I was thinking the same thing about the translation problems, but I think you're also possibly making a mistaken assumption. You described slavery in common perception way, not in a legal definition. Basically, as I understand it, anybody who was a laborer under the authority of another was legally considered chattel. This human chattel, or property, did not have certain rights and freedoms until released from their bondage of servitude. There were varying laws regarding the treatment of these people over the ages, some requiring care and treatment such as indentured servants, others requiring the use of the whip, but all of these are variations and thus sub-classes of slavery.
While legal status and privledges are a part of it, Thomas Aquinas best described it as ultimately coming down to free will. If a person is not permitted unfettered free will, then they are considered a slave. And even if you suggest that at the time the commandments were supposedly given, that slavery was different than indentured servitude, they are not now. Therefore by modern definitions of slavery, the commandment regarding indentured servants is still not cool. -Kevin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judith Dinowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 12:33 PM Subject: Re: 10 commandments > Maidservant and manservant is not a friendly way of saying slavery, for a very simple reason. Slavery as defined in the bible is not slavery as you may be thinking. Look at what is required of the master of the slave: They have to take care of the servant. They have to PAY the servant. They have to RELEASE the servant after a certain amount of time. It's more like indentured work service for a finite term. Slavery as we understand it in America is grabbing someone, chaining them, forcing them to work and basically depriving them of all rights and privileges. This is not slavery as allowed in the bible. > > To claim that maidservant and manservant are slaves in chains (implied) is just wrong. > > But the problem is trying to translate a word and concept in Hebrew into Greek, and Latin, then Middle English, and English is going to lead to great misunderstandings. If you want to know how slavery is defined in the Bible and what its laws are, then learn Hebrew or ask someone who knows. ; ) > > If you want sources, I can take time off from writing up reviews for Fusion Authority to look them up for you. > > Judith > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nick McClure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 1:22 PM > Subject: RE: 10 commandments > > > > There was an e-mail that I posted earlier > > > > 1-5 > > http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_10c7.htm > > > > 6-10 > > http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_10c9.htm > > > > Here are the full commandments, often they are displayed in a more condensed > > version, like the one you listed > > > > > > 4th Commandment; Verses 8-11: > > > > "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and > > do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in > > it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy > > manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is > > within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, > > and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD > > blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." > > > > Manservant and maidservant are considered to be friendly words for slave > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Judith Dinowitz [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 12:55 PM > > > To: CF-Community > > > Subject: Re: 10 commandments > > > > > > Okay, where do the commandments condone slavery? Show me where in this > > > list there's anything about slavery: > > > > > > 1. I am Hashem your God who took you out of Egypt. > > > 2. Do not have another god before Me. > > > 3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain. > > > 4. Keep the Sabbath to make it holy. > > > 5. Honor your father and your mother. > > > 6. Do not murder. > > > 7. Do not commit adultery. > > > 8. Do not steal. > > > 9. Do not bear false witness against your fellow human being. > > > 10. Do not covet your neighbors' wife > > > > > > I'm waiting for your answer. : ) Come on. > > > > > > Judith > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm?link=t:5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm?link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Signup for the Fusion Authority news alert and keep up with the latest news in ColdFusion and related topics. http://www.fusionauthority.com/signup.cfm
