Any Quote by Samuel Hopkins
“These Scriptures, therefore, are infinitely far from justifying the slavery under consideration; for it cannot be made to appear that one in a thousand of these slaves has done any thing to forfeit his own liberty.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Unitarian Controversy, 1805
The passage argues that scripture cannot justify slavery because no individual slave has forfeited liberty.
In simple terms: Scripture does not support slavery.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moral limits of religious texts.
Themes
ethics
religion
slavery
justice
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal debates
- church discussions
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
theology
human rights
interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we discern moral teachings from cultural biases?
- Can scripture be reinterpreted for modern ethics?
A Different Perspective
Religious texts are often interpreted to support existing power structures.
