Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave

Fredrick Douglass talks of Captain Auld being “destitute of every element of character commanding respect” (Douglass 946). This is an interesting moment for me in the narrative because, as he goes on to describe the particularly harsh ways of Captain Auld, he pauses to point out a specific date and event that takes place. This turns out to be a topic of particular discussion, and in fact, is further discussed in the appendix. “In August, 1832, my master attended a Methodist camp-meeting held in the Bay-side, Talbot county, and there experienced religion. Indulged in a faint hope that his conversion would lead him to emancipate his slaves, and that, if he did not do this, it would, at any rate, make him more kind and humane” (Douglass 947).
Douglass’ only experience with religion is through the practices of his slave holders, and through simple observation, he takes notice to the more savage actions taken by the religious slave holders, as compared to the non-religious ones. Douglass explains in the appendix exactly what his views are on religion. “What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference-so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other” (Douglass 976).