The Origins of Proslavery Christianity: White and Black Evangelicals in Colonial and Antebellum Virginia

by Charles F. Irons

In the colonial and antebellum South, black and white evangelicals frequently prayed, sang, and worshipped together. Even though white evangelicals claimed spiritual fellowship with those of African descent, they nonetheless emerged as the most effective defenders of race-based slavery. As Charles Irons persuasively argues, white evangelicals' ideas about slavery grew directly out of their interactions with black evangelicals. Set in Virginia, the largest slaveholding state and the hearth of the southern evangelical movement, this book draws from church records, denominational newspapers, slave narratives, and private letters and diaries to illuminate the dynamic relationship between whites and blacks within the evangelical fold. Irons reveals that when whites theorized about their moral responsibilities toward slaves, they thought first of their relationships with bondmen in their own churches. Thus, African American evangelicals inadvertently shaped the nature of the proslavery argument. When they chose which churches to join, used the procedures set up for church discipline, rejected colonization, or built quasi-independent congregations, for example, black churchgoers spurred their white coreligionists to further develop the religious defense of slavery.

Genres: History, Religion, Race, Church, Nonfiction, American History

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Cigno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the flow of this book difficult. The first 150 pages were difficult to find a rhythm, but the last 110 were page turners. That said, the information found therein was a gold mine.
The author offered a detailed look into the minds and beliefs of 19th century Virginians, and how those beliefs shaped their views of Christianity, slavery, politics, and nationalism. The beauty of the author’s research lies in his description of the nuanced differences not only of the North and South but more importantly, the Upper South and Lower South.
This is an enlightening read for anyone who claims the Christian faith. It begs the question, “What are we doing now, that we would claim to be devinely directed, but is actually birthed from the pits of hell?”
Here is a quote from one of the concluding chapters: “They believed that God had made them stewards of a benighted people, and that those who would deny them the fulfillment of that trust were godless and cruel. That this theological proposition enjoyed so much support for so long is a testament to both the intensity of American racism and the consuming nature of the mission.”

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and true. This book is a tough book to read, both because of its academic rigor and because it's telling a story that is hard to hear. Through careful research of Virginia church records, Charles Irons tells a story about a legacy that continues to haunt the church today.

[Meagan Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing it mentioned on The Gospel Coalition. It helped me to better understand the role southern churches played in pro-slavery movements, the Civil War, and race relations in the aftermath. It was sometimes hard to read but provided me with a perspective I had not previously considered.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it was somewhat laborious to read, the arguments in this book are well put together and paint a remarkable picture of how proslavery Christianity formed and changed over time. The epilogue brings the book to a chilling close by alluding to the violent postbellum consequences of these religious dynamics.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Speed-read it for class.

[Josh Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

phenomenal read that explains how slave owners and their supporters used (and then continued to modify) evangelical thought to bully their way into intellectual self-justification for their despicable acts of violence and dehumanization.

I recognized many things my parents said to me, in justifying their control over my life ("paternalism"), and the kinds of things that they said to justify the hierarchy they thought appropriate.

It's stunning how much work christians will do to avoid removing their boots from the necks of the oppressed.

"This boot isn't even that heavy! And if it was, the deserve it, because we're making them more like us/god by enslaving them, and even if slavery is bad, at least they're becoming christians. We cannot end slavery, anyway, but at least we can say if they're good slaves their masters have an obligation towards them to treat them fairly."

Meh, I wish I'd found this book when I was like 15. I would have ended my tryst with evangelicalism then, instead of learning this stuff only once I was like 31.