On Justification: Equality, Scripture & Politics

“Equal dignity in the eyes of the law.”

                                    Justice Anthony Kennedy

Lincoln by Gardner

We’ve Been Here Before

For 100 years, from 1865 till 1965,  free blacks were denied equality based on phonied up assertions about their lack of morality and intelligence.

And, for hundreds of years before that, the pernicious and vulgar institution of slavery was actually justified by, you guessed it, religion and the bible.

From the pulpit and from the master’s porch too, biblical verses were  recited in defense of perpetual enslavement.

Rules of Ownership:

“As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever.”

Leviticus 25: 4-46

On Obeying the Master

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,”

Ephesians 6: 5

On How to Treat a Lady

Plainly, religious texts, and religion generally, have been consistently used to justify hatred, enslavement, even murder.

The notion that in 2015 politicians and their followers will use the bible to further promote bigoted and disgusting behavior simply casts further doubt on the relevance of religion in a free and equal society,