Daily Journal 2

Allison Rood
Topics In Literature 201
6/22/2010

Christianity in the Craft Narrative is used both to defend slaves along with their slave owners. Prestigious gd-fearing Christians holding the title of Reverend speak in favor of the Fugitive Slave Act. Rev. W. M. Rogers claimed there is nothing in the gospel that states a man should come between a slave and his master, claiming that doing such would “murder a nation’s life.” Rev. Bishop Hopkins did make a point however regarding when the bible did away with slavery. In my years of bible study, I do not recall a specific incident when slavery was completely abolished, however it was never seen in a truly kind light, especially upon Moses’ escape from Egypt with the people of Israel. But this only argues slavery, not the Fugitive Slave Act.
A slave’s freedom isn’t in question in the bible. In fact, due to Mr. Craft’s profound research, there is a biblical excerpt explaining otherwise that in fact the Fugitive Slave Act is found to be in complete opposition to what Christianity is supposed to represent. “In the 23rd chapter of Deuteronomy, 15th and 16th verses, it is thus written:--,” Craft quotes, “Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee. He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.” Therefore the bible continually supports the caring of slaves, and in what I believe to be the New Testament, it is written to “hide the outcast,” something that is strongly forbidden to do during the time of slavery. Indeed Mrs. Bird from Uncle Tom’s Cabin was correct in her assumptions to care for the poor homeless and houseless creatures in favor of her Christian beliefs.
In conclusion, with a few biblical references, it is found that the defense of the fugitive slave act by use of Christian beliefs is null. The religious figures of the time questioning Nature’s Order as referring to what I believe is the Declaration have nothing more than personal opinion to back their claims. There are no legitimate references in the bible as far as Mr. Craft has recited that allow for a slave to be returned to his master once running away, and he is also referred to as a servant, which sounds as though perhaps this slave was well taken care of. The bible also advocates that even servants should be treated well. So in this reading, the Old and New Testaments are used to prove that the treatment of slaves while in and out of the practice of slavery is found to be unchristian.