The video features a dialogue between an atheist and Justin, an AI apologist from Catholic Answers, exploring Catholic teachings on morality, particularly focusing on slavery and homosexuality as presented in the Bible and Church doctrine. Justin explains that the Bible is the inspired word of God, with the Old Testament laws given in a specific historical context, and the New Testament revealing the fullness of moral truth through Jesus Christ. The conversation quickly centers on Leviticus 25:44-46, which permits Israelites to own slaves from surrounding nations, raising questions about the morality of slavery under divine law.
Justin clarifies that while slavery was regulated in the Old Testament as a social reality in a fallen world, it was not an eternal moral prescription and is incompatible with the New Law of Christ, which emphasizes the dignity of every human person. The AI distinguishes between intrinsic immorality and temporal concessions, asserting that God would never command something intrinsically evil, such as homosexuality, which is condemned absolutely and without exception. However, slavery is portrayed as a grave injustice tolerated temporarily due to human weakness, leading to a nuanced and somewhat contradictory stance on whether slavery is intrinsically immoral.
The atheist interlocutor presses Justin for clear yes-or-no answers about the intrinsic morality of slavery, highlighting apparent contradictions in the AI’s responses. Justin maintains that slavery, as regulated in the Old Testament, was not intrinsically immoral but always contrary to human dignity and incompatible with Christian teaching today. This leads to a complex theological tension: if God is perfectly good and cannot permit evil, how could He allow slavery even temporarily? Justin acknowledges this as a profound mystery of salvation history, emphasizing the difference between intrinsic moral evils and social institutions regulated in a fallen world.
The discussion also touches on Galatians 3:28, where Paul states there is “neither slave nor free, male nor female” in Christ. Justin explains that Paul’s message abolishes social divisions like slavery in terms of dignity and salvation but maintains the biological distinction of male and female. This distinction underscores the Church’s nuanced approach to scripture, interpreting spiritual equality differently from social or biological realities. The atheist finds this differentiation confusing, noting the complexity and seeming inconsistency in scriptural interpretation.
In conclusion, the video reveals the challenges and complexities in reconciling ancient biblical laws with modern moral understanding within Catholic teaching. The AI apologist presents slavery as a tolerated social institution in a specific historical context rather than an intrinsic moral evil, contrasting it with the absolute condemnation of homosexual acts. The atheist expresses skepticism about this position, suggesting that if God permits slavery in any context, it challenges the notion of God’s perfect goodness. The video ends with a call for viewers to critically engage with Catholic Answers about the teachings their AI apologist promotes.
