(CR8) Religious Ideals in Southern Slave Society - Genovese

Religious Ideals of Southern Slave Society

• Southern slaveholders developed a coherent worldview based on religious values, linking them to nonslaveholders.
• Christianity's egalitarian principles were questioned by the South in relation to slavery.
• Justification for slavery was often found in separating God's concerns from earthly matters, particularly in the context of labor.
• Southern culture valued the household structure and a form of individualism that emphasized dependence within the family.
• This led to the view that labor outside of the household was disruptive, justifying the vast social and economic gaps in the South.
• This system created a "slaveholders' republic" where non-slaveholders, particularly yeomen, were potential slaveholders, accepting the dominance of slavery.
• The South defended slavery as a moral bulwark against chaos and societal upheaval, using Christianity as a foundation for its ideology.
• Southern society viewed abolitionists as heretics for questioning the Bible's potential justification of slavery, deepening divisions between North and South.
• Religion played a significant role in shaping the communities, providing education and moral guidance.
• Churches functioned as a unifying force, despite internal disputes, promoting a shared Christian consensus.
• Religion offered solace and self-control in a world filled with dangers, both physical and societal.
• Christianity justified the slaveholders' control over slaves as a Christian duty and right.
• Women were encouraged to accept their role within the household, supporting the existing power structure.
• The South promoted tolerance within Christian communities, even in areas of doctrinal disagreement, in order to maintain a strong moral and social consensus.

Course Reading 8 Option 3