Why Do We Think Slavery is Evil?

[Drich]

You may recognize the following question as a spin-off from the thread by Catholic-Lady about how we determine that  some things are good and some things evil. This is a spin-off and not subject to her intentions, stated or denied. I have my own intentions and my hope is that this question will spark an interesting and thought provoking discussion.

Question. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that our sense of right and wrong comes from god. Now, since the Judeo/Christian holy books do not prohibit slavery, from where do we get the idea that slavery is evil?

Jewish Scriptures:
Leviticus 25:44-46
   However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you.  You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land.  You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance.  You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.

Since god says they are not to treat other Jews this way, this is obviously slavery based on race.

Christian Scriptures
Ephesians 6:5
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear.  Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.

When a man asked Jesus to heal his slave, Jesus did not rebuke him for having a slave in the first place, but declared that he had never seen such faith. (Luke 7:3-9)

Now fast forward to the 21st century. We have folks declaring that slavery is a great evil against men kind. This is not a question of why the Bible doesn’t speak against slavery. I’ve heard the explanations. But this question asks instead from where did we get the a priori idea to when god clearly had no problem with it.

Slavery is a non issue in Scripture because we are all slaves to something or someone. we in modern time simple relable our slavery into various sub catagories and then it becomes not only ok but expected in some instances. What we don't rename draws a picture of what slavery was in the 17th and 18th century on plantations in the US. Now the word 'slavery' only means a black man in a field being worked to death, but in the time of Christ slavery meant being poor, and making a living for yourself and your family. Got to remember the world did not have the same dependence on currency we do now, and a lot of what was done was on barter. 10 years of slvery= 10 years room board for you and your family. This is the biblical picture of slavery that many of you don't seem to get. not just a white man beating a black man in a cotton field.