Esquilax Wrote:it's just for some odd reason you've chosen to ignore the inconvenient parts and go right to the rules for Hebrew slaves.
hock: That's not at all what I meant! Let me explain...I was commenting on slavery in general. not specifically Hebrew or foreign slaves. Leviticus says that Hebrew slaves should be released on the year of jubilee and that they should also be treated well, unlike they were in Egypt. Then it says that foreign slaves are for life, but it makes no comment on the 2nd part of the law, saying that slaves should not be treated with oppression. It seems like that law still applies to foreign slaves as well as Hebrew ones.
I may be wrong on that point, but either way, my main argument was from Exodus, where it says that anyone who kidnaps someone and sells them as a slave, as well as anyone who owns someone who has been kidnapped, shall be put to death. that means that a foreigner could willingly become a slave (perhaps because they already lived there, e.g. the Canaanites in Joshua 16:10).
But believe me when I say this: I honestly do believe that the Bible is true. I love talking with you guys about this stuff, but in my mind I am risking nothing by doing it and have nothing to lose by being honest about what is said in it. From the beginning of this thread I have not lied or skewed my beliefs; I stand by what I have said so far. So please believe me when I tell you that ignoring part of the passage was not my intention.
