Religious conversion made slaveholders more cruel, not less

Evidence

Douglass notes that he initially welcomed the news of Auld’s conversion with some “faint hope” that these newfound Christian beliefs would lead his master to emancipate him and his fellow slaves or at least to treat them more humanely. But Douglass was quickly disappointed, finding that the addition of Christian faith into the household actually made conditions worse; for what Auld found in Christianity was not a prick of conscience leading to moderation or benevolence but rather sturdier support for his cruelty. Douglass saw this perverse dynamic clearly: “Prior to his conversion, he relied upon his own depravity to shield and sustain him in his savage barbarity; but after his conversion, he found religious sanction and support for his slaveholding cruelty.” — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long, 246

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The leading southern Baptist theologian felt no moral qualm about owning slaves — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 105; Theological blessing of slavery severed slaveholders’ natural moral impulses — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 251; Enslaved people regarded religious masters as the worst masters — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 250 (+16 more)

Broader Connections

• Slaveowners saw Christianized slaves as more rebellious and poorer workers #corroborates (0.85) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 828
• Religious justifications for slavery used curses to keep converts enslaved #expands (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 118
• Slaveholders rejected Christian conversion for fear it would stir rebellion #corroborates (0.80) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 162
• Racist ideas softened slavery’s religious scruples to preserve enslaver interests #expands (0.80) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 105
• Forced Christian conversion extinguished Islam among enslaved African Americans #responds-to (0.80)
• Christian conversion prepared some slaves for passive resistance, others for revolt. #qualifies (0.78) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 809
• Racist theological ideas sanctioned and made American slavery acceptable to Christian churches #complicates (0.78) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 20
• Denying religion to slaves served to prevent resistance and revolt #corroborates (0.75) — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 172