Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective
Addressing the topic “slavery and Early Christianity” is a difficult task for various reasons. First, it is complex to reach an understanding of slavery of that time. Secondly, there is the hermeneutic challenge of approaching the issue with a current mind-set that includes the notion of the abolit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Theologica |
| Online Access: | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2770 |
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| _version_ | 1823858817757085696 |
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| author | P. G. Kirchschlaeger |
| author_facet | P. G. Kirchschlaeger |
| author_sort | P. G. Kirchschlaeger |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Addressing the topic “slavery and Early Christianity” is a difficult task for various reasons. First, it is complex to reach an understanding of slavery of that time. Secondly, there is the hermeneutic challenge of approaching the issue with a current mind-set that includes the notion of the abolition of slavery. Furthermore, from a contemporary perspective, a critical account of slavery and Early Christianity is possible, with the temporal distance protecting one from the consequences linked to a judgement about slavery. Finally, there is the hermeneutic challenge of engaging with texts from Early Christianity from an ethical perspective in order to reach present-day normative propositions, while respecting the original intention of the texts. In light of these challenges, this article will offer a brief overview of opinions on slavery in Hellenistic philosophy and in the Jewish tradition, and then discuss slavery and Early Christianity, followed by a reflection on slavery and Early Christianity from a human rights perspective.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12c85e86f1a8443d89e134726af65e28 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1015-8758 2309-9089 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Theologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-12c85e86f1a8443d89e134726af65e282025-02-11T09:53:01ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892016-06-012310.38140/at.v0i23.2770Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspectiveP. G. Kirchschlaeger0University of Lucerne, Switzerland & Yale University, United States of America & University of the Free State, South Africa Addressing the topic “slavery and Early Christianity” is a difficult task for various reasons. First, it is complex to reach an understanding of slavery of that time. Secondly, there is the hermeneutic challenge of approaching the issue with a current mind-set that includes the notion of the abolition of slavery. Furthermore, from a contemporary perspective, a critical account of slavery and Early Christianity is possible, with the temporal distance protecting one from the consequences linked to a judgement about slavery. Finally, there is the hermeneutic challenge of engaging with texts from Early Christianity from an ethical perspective in order to reach present-day normative propositions, while respecting the original intention of the texts. In light of these challenges, this article will offer a brief overview of opinions on slavery in Hellenistic philosophy and in the Jewish tradition, and then discuss slavery and Early Christianity, followed by a reflection on slavery and Early Christianity from a human rights perspective. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2770 |
| spellingShingle | P. G. Kirchschlaeger Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective Acta Theologica |
| title | Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| title_full | Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| title_fullStr | Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| title_short | Slavery and Early Christianity - a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| title_sort | slavery and early christianity a reflection from a human rights perspective |
| url | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2770 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pgkirchschlaeger slaveryandearlychristianityareflectionfromahumanrightsperspective |