(January 9, 2012 at 6:47 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote:(January 8, 2012 at 11:11 pm)organiccornflake Wrote: this whole debate is pointless.
I agree, this whole debate is pointless, because you refuse to see that owning another human being as property and forcing them to work against their will is totally wrong and never, ever OK under any circumstances, even if you treat them well. Owning another human being is never right and totally immoral, despite what your precious bible scripture says. And if you're going to keep claiming that it's OK to own another human being because God said it's OK, you're beyond help.
No; this debate is pointless because you can't think of slavery 5000 years ago in another part of the world as the same slavery as you are thinking of in modern day. And to think that they are the same thing is just silly.
The slavery that you are thinking of is wrong. The kind where people are kidnapped and forcibly turned into slaves. This idea is condemnedin this verse. Because of the poverty and the way that governments were set up (The wealthy were super rich, the poor super poor, and no significant welfare system to be heard of,) people would sell themselves into slavery as to avoid dying from however many different threats. It was even commanded that "slaves" be given a mandatory day off per week in this verse.
As I said, believe it or not, things are a tad bit different 5000 years ago in the middle east.
Yes; they were forced to work, but only because that is the agreement they settled on, and your word was very important in biblical days. It should also be noted that the hebrew word "Eved" can also mean "Slave" or "servant." My sources are here, and even your website, evilbible dot com.