Theologians retroactively deemed coerced baptisms valid because refused conversion meant death

Evidence

Clearly a correct Christian interpretation of the situation ought to have been that since these Muslims had not freely chosen to become Christians, their “conversion” counted for nothing. Some Christians did take this view, but many did not. The necessary element of free will had been present when the Muslims agreed to be baptized, it was held: after all they could, instead, have chosen to refuse—and so opted for death! — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 465 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Christians might not eat with them (Jews ‘attacked’ Christianity by their rules of purity in food, and in this Muslims ‘judaised’), or live with them, or invite them as guests; the only exception made was for missionaries outside the borders of Christendom. Muslims who became Christian and relapsed were pardonable only if they had been dragged bodily to what would then have been an invalid baptism; if they had only been forced by, for example, beating, the baptism was valid. Christians who left property by will to Muslims were pursued by posthumous anathemas; cases involving Christians had always to be tried in Christian courts, and there Christians were always to be preferred as witnesses to Jews and Muslims. These might not be provided with arms. It was, of course, one of Frederick II’s offences to have employed mercenaries from Africa, but the Kings of Aragon expected normal military service from their faithful Muslim subjects. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 665 (#expands, via linked claim)

The colonies moved quickly to legalize the proselytizing demands of missionaries like Richard Baxter, and to hush the freedom cries from Christian slaves. In 1667, Virginia decreed that “the conferring of baptisme doth not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage.” New York did the same in 1664, as did Maryland in 1671. — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 116 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Coerced converts were deemed validly baptized because they could have chosen death — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 465; Canon law declared even coerced baptism valid if force was applied — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 665; Colonial laws decreed baptism did not free enslaved converts — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The…, 116 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Coerced converts were deemed validly baptized because they could have chosen death #corroborates (0.98) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 465
• Canon law declared even coerced baptism valid if force was applied #expands (0.92) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 665
• Colonial laws decreed baptism did not free enslaved converts #complicates (0.72) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 116