Atheism and slavery

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Below are resources related to the topics of atheism and slavery and atheism and forced labor (Forced labor - governments putting some of its citizens under slavelike conditions).

Atheism and forced labor[edit]

See also: Atheism and forced labor

In atheistic communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day. (See: Atheism and forced labor)^{[1] [2][3]}

In Myanmar a nontheistic form of Buddhism called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), about 800,000 people are subject to forced labor in Myanmar.^[4]

Slavery in atheist controlled China[edit]

China has the world's largest atheist population.^[6][7] See also: China and atheism

China practices state atheism.

East Asia contains about 25 percent of the world’s population. China’s population represents 20 percent of the people on earth.^[8]

Razib Khan points out in Discover Magazine, "most secular nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “Confucian societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."^[9] See: Asian atheism and Global atheism

The inaugural Global Slavery Index is published by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation,^[10]

According to the Global Slavery index website: "The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were over 3.8 million people living in conditions of modern slavery in China, a prevalence of 2.8 victims for every thousand people in the country. This estimate does not include figures on organ trafficking."^[11] A portion of these individuals may be in forced labor conditions due to the Chinese, communist government having many political dissidents and a significant amount of religious persecution (see: Slavery and forced labor in modern China).

According to NBC News:

“

But taken in absolute terms, global powers such as China and Russia were near the top of the list of countries with the largest total of people living in slavery. The index said the figure for China includes “the forced labour of men, women and children in many parts of the economy, including domestic servitude and forced begging, the sexual exploitation of women and children, and forced marriage.”[12]

”

Desecularization in China is partly occurring due to its association with equality, individual freedom and democracy (see: Asian atheism).^[13] See also: Growth of Christianity in China

Slavery in communist North Korea[edit]

North Korea practices state atheism and belief in God is actively discouraged.^[14] Open Doors, an organization based in the United States, has put North Korea at the very top of its list of countries where Christians face significant persecution - for 12 years in a row.^[15]

According to the Global Slavery Index website: "The newly released 2018 Global Slavery Index names North Korea and Eritrea as the two nations with the world’s highest rates of modern slavery, emphasizing how conflict and government repression contribute to the crime."^[16] A portion of these individuals may be in forced labor conditions due to the North Korean, communist government having many political dissidents and a significant amount of religious persecution (see: Atheistic. communist regime of North Korea uses forced labor).

Slavery in atheist controlled Vietnam[edit]

Vietnam practices state atheism.^[17]

In 2019, the website Global Slavery Index estimated that there are 421,000 slaves in Vietnam.^[18]

Slavery and the past of Thailand and Burma[edit]

Between the 1600s and early 20th century one-quarter to one-third of the population of some areas of Thailand and Burma were slaves.^[19] Burma is present day Myanmar.

Richard Dawkins' family fortune and the slave trade[edit]

See also: Richard Dawkins' family fortune and the slave trade

Richard Dawkins is one the founders of the New Atheism movement.

On February 20, 2012, the British newspaper the Daily Mail reported that Richard Dawkins' "family fortune came from the slave trade".^[21] On February 19, 2012, The Daily Telegraph reported that Dawkins is being called to make reparations for his family's past.^[22]

The Daily Mail reported:

“

Ancestors of secularist campaigner Richard Dawkins made their fortune from the slave trade, it has been revealed. The outspoken atheist, who once branded the Catholic Church 'evil', is the direct descendent of Henry Dawkins who owned 1,013 slaves in Jamaica until he died in 1744. His 400-acre family estate, Over Norton Park near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, is believed to have been bought with money made through slave ownership hundreds of years ago... Richard's son, Henry, married into another of Jamaica's powerful slave trading families and left 1,013 slaves worth £40,736 when he died 1744. The links with slavery continue down the family tree and in 1796 another ancestor, James Dawkins, voted against William Wilberforce's plans to abolish the slave trade[23]

”

Demand for Richard Dawkins to pay reparations[edit]

As far as the demand for Richard Dawkins to pay reparations, The Daily Telegraph reported:

“

He is now facing calls to apologise and make reparations for his family's past. Esther Stanford-Xosei, of Lewisham, south London, the co-vice chairman of the Pan-African Reparations Coalition in Europe, said: "There is no statute of limitations on crimes against humanity. "The words of the apology need to be backed by action. The most appropriate course would be for the family to fund an educational initiative telling the history of slavery and how it impacts on communities today, in terms of racism and fractured relationships."[24]

”

Abolitionist movement and religious conservatives[edit]

The African-American author and political columnist Thomas Sowell wrote:

“

While slavery was common to all civilizations, as well as to peoples considered uncivilized, only one civilization developed a moral revulsion against it, very late in hits history…not even the leading moralists in other civilizations rejected slavery at all…. Moreover, within Western civilization, the principle impetus for the abolition of slavery came first from very conservative religious activists – people who would today be called ‘the religious right.’…this story is not ‘politically correct’ in today’s terms. Hence it is ignored, as if it never happened.”[25]

”

See also:

• William Wilberforce

• Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Harriet Tubman

• Protestant missionaries and social/political/economic improvements

Christian apologetics and slavery in the Bible[edit]

See also: Slavery in the Bible

Christian apologists have written a number of work relating to slavery in the Bible some of which are cited below:

• Does the Bible condone slavery?

• Does God condone slavery in the Bible?

• Why is slavery permitted in the Bible?

• The Bible and slavery

Youtube figure Shockofgod says atheism promotes slavery[edit]

The YouTube channel Shockofgod maintains that: Christian principles advance freedom; human rights need to be grounded in theism and seen as God given and if man decides human rights then they can be taken away; Jesus Christ saves Christians from their sins; atheists are slaves to their sin and atheism puts people under spiritual bondage.^[26]

Atheism, slavery and hypocrisy[edit]

See also: Atheist hypocrisy

Despite various atheistic populations having a significant amount of slavery in both the present and the past, atheists commonly engage in moral equivalence by decrying slavery in the Bible - particularly the Israelites owning slave and Christian slaveholders mentioned or alluded to in the New Testament.^[27] Voltaire also had little problem with a slaving ship being named after him, despite mocking slave owners in Candide. In addition, various atheistic Enlightenment philosophers either supported slavery or otherwise failed to condemn it, many of whom are later falsely credited with helping to end slavery.^[28]

And as noted above, historically conservative Christians, many of which also founded the Republican Party to fight Democrat-imposed slavery, have been at the forefront of abolionist endeavors. By this reckoning, this exposes the Democrats' post-1964 claims of the pre-1964 Republicans being "liberal" (not counting RINOs) and the pre-1964 Democrats being "conservative",^[29] as well as their claims of being the "champions of civil rights" and their accusations of the Republicans being the "party of racism", as the historical revisionist lies they are.^[30]

For additional information, see:

• Christian apologetics and slavery in the Bible

• Protestant missionaries and economic and societal development

Se also[edit]

• Atheism and human rights violations
• Atheism and social justice
• Irreligious Britain and low social mobility

Notes[edit]