better of as a servant than on his own, then he could become a permanent servant.
To be an indentured servant was really not a bad way of life those days for some. It was an assurance of a steady job with all the benefits, including being taken care of in one’s old age. Somewhat different than slavery, I dare say!
Not being a slave in this country had it’s disadvantages.. Remember slaves got fed. If you were not being fed for whatever reason slavery would be a way to live.
When we had the stock market crash of the 30′s people jumped out of windows to avoid being broke. What is slavery to that?
lol i love christians who attempt to moralize slavery. You should be ashamed of yourself.
If their choices were basically, “die of starvation since your family has no resources,” or “enslave yourself to a wealthy family and live, though in servitude,” it’s pretty obvious isn’t it?
Do you guys *ever* think things through before you post?
Peace.
People do things out of desperation or stupidity all the time.
Note that even the Jesus character of the Bible talked about whipping and cutting up slaves, and selling families.
Matthew 18:25
“But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.”
Matthew 24:45-51
“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 12:42-48
And the Lord [Jesus] said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants [slaves], to give them their rations at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Do some reading of history…..today it is called employment…
indentured servant, apprentice, ladies maid, house maid, house servant,
people/families lived on the wealthy person property and did the work for which they received home/food/security for self and family.