This quote further demonstrates the attitude of colonists toward slaves at that time. Although there were some individuals who opposed slavery, most of the Englishmen viewed slaves as strangers and they commonly referred to them as savages, pagans, and uncivilized, often comparing them to animals (Foner 97). After all, the slaves were shipped over to America to do one thing; and that was to handle the intensive agricultural labor. (Foner 99). Many plantations at that time were very dependent on slaves, and the vast amount of wealth, produced by using slaves as a source of labor, overweight the moral objections that some people had. .
When a term slave is mentioned to a 21st century reader, the chances are that he will only associate it with non-Christian Africans and Indians. People rarely acknowledge Christians were slaves as well. The second article, written in 1721 by an unknown author, discusses Christian slaves during the time of slavery. It claims that the colonists had "riches in goods and Christian slaves" (American par. 3). In addition, the author also states there were also "many Christians in perpetual barbarous and unmerciful slavery" (American par. 3). These quotes reveals how Christians were also used as slaves and were treated as commodities just like their "alien" counterparts. .
The coupling of the Protestant religion and freedom in the European colonies gave slaves a window of opportunity to join the Protestant faith, in an attempt to gain their freedom and basic rights. Foner reveals how slaves became Christians during the time of Enlightenment. "Revivals brought numerous slaves into the Christian folds" (Foner 161). Spaniards also converted slaves into Christians during the time of slavery. Although slaves were converting to Christianity, they were still not good enough to be viewed as humans and did not gain any rights because of their conversion.
