Religion in the South

“There is a great difference between Christianity and religion at the south. If a man goes to the communion table, and pays money into the treasury of the church, no matter if it be the price of blood, he is called religious. If a pastor has offspring by a woman not his wife, the church dismiss him, if she is a white woman; but if she is colored, it does not hinder his continuing to be their good shepherd” (63). This statement demonstrates how corrupt religion was. Judging by the accounts in the book, being a Christian has become more of a symbol or a daily ritual that is followed without the actual belief in God. It was horrible how the slave masters used religion to manipulate their slaves. Not only did they completely ignore the Christian message that all men are equal, they basically taught their slaves that God created them to be beneath their masters. “After the alarm caused by Nat Turner’s insurrection had subsided, the slaveholders came to the conclusion that it would be well to give the slaves enough of religious instruction to keep them from murdering their masters” (57). Linda gives us an example of what was preached in sermons for slaves. “His text was, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”” (57). The verses were carefully chosen in order to exert more control over the slaves. Even the masters’ permission for slaves to practice religion was merely a scheme to protect themselves. “The sermons were simple, and they understood them. Moreover, it was the first time they had ever been addressed as human beings. It was not long before his white parishioners began to be dissatisfied” (60). When one man began preaching differently, treating slaves as humans, the white community is immediately threatened. These slave masters were not genuine Christians.

Linda also tells us of uncle Fred, an old black man who was eager to learn more about God. Slaves were not allowed to read and therefore could not read the word of the Bible. “There are thousands, who, like good uncle Fred, are thirsting for the water of life; but the law forbids it, and the churches withhold it” (61). When Linda describes how uncle Fred had tears in his eyes because he thought that she would not teach him as it would violate the law (although she does teach him), I felt incredibly sad. Not only did slaves have to endure physical abuse, they were deprived of anything that would make them feel human. Depriving them of their right to believe is just as terrible as the physical abuse they received.