Video & Multimedia
In reply to the discussion: Maybe the most disturbing video I have seen. [View all]Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Don't forget that for every pulpit that denegrated slavery (and the historical case for this has been grossly overstated), there were dozens, if not hundreds more that preached the exact opposite. Many, if not most of those pulpits equated abolition to atheisim, or in other words, if you were an abolitionist, you couldn't possibly be a Christian. Don't forget also that religion in general and especially Christianity fully supported and perpetuated the practice of slavery for thousands of years and still stupports the racism that followed abolition all the way to today. The Enlightenment movement in the US had far more to do with abolition than any small role Christianity ever played just like it was instrumental in ending slavery in Europe before it ever happened in the US. If anything Christianity delayed the abolitionist movement and was counterproductive to its goals.
As far as a 5th great awakening happening right now, if it is it's a pretty piss poor one. Christian identification as a function of overall population has been in serious decline since the 70's with no end in sight.