Final answer:
The relationship between slavery and the Bible is viewed differently by authors justifying slavery and enslaved individuals. While slaveholders used biblical interpretations to support slavery, slaves focused on Christianity's messages of liberation and equality. The hypocrisy of the 'slaveholding religion' versus true Christian doctrine was acknowledged by those subjected to slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The understanding of the relationship between slavery and the Bible differs significantly between the authors who justified slavery and the slaves themselves. Authors such as Wheatley, who reflected deep Christian beliefs in her poems, viewed Christianity as a source of spiritual salvation and possibly moral condemnation of slavery. On the contrary, slaveholders often interpreted the Bible in a way that supported the institution of slavery, citing the 'Curse of Ham' as divine justification for the enslavement of Africans. This was in direct contrast to the enslaved Africans who embraced Christianity and focused on its messages of liberation and equality.
The use of Christianity by slaveholders as a means of social control was widespread. They preached a version of Christianity that encouraged obedience to white authority and promised salvation in the afterlife, rather than freedom from their earthly bondage. While slaves did find comfort and hope in Christianity, it was often in a form that focused on emancipation and equality, countering the narrative pushed by slave owners.
Moreover, the disparity between the religion practiced by slaveholders, which was used to justify and perpetuate slavery, and the 'Christianity of Christ,' which emphasized love, peace, and impartiality, was stark. The hypocrisy of a religion that condoned slavery was not lost on the enslaved, many of whom distinguished between the corrupt 'slaveholding religion' and true Christian doctrine.