Have gotten this question a few times lately.. Any good answers?
I don’t know enough of what happened in Africa.
Christianity was spread by slavery and or violence. How can you still be Christian?
Discussion
51 comments
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There is nothing christian about slavery or violence. The Bible teaches against both.
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You can crack open a history book for starters
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Actually, Christianity spread peacefully into Africa. Much of Northern Africa was where Christians went after Roman persecution.
But that culture was nearly annihilated by the spread of Islam. Islam was spread by the sword, not Christianity.
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Christianity was spread by Paul and Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul taught we are all one in Christ. Paul even uses the word “slave and master and one in Christ”. So I don’t think Paul was big into slavery.
Then of course there is Titus Flavius Clemens born AD 150 and died AD 215 who was an early church father. His nickname is Clemens of Alexandria.
The city Alexandria is in Egypt which is in Africa.
So I am not sure how Christianity can be spread to Africa in the 16th century by slavery when Christianity has been there for 1500 years already.
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Look up Coptic Christian’s, and etheopian Orthodox history for starters. 1000’s of years before colonialism of Africa by europians and salve trading by europians which is what I think you’re insinuating, that Christianity came to Africa only by that means.
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Not true, Islam is spread in Africa that way. Christianity was actually in Africa long before the majority of Europe converted
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The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
Tertullian -
Because that’s not what Christianity teaches.
Look what happened under Stalin he spread atheism by force.
So how could you still be an atheist?
See how ridiculous that objection is, poorly thought out. -
Not at all here. Why don’t u look in to The Ethiopian Orthodox Church? It’s the symbol of authentic Christian Tradition standing for about 2000 years. No colonial imposition, was no such a thing called colonization. We Ethiopian Orthodox Christians don’t know what you are talking about.
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Ahem.. Muhammad was behind 62 battles.
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How many battles did Jesus fight 1, on the Cross he conquered death.
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you should check out David wood
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Fake Christians used conversion as an excuse to spread tyranny. Real Christians delivered real hope from a real Christ during times of tyranny. Not all people using God’s name are equal.
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A person who has experienced God’s gift of salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin, as God reforms his soul, will realize that enslaving another human being is wrong. He will see, with Paul, that a slave can be “a brother in the Lord” (Philemon 1:16). A person who has truly experienced God’s grace will in turn be gracious towards others. That would be the Bible’s prescription for ending slavery.
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Simon Sjødal OK. We really having this discussion. First of all slavery is in the Bible. Read the Old Testament. Secondly Islam spreader by the sword. It started against his( Mohammed) own people. Islam have slaves hint when Joseph was sold by his brothers in to caravan. Those were Ishmealites there cousins. Christians used the Bible to justify slavery. Look at America and it’s history. All three of the world’s major three religions had slaves Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Be very careful in Islamic ruled lands it is against the law shariah to convert to any other beliefs other than Islam. Islam has five pillars of beliefs if any one pillar is destroyed Islam falls.
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Maybe it’s the christiany brought by the Roman impire called Roman Catholic your saying .. That’s different because i am a Christian in the name of Jesus Christ not in the name of Roman Catholic..
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The Bible condemns race-based slavery in that it teaches that all men are created by God and made in His image (Genesis 1:27). At the same time, the Old Testament did allow for economic-based slavery and regulated it. The key issue is that the slavery the Bible allowed for in no way resembled the racial slavery that plagued our world in the past few centuries.
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Why do people enslave others? Humans have heart problems like greed, pride, and love of power. Christianity is about Christ, the Savior, saving each of us who believe in Him from our OWN sin problem, as well as the consequence of our sin which is death.
The fact of sin and oppression in the world proves that each one of us, among mankind, needs a Savior who can rescue us from our own lusts and greed and love for power over others.
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Hi Simon. I live in South Africa and my family has been here for over 200 years so I have some first hand experience comments.
Slavery started well before colonisation and was carried out by many nations so called Christian countries like Britain, etc. The Arabs were great slavers on the East Coast of Africa. So Islamic regions also carried out slavery.
Although slavery has been in existence for thousands of years I believe it was an evil system with aot of inhuman treatment to slaves by their masters. I do not believe that the bible condones the subjugation of others. That certainly does not show Christian love.
I cannot comment about slavery from an Islamic point of view as I do not have sufficient knowledge. But to support an even system raises many questions.Colonisation came later in the 1800 hundreds generally. This was a terrible action carried out by so called civilised countries: Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, etc. They came to another nations country and by force said is now our colonised country and you must swear allegiance to the Queen. Minerals and peoples were plundered by so called Christian countries. Is this Chrustianity. I don’t think so. That is why today Africans are so against colonialism.
During this time Christian missionaries came to Africa. Some good, some bad. But Christianity was brought to Africa. A lot of Africans now believe. Praise God.
There are also many Islamic Africans.
I hope this helps Simon. -
Say they are right, does that disprove the resurrection? does it disprove the need for a creator? does it disprove that Jesus taught we ought to love and give our lives for one another? Becuase people sin, does it take away the need for a saviour?
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I’d think its a genetic fallacy. Even if that were true, it does nothing to determine the truth or falsity of Christianity. Ppl have done horrible things for all sorts of reasons. If that assertion is true, then this would just be another example of that.
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It wasn’t spread by slavery and violence tho, unless you are reading a different history
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How can a ynof us be Christians. The same way. Being Christian is mot a statement of our moral worth but of God’s unmerited love. Plus especially the power of the spirit.
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Wow, didn’t realize that, I will stop being a Christian immediately. It would be better to go to hell than be associated with sinners.
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Perseverance is very important about the situation like that, but during the time of the apostles,they were confronted persecution but still as christian until death
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In our study of slave trade in Africa, there is something call necessary evils. For example education.
I submit that the best of these necessary evils is Christianity. The white man brought us into captivity to Christ and that is true freedom.
We are eternally grateful. -
This is the biggest lie the Devil is telling Africans today, that Christianity is for the white man. We had a guy here in South Africa who had a covenant with God his name was Abraham Stockenstroom and God told Abraham that He wants the “brown man”. There are a whole list of prophecies that were given to our forefathers, here in South Africa. Then we could also look at the Abraham and his wife Katurah who was an Ethiopian woman… She was African… God did not leave Africa out of the story of Christ… And many Africans forget this… We are Abraham’s seed… Next is the divine revelation from Christ himself… We were not there when our ancestors accepted Jesus. We don’t know how He moved in their hearts… It also says that it is God who allows people to say that Jesus is Lord… so we know that somehow, somewhere… God showed his face. This is a classic example of God turning something Evil around and using it for His Good.
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Black Islamics sold other blacks into slavery, and still do to this day.
Christians in Great Britain and the US ended slavery, with the US paying for it with 600,000 lives.
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Because Christianity is true, and because adherents failing to act in accord with their beliefs has nothing to do with the truth of those beliefs.
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They don’t understand slavery was already present in Africa at the time. It wasn’t invented by Christians. The stop of slavery was as much a Christian effort than anything else. Just because some ‘Christian’s’ do something doesn’t mean it’s endorsed by or supportable from scriptures.
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How some Christians May have spread Christianity not mean Christianity’s claims are false.
This is classic “If God real, why bad thing happen?”
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I get this all the time in fact looking forward to having a live debate on this soon…… Ppl who say Christianity is a white mans religion
One good answer is to let them know that The biblical slavery vs the 1500 1600s slavery is totally different. For GOD is not for slavery for we know this by Exodus 20:2. When he say I’m the Lord Your GOD who got you out of the house of slavery.
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A lot of things are done under a lot of banners.
Christianity is about following Christ, not following people who claim to be Christians.
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Romans 8:28-30.. If we only going to make this verse a solid faith we accept in our life… Everything that are happenings (in the past, present, and future) bad or good, it is for good to those who love God( son of God/people of God). Mostly in the darkest part of life, we will seek for light, or light found us. This dark experience of yours will be used by our God to be the brightest testimony to others who need light also. For the glory of God..
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It amazing when you ask questions such as this no one knows history . True Christianity was and us spread peacefully and like it or not Islam is and was done by the sword .
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My answer is that I did not believe in Jesus at 17 due to slavery or violence, and neither did any of the Christians I know.
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Faith knows no color. Religion may have shades of color. But one has a choice which church to attend that knows no discrimination. God bless.
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You can tell by the comments if they are Christians or not .
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Look bitterness , angry and hard hearts get anchored in a soul unwilling to forgive . And only God can soften the heart but they must chose to forgive and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior .
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Christianity is not a religion. Its the manifestation of the life of jesus on planet earth. Its a revelation. The church was founded in africa through/during the era of slavery and thence the result of losing so many lifes as a result of the change that came with the light of Gods word.
Jesus is Alive.
#Allthebest -
Christianity didn’t spread to Africa through slavery or colonialism. The Ethiopian Eunuch was one of the first non-Jewish converts recorded and the Apostle Paul took missions trips to Ethiopia. Ethiopia was Christian before most of Europe. The particular brand of christianity spread through slavery, colonialism and violence isn’t remotely Biblical.
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Look even the demons believe in God and they also know there day of judgement is coming . There one main goal is to take as many to hell as possible to suffer . It’s utter foolishness to debater it’s discuss those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior . He who’s on the Lord side say it now he is is in the devils side say it now . Those who mock Jesus will not those who accept Jesus will . We are not ashamed of our Savior but there are those who are . Either you have acknowledge your a sinner repented of your sins or not . Either you have asked forgiveness of your sins or not . Now Lakers make it simple accept Jesus as your Lord and or don’t free choice . But now you will have no excuse when you stand at The Great White Throne Judgement . Hell was created for the devil and his angels not for Gods creation man . Mans own choice will decide now chose which God you will serve . If God Is God serve Him if the devil is god serve him .
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Each country has its own story. We can concede that European control was established mainly for economic reasons. I doubt that there was much in the way of forced conversions. In North Africa Islam is also strong. Christianity has thrived after independence.
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Christianity has thrive since The Son Of God Jesus came to saved men from their sins .
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Look at history it was spread by torture and persecution
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That’s an easy one… the Christianity that enforced slavery and violence was not at all Christian.. anyone or group can claim a name.. but the authenticity is in its nature
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Check out and read the book of Acts for yourself… they were the earliest church/Christians. The book would also show you how it spread. It was the Spirit of God that brought the fire in them to spread the Gospel of the Lord.
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Up until the 7th century, Christianity was the main religion in Africa. There was no slavery. It wasn’t until Muhammad started his pilgrimage. The Quran says that Satan is black, Africans are “raisin heads,” anyone who calls Muhammad black should be killed and many other stupid things. The African slave trade was started by the spread of Islam and in an effort to keep Muhammad from killing African tribes.
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