Spring Break
Slavery, torture and Methodist DNA
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Opinion
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"I'm gonna build a fantastic Freedom Institute … an institute that really, you know, just kind of imparts knowledge and deals with big issues." In "Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush" by Robert Draper
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was the most influential advocate against slavery in the 18th century. Slave trade was the financial engine that expanded the British Empire in Wesley's age just as "big oil" has expanded the American Empire. In the 1770s as many as 161 slave ships were operating out of the three ports of London, Bristol and Liverpool. Slavery was very big business, especially among the powerful and prominent, including the Prince of Wales. To stand against these forces was to risk your life and Wesley was in great danger many times when mobs, funded by slave merchants, were set against him.
On his deathbed in 1791, Wesley wrote House of Commons leader William Wilberforce, who was converted under Wesley's ministry and became the principal anti-slavery activist in 19th century Britain. Wesley implores him to continue to fight slavery, "that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature." American Methodists, following in the example of Wesley, have been at the vanguard of the abolitionist, suffrage, civil rights and environmental movements. Fighting for justice is deep within Methodist DNA.
It is tragic that George W. Bush, who claims membership in the United Methodist Church, appears to be without a basic appreciation for the Methodist heritage. It is heartbreaking that Bush has acted in profoundly immoral and destructive ways in office while claiming to be a devout Christian. To choose to launch a "shock and awe" war of aggression against the people of Iraq, based upon a series of manufactured falsehoods, is not following Christ. The war is a continuing catastrophe that is making many of his close friends rich on blood money. In addition, Bush has authorized torture, the moral equivalent of slavery.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was the most influential advocate against slavery in the 18th century. Slave trade was the financial engine that expanded the British Empire in Wesley's age just as "big oil" has expanded the American Empire. In the 1770s as many as 161 slave ships were operating out of the three ports of London, Bristol and Liverpool. Slavery was very big business, especially among the powerful and prominent, including the Prince of Wales. To stand against these forces was to risk your life and Wesley was in great danger many times when mobs, funded by slave merchants, were set against him.
On his deathbed in 1791, Wesley wrote House of Commons leader William Wilberforce, who was converted under Wesley's ministry and became the principal anti-slavery activist in 19th century Britain. Wesley implores him to continue to fight slavery, "that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature." American Methodists, following in the example of Wesley, have been at the vanguard of the abolitionist, suffrage, civil rights and environmental movements. Fighting for justice is deep within Methodist DNA.
It is tragic that George W. Bush, who claims membership in the United Methodist Church, appears to be without a basic appreciation for the Methodist heritage. It is heartbreaking that Bush has acted in profoundly immoral and destructive ways in office while claiming to be a devout Christian. To choose to launch a "shock and awe" war of aggression against the people of Iraq, based upon a series of manufactured falsehoods, is not following Christ. The war is a continuing catastrophe that is making many of his close friends rich on blood money. In addition, Bush has authorized torture, the moral equivalent of slavery.
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Tony Clark
posted 9/25/07 @ 7:35 PM CST
Thank God that you have the freedom to express yourself in this country even though you are obviously ignorant of all the important concepts which made it possible. (Continued…)
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