Christian Perspectives on the Contemporary Forms of Exploitation and Slavery

This chapter presents some Christian perspectives on contemporary forms of slavery by exploring the role of religion in combatting and possibly eradicating major social evils. The chapter starts by presenting and analyzing some historical examples. It then explores some of the resources available to the mainstream Christian denominations to combat social ills. Finally, it reflects on the possible good use and abuse of such resources. Religious groups have powerful conceptual and symbolic resources to raise awareness and change social behaviors via their moral and ritual practices. Organized religion also possesses social and political resources capable of transforming societies and combating systemic social evils, such as faith-based advocacy and community organizing. These resources, however, can be abused. Secular actors may be tempted to co-opt religious authorities, simply seeking an endorsement of their projects of social transformation to bring the “religious masses” on board, instead of true dialogue, healthy criticism, or fruitful engagement with the spiritual and intellectual resources of the religion being approached. Similarly, groups of activists within the religion itself might abuse the social and political power of large churches to promote law-and-order solutions to social problems. Normative approaches are often necessary but insufficient. Other approaches rooted in transformative imagination, virtuous practices, education, and respect for the dignity of each person’s conscience can be more effective and better suited to religious groups. This chapter notes that large international churches also have resources to resist the instrumentalization of their other resources. It encourages self-critical and multi-pronged approaches to social transformation.