Page "Christian views on slavery" Paragraph 42

In particular, the effects of the Second Great Awakening resulted in many evangelicals working to see the theoretical Christian view, that all people are essentially equal, made more of a practical reality.

Freedom of expression within the Western world also helped in enabling opportunity to express their position.

Prominent among these abolitionists was Parliamentarian William Wilberforce in England, who wrote in his diary when he was 28 that, " God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and Reformation of Morals.

" With others he labored, despite determined opposition, to finally abolish the British slave trade.

The famous English preacher Charles Spurgeon had some of his sermons burned in America due to his censure of slavery, calling it " the foulest blot " and which " may have to be washed out in blood.

" Methodist founder John Wesley denounced human bondage as " the sum of all villainies ," and detailed its abuses.

In Georgia, primitive Methodists united with brethren elsewhere in condemning slavery.

Many evangelical leaders in the United States such as Presbyterian Charles Finney and Theodore Weld, and women such as Harriet Beecher Stowe ( daughter of abolitionist Lyman Beecher ) and Sojourner Truth motivated hearers to support abolition.

Finney preached that slavery was a moral sin, and so supported its elimination.

" I had made up my mind on the question of slavery, and was exceedingly anxious to arouse public attention to the subject.

In my prayers and preaching, I so often alluded to slavery, and denounced it.

Repentance from slavery was required of souls, once enlightened of the subject, while continued support of the system incurred " the greatest guilt " upon them.