Changes

===Ancient world===

===Ancient world===

[[File:Slavebeating.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slavery in Ancient Egypt. Wall [[painting]] from 15th century BC Egyptian tomb.]]

[[File:Slavebeating.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slavery in Ancient Egypt. Wall [[painting]] from 15th century BC Egyptian tomb.]]

Most ancient civilizations, including Greece and Rome, had slavery on a large scale.   

Most ancient civilizations, including Greece and Rome, practiced slavery on a large scale.   

Slavery has its roots deep in humanity's pagan past, in humanity's fallen, self-centered nature.  According to the Bible, God created humankind free, giving them the dignity of choice.  Yet slavery is found earlier than the time of Abraham (about 2,000 B.C.)  In the Garden of Eden, according to the Bible, God gave Adam the blessing of work even before the Fall.  That work became harder after our first parents rebelled against their Creator.<ref>The Holy Bible, Genesis 3:17-19</ref></ref>Heathen nations despised manual labor, and consigned it to slaves<ref>Lorella Rouster, The History of Slavery, ECM Publ, 2011, [/ 1</ref>

Slavery has its roots deep in humanity's pagan past, in humanity's fallen, self-centered nature.  According to the Bible, God created humankind free, giving them the dignity of choice.  Yet slavery is found earlier than the time of Abraham (about 2,000 B.C.)  In the Garden of Eden, according to the Bible, God gave Adam the blessing of work even before the Fall.  That work became harder after our first parents rebelled against their Creator.<ref>The Holy Bible, Genesis 3:17-19</ref></ref>Heathen nations despised manual labor, and consigned it to slaves<ref>Lorella Rouster, The History of Slavery, ECM Publ, 2011, [/ 1</ref>

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== The Decline of Slavery under Christianity ==

== The Decline of Slavery under Christianity ==