Anon-e-moose
"It sounds an absurd notion to us, but slavery had the divine potential to become a brilliant redemptive tool for the indigent."
Just like when Pharaoh kept the Jews in bondage (I know, sounds kinky! [/mind in gutter]). When archaeolgical studies by Egyptologists suggest that they hardly, if ever, kept slaves in ancient Egypt. Instead they had a system of what'd be referred to today as 'National Service'.
Whenever the Nile flooded (necessary, to deposit the fertile silt on the agricultural land on it's banks), there were thousands of agricultural workers without something to occupy them. So they were organised by Pharaonic officials to build the pyramids, and temples. And whilst extremely hard work, it was work. And done willingly by said agricultural labourers for two reasons:
1- Practical: All the while they did such work, they were paid in shelter, food and beer (extra beer rations were used by the work leaders as incentives to increase work via 'competitions'). Indeed, in the mini-cities that sprang up near said building projects, there were schools to educate their children, and medical facilities; these became bustling centres of social life & culture in themselves. And in certain cases, some workers could be promoted in the organisational hierarchy, and thus the benefits that came with such (extra food/beer, and even money.
2- Religious: The workers, in building such structures (especially pyramids), were aiding their own passage into the 'afterlife', by aiding their pharaoh to passing into the realm of the gods, via their building said pyramids. And gaining the favour of the gods whenever building temples (thus ensuring the agricultural riches they harvested from the Nile).
The more you know. Now, would you be prepared to do 'NationalService' compassiondave, by joining up in your country's armed forces, and battling the forces of evil?
...thought not. Hypocrite.
A thought: compassiondave calls this particular blog entry 'Yes, it is Just My Opinion, But God and I are a Majority'. Well, as The Dude would say:
image
And as I would say, compassiondave:
Opinions are like arses. Everyone has one, but not everyone wants to air theirs in public. And they certainly don't want yours shoved in their faces, neither.
