The Religious Instruction of the Negroes in the United States

De: Charles Colcock Jones

Narrado por: Melissa Summers

The first part of this book (from 1842) by Charles Colcock Jones is an historical sketch of slavery, with an emphasis on missionary and religious efforts directed towards the slaves. Part Two deals with the moral and religious conditions of slaves. The third part describes the obligations of the Christian church to rectify existing problems, while the final part proposes strategies for implementing programs of religious instruction for slaves.

Museum Audiobooks strives to present audiobook versions of authentic, unabridged historical texts from prior eras which contain a variety of points of view. The texts do not represent the views or opinions of Museum Audiobooks, and in certain cases may contain perspectives or language that is objectionable to the modern listener.

Public Domain (P)2019 Museum Audiobooks

Complete Frame Work

The detailed historical data at the beginning and splashed throughout make it a more difficult read than the sentiment of the theme would suggest. That said, it does get to the point and, in summation, the data does serve purpose. These are insights that should be widely broadcasted. Truth is truth.

Insightful

This was an eye-opening and insightful book. Definitely quite different than what I expected.

Wow

I really don’t know what to think but it’s crazy how we care condition to their laws

Essential, uncomfortable primary source — especially for Black readers who want to think clearly

I’m a Black non-believer, and I picked up The Religious Instruction of the Negro in the United States as a critical-thinking exercise—not for devotion, but to better understand how Christianity was shaped, delivered, and controlled in the context of American slavery.

This book is disturbing, and that’s exactly why it’s valuable. Jones isn’t writing to enslaved people, he’s writing to white Christians and slaveholders, and he lays out a careful, “reasonable” argument for teaching religion while keeping the slave system intact. What makes it hit hard is how managerial it feels: who teaches, what’s taught, what’s allowed, what’s considered “safe,” and how faith is framed as a tool for order and “duty.” If you’ve ever wondered how religion can be sincerely preached while simultaneously reinforcing oppression, this is a blunt primary-source window into that reality.

From my world view, the book didn’t push me toward Christianity, it reinforced my skepticism about how easily “God talk” can be shaped by incentives and power. But as a historical document, it’s extremely useful. You can almost hear the logic of control hiding behind the language of care and morality. For anyone interested in African American history, religious history, or the psychology of persuasion, it’s a strong (and chilling) listen.

Why not 5 stars? The pacing is slow at times, it can feel repetitive, and you have to remember you’re listening to a 19th-century argument that wasn’t written for modern ears. Still, it’s worth it, especially if you treat it like a source document to analyze rather than a book to “enjoy.”

Bottom line: Uncomfortable, illuminating, and important. I’d recommend it to anyone—believer or not—who wants to understand how faith and power got braided together in America, and why that legacy still echoes today.

From a dark person view

Why give dark people something white people don't believe in. This European Christianity don't make since. The tone of the book -is that negro people is nothing at all