Confronting the Monster of Slavery: David Ruggles, Public Theology, and Structural Sin


While traditionally predicated of the individual’s will, sin seems to become enmeshed in our social structures and woven within the very fabric of our societies. The analysis of these social structures requires greater precision as does the manner in which the call to Christian charity conditions the response to them. This article seeks to extend the conceptual tool developed by Daniel Daly wherein social structures are evaluated in light of their vicious or virtuous nature with the help of nineteenth century abolitionist David Ruggles. Through this lens it becomes possible to see the vicious nature of a social structure that is concretized in the manner in which it shapes participants and, by extension, the manner in which it perverts the Christian community. Ruggles provides a helpful re-articulation of Christian charity as embodied resistance that seeks the progressive freedom of those in bondage.