James Henley Thornwell
American theologian
Died when: 49 years 235 days (595 months)Star Sign: Sagittarius
James Henley Thornwell (December 9, 1812 – August 1, 1862) was an American Presbyterian preacher, slaveowner, and religious writer from the U.S. state of South Carolina during the 19th century.
During the American Civil War, Thornwell supported the Confederacy and preached a doctrine that claimed slavery to be morally right and justified by the tenets of Christianity.
But contrary to many proponents of slavery, he preached that the African American population were people created in the image of God just like whites and that they should call slaves their brothers.
He became prominent in the Old School Presbyterian denomination in the south, preaching and writing on theological and social issues.
He taught at South Carolina College, eventually served as its president, and went on to teach at Columbia Theological Seminary.
He was a contemporary of Charles Hodge and represented the southern branch of the Presbyterian church in debates on ecclesiology with Hodge.
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American theologian
American theologian