Cause & Effect is tough. So, let's first lay out the facts without assigning causation.
I'm going to post and give you a chance to comment to make sure we agree on the facts.In the fifteenth century Europeans began extensive overseas exploration. Almost immediately they began taking slaves. That practice was sanctioned by Christian Church.
Both the Church and nations received great financial benefit from the slave trade and the land stolen by explorers from native people.
By the end of the eighteenth century Americans and Europeans began ending the slave trade. By the middle of the nineteenth century the institution of slavery had ended. Must of our history since that time has concerned treating non-whites equally under the law and within social institutions.
Christians were involved in the movements to end both the slave trade and the institution of slavery. Likewise Christians have been involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The Church, at least in the United States, was split on the issue of slavery. Most who opposed the Civil Rights movement were Christian.
I checked myself on some of the history here: http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html
What other facts do we need before we start looking for motivation & causation?
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Matt: My apologies for the delay in time. I've been traveling for work this week -- so greetings from lovely Long Island, NY.
My understanding is that Portugal brought slavery to Europe in the early to mid 15th century.
My research has informed me that several centuries earlier, the Roman Empire had a more onerous slavery up until Christianity spread throughout Europe. I think that easing slavery's awfulness is a moral improvement.
So we have Christianity coincident with an easing of slavery, as well as Christian nations being responsible for a systematic and efficient commoditization of human beings.
I do believe the Presbyterians and Methodists were vocal opponents of slavery in the US in the 1800s. I'm unsure if there was a formal Christian Church in formal support of slavery, but I guess I'm sure there was.
I have no information about the religious affiliation of people on either side of the Civil Rights movement, except to say that certainly Christians were involved on both sides.
Agreeing that neither of us is a history expert, we can continue.
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