Slavery is not wrong because slaves get beaten and mutilated and killed. That is a by product of the real problem with slavery which is that the slaves have no control over their economic value.

If my employer tells me they are going to cut my salary in half, I can (and probably would) leave. The slave has no such recourse when his owner cuts their food in in half. As property they have no ability to exert their own economic (and other) rights.

The power is wholly possessed by the owner and such their is no balance. If I had no ability to leave, I’m sure my employer would recast our relationship to be more in their favor. Balance is only struck by choice and continuing choice.

I don’t know about the state of slavery circa biblical times, but I would be truly surprised if it was as benign as suggested. The relationship is so unbalanced it practically begs for abuse.

Now if you want to talk about hiring someone to do work and paying them in room and board. That is an acceptable relationship. The employee always has the option to leave and seek other means of economic growth. That is my way of saying any argument about slavery being about poverty mitigation is bunk.

I don’t care what it says in the bible and how slaves treated. Slavery is wrong.

–Zafkiel