Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Religious Irony Essay

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass there is irony relating to religion. During Douglass’s life there was an abundant amount of religious irony dealing with the fact that slaves were seen as property, but yet Christianity was the main religion of the southern states, which Christians believe in showing love through Christ to everyone. Slaves were rarely shown love from their masters.

In the appendix of the narrative Douglass starts off by talking about the difference between real Christianity and the Christianity of the land. “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land (Douglass 71).” He hates the Christianity of this land because it wasn't real, it was a lie given the name Christianity.

In chapter 9, Douglass writes about his former master, Thomas Auld, who found religion but got harsher to his slaves. He whipped a girl plenty of times and recited Scripture for an excuse, “... and in justification of the bloody deed, he would quote this passage of

Scripture - ‘He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.’ (Douglass 33).” Master Thomas took it as it's not a sin to beat his slave just because she wasn't able to do any tasks, but that's not what it means. It is referring to someone who can do the task.

Later on, Frederick Douglass learns about real Christianity and becomes a preacher.

Frederick Douglass, in chapter 10, hosts a Sabbath school and teaches slaves to read. While he taught them, he understood the bible and what christianity really is. “... we were trying to learn how to read the will of God… (Douglass 48).” His Sabbath school was soon broken up by religious leaders in the church he was hosting it at. “Wright Fairbanks and Garrison West, both class-leaders, in connection with many others, rushed in upon us with sticks and stones, and broke up our virtuous little Sabbath school, at St. Michael’s - all calling themselves Christians! Humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ! But I am again digressing. (Douglass 48)” Douglass continues his Sabbath school at a free black man’s house and progressively learned more about

God.

The irony with slavery and Christianity is that Christianity is to see people through God’s eyes and everyone as equals. In slavery, the slaves are inferior to the white men. Frederick Douglass realizes that and even states that slavery is against the religion. “Such is, very briefly, my view of the religion of this land; and to avoid any misunderstanding, growing out of the use of general terms, I mean, by the religion of this land, that which is revealed in the words, deeds, and actions, of those bodies, north and south, calling themselves Christian churches, and yet in union with slaveholders. It is against religion, as presented by these bodies, that I have felt it my duty to testify. (Douglass 73,74)”