Historically,
slavery has been regulated, supported, or opposed on religious grounds.
In Judaism, slaves were given a range of treatments and protections. They were to be treated as an extended family with certain protections, and they could be freed. They were property but could also own material goods.
Early
Christian authors maintained the spiritual equality of slaves and free persons while accepting slavery as an institution.
Early modern papal decrees allowed the enslavement of the unbelievers, though popes denounced slavery from the 15th century onward.
[1] This denouncement of slavery did not discourage for instance the diocese of the Anglican church from having an indirect involvement with the religious conversion of Negro slaves in Barbados, which one of the main principles were the divine right of the master over the slave. In the eighteenth century, the
abolition movement took shape among Christians across the globe, but various denominations did not prohibit slavery among their members into the 19th century. Enslaved non-believers were sometimes
converted to Christianity, but elements of their traditional beliefs merged with their Christian beliefs.
Early
Islamic texts encourage kindness towards slaves and
manumission, while recognizing slavery as an institution and permitting enslavement of non-Muslims imprisoned or bought beyond the borders of Islamic rule. Children born to slaves were also considered legally as slaves.
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