1 Matching Annotations
- Mar 2017
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teachingamericanhistory.org teachingamericanhistory.org
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The fact that the church of our country, (with fractional exceptions), does not esteem “the Fugitive Slave Law” as a declaration of war against religious liberty, implies that that church regards religion simply as a form of worship, an empty ceremony, and not a vital principle, requiring active benevolence, justice, love and good will towards man.
Douglass describes how religious liberty seems hollow in the country if the principles of Christianity aren't practiced along with mere preaching. He also uses strong language concerning the Fugitive Slave law as a "declaration of war" against religious liberty. This is an interesting point, as he views the law as hindering his and other Christians' ability to carry out and practice Christianity by helping fugitive slaves. This idea of too much government causing suppression of religion correlates to Thoreau's minimalistic desires of government
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