Are There Any "Absolutes" In Moral Behavior?

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Originally Posted by sun

Slavery resulted from the spoils of war, and when a group was militarily weaker and conquerable through war, then slavery was considered to be very humanitarian and preferable to being put to death.

Leaving aside your dubious historical reasoning, this still does not make it right, and the bible does not speak out against it.

Originally Posted by sun

And then there is the New Testament concept that those who are last on Earth will become first in heaven. Implying that there are heavenly rewards for earthly pain and suffering.

Which still does not speak out against slavery.

Originally Posted by sun

God specifically chose the Israelites so that He could reveal and prove His existence to them, and eventually pass that fact on to the rest of the world so that He could begin to establish the guiding moral principles that he intended for mankind in the future. You know, readying His kingdom on Earth for who would eventually be coming, Jesus Christ the Messiah.
But first he had to begin monotheism and institute His 10 Commandments right?

Again, not speaking out against slavery. Why not the 11 commandments, with one saying "Thou shalt not hold another human being in bondage".

Originally Posted by sun

It didn't happen overnight since He led them through the desert for 40 years first.

Again, not speaking out against slavery. 40 years in the desert serves no real point. It is also dubious that this happened, as the Egyptians don't seem to have noticed an entire country walking away. I don't believe that there is any archaeological evidence for the Jews bouncing around in a relatively small desert for a generation or two.

Originally Posted by sun

It also showed that in a way, we are all slaves to a powerful God that has a will greater than any human's ability to overcome it. It shows that He chooses who He wants to have a personal relationship with, and what the nature of that relationship will be.

Now you are really reaching. At best, you are saying that your god is exempt from moral absolutes, such as slavery, rendering them not so absolute after all.

Originally Posted by sun

You have a right to not believe the ancient history of the Israelites, but they are an ancient people with a very real history. And the concept of there being one real God that could prove His physical existence to the world was revolutionary and mind boggeling. Do you suppose the Israelites were hallucinating or making this all up, about the slavery and the Egyptians too?

The Greeks believed in gods made manifest physically. So christianity is not so mind boggling after all. And yes, I do believe that much of the OT (and NT for that matter) is made up. And again, this does not say anything about slavery being wrong.

Originally Posted by sun

That's why the miracles of Christ were revolutionary too, because something was physically proven that changed how people viewed the world and would act in it, forever.
Seriously now, wouldn't you agree that the world was changed for the better?
Is it better to not believe anything at all, or maybe worship idols, or admit the possibility that there's a real God that has proven Himself by performing real miracles throughout history?

Again, other religions have gods doing miraculous things.

No, I do not necessarily believe that the world was changed for the better by christianity.

It is better to believe the truth, and you are merely trying to revive Pascal's Wager by talking about the possibility of god.