Data Over Dogma Episode 101: The Slave Bible
Mar 10, 2025
Explore the controversial Slave Bible, a severely edited version of scripture aimed at enslaved people, designed to omit messages of liberation. Delve into the motivations behind teaching a faith that conflicted with the essence of humanity. The hosts also tackle the nuances of wealth in biblical texts, questioning if Jesus truly blessed the poor or the 'poor in spirit.' They dissect early Christianity's economic roots and critique the rise of prosperity gospel, exposing its pitfalls and the exploitation of believers.
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Psalms Omitted Intentionally
- Contemporary letters recommended using Psalms and Proverbs in teaching enslaved people, yet the Slave Bible omitted Psalms entirely.
- That omission suggests intentional avoidance of lament and complaint texts that could foster resistance.
Christianity's Complicated Role
- Christian engagement with slavery swung between dehumanization and recognition of enslaved people's humanity, creating theological dilemmas about baptism and freedom.
- Churches and owners negotiated legal and doctrinal workarounds to prevent baptism becoming a claim to freedom.
How Biblical Interpretation Shifted
- Nineteenth-century debates forced abolitionists away from strict biblicism toward moral intuition or secular arguments in many cases.
- Pro-slavery defenders often relied on literal readings and historical-critical findings that the New Testament accommodated ancient household slavery.
