The Christian Bible figured prominently in American debates concerning slavery and continues to shape cultural understandings of women and of sexuality.

Contemporary churches need interdisciplinary analysis of the Bible and of early Christian tradition in order to rethink how they use these, to develop their own policies for addressing the effects of slavery, and to consider how to respond to current public policies in which religion, gender, race, and sexuality intersect (for example, the chastity focus within Faith-based Initiatives and urging marriage as part of welfare reform).

"Slave Mother and Child" © John W. Jones. From Confederate Currency: The Color of Money. Learn more about the artwork.

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Content by Bernadette Brooten
Director, Feminist Sexual Ethics Project