How Do We Behave?

[Faith No More]

Then how do you explain the ten commandments? The bible is always preaching morality from rules and tells you not to make your own choice about certain acts. Why so clear on things like murder, lying, stealing, and even worshiping false idols, but so ambiguous on slavery?

Seems you could lump all those things together as clearly unhealthy. Slavery and it's parallels in modern society are in the secular realm and subjective. Is the imposed loss of liberty wrong? If we're treating prisoners fairly (not all western prisons have done so recently) is that following the biblical model inspired by God?

I guess this is where you and I must agree to disagree as I don't see the owning of a human being as being morally subjective. I conclude it is in the same realm of murder, which is never acceptable. This is why I have a problem that the bible merely sets guidelines for slavery, instead of wholly condemning it. And no I don't think we treat prisoners fairly, but that is besides the point. The point is that a circumstance can never be given in which the act of slavery would be considered just, yet things like lying and stealing can be. Why is the bible so black and white on the latter but is inept at dealing with the former? To deem slavery culturally subjective is to give the bible a pass for dropping the ball on an important moral issue. Slavery is never okay, regardless of the time or place.