Why Do We Think Slavery is Evil?

[Rhondazvous]

That an argument begins with a subjective value judgement such as "do you want to be a slave" doesn't actually -mean- that the argument is an appeal to emotion, or even fallacious.  -All- value judgments begin this way, and -all- arguments pursuant to those value judgments originate from this point.  

The key is this, as it is in -any- argument, after having agreed that you do not wish to be a slave...what can be reasonably and logically inferred from that starting point, can you make a slave of another?

I would never agree to be a slave because I would rather have my current job and freedom to do as I wish. But this is completely disingenuous to the day and age of the bible. Slaves were not denied the freedom to start a coffee shop or be able to work at best buy. They were basically denied the ability to hoe someone else field. And like I mentioned in another post, the Hebrew slaves willingly entered into this agreement so they obviously didn't feel that it was demeaning or immoral to be a slave or to hold slaves. Non Hebrews weren't given the same rights and prospect of freedom but I know that God did command the Jews to be kind and accepting to the alien residents. Even reminding them that they were slaves in a foreign land and mistreated.

As I pointed out in the op, the law of god made a difference between how Jewish slaves wwere treated and how the Jews were allowed to treat everryone else that they enslaved. Was biblical slavery cruel?

Exodus 21:20-21
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money


This may be a step up from American slavery where no master ws ever punished for killing his slaves, but would you exonerate a man who beat you if you lived on for a day or two? Maybe I shouldn't ask you that since you seem to think it's okay to treat others in a way you wouldn't want to be treated.


Maybe I should rephrase my question as from where do we get the idea that enslaving gentiles is evil.