Why the Bible Doesn't Condemn Slavery

[abaris]

That means that if a person is a christian he is unqualified to write on the subject? Should I only seek out non-christians for opinions about the bible and slavery?

First, a christian can be as qualified to write about the subject as anybody else, if he would make serious arguments instead of resorting to simpe apologetics.

First, what makes him an expert on how slavery was enacted in the times in question? There are little to no records about that except the bible and the few rules it gives for the slave masters. Which are bad enough, since you're allowed to beat your slaves within an inch of their lives as long as they don't die within three days.

Second, the argument that slavery was so rooted in society, it couldn't be removed, is probably the weakest. The OT god is constantly handing out new marching orders, down to what kind of food is allowed and what kind of cloth to wear. If he just said so, provided there was a god, the Hebrews would have fallen to their knees and said yes sir, thank you sir.

The reality, the author is bending for apologists sake, is the fact that the bible is indeed a code of conduct, the Israelites set up for themselves. That's what the text says and that's it's real historical value. It opens a window to an ancient society and their way of thinking.