‘Christian slavery’ letter misrepresented modern Christianity

“Was Calhoun right or wrong when he argued … the South’s Christian slavery was ‘a positive good’ and ‘a great good’ for both whites and blacks?” asks Winston McCuen in his Wednesday letter, “Teach truth about the virtues of slavery.”

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John C. Calhoun was wrong. Slavery benefited only one side of the relationship, the slave owner. There’s nothing “Christian” about slavery as practiced in the American South. Modern Christianity rejects it, along with such other Old Testament practices as wife-beating, animal sacrifice, stoning and making war in God’s name.

When using Christianity as a behavioral guide, start with “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Slavery is hardly love.

This story was originally published September 23, 2017 at 8:28 AM with the headline "‘Christian slavery’ letter misrepresented modern Christianity."