Religion as a Controlling force During Slavery

Religion as a Controlling Force During Slavery The Turner Rebellion and Thomas Bacon’s Sermon to Maryland Slaves, 1749 During antebellum, religion, in many cases, was used as a tool to control people, an institution of empowerment. Preachers conformed individuals to their views simply by backing their message with either signs from God or the word of God, the Bible. Nat Turner and Thomas Bacon are two prime examples of preachers that did just this. Thomas …

…Nat is able to rally together people ready and willing to break one of the ten commandments, based on his interpretations of various occurrences. Religion is a way for people to identify themselves with the extraordinary world. When preachers start interpreting the word or visions in order to conform others to their views, religion is used an institution of empowerment. 30. Robinson, Black Movements in America. 38 31. Drake, Laws Gods and Heroes. 33 32. Butler, Religion in American History. 74