What does the "good book" say about slavery?

The Bible mentions slavery on several occasions, and that is something to be expected since it was quite a "trend" during the times where the Bible was written!

But since god loves us, and the Bible is for everyone and for the good of everyone, surely it will have harsh things to say about it, and a lot to say about the need of freedom for all people!

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you.  You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land.  You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance.  You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.  (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

Oh, so, it actually gives the recipe on how we should get our slaves. And what about slaves with family?

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years.  Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.  If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterwards, only he will go free in the seventh year.  But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him.  If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.  But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children.  I would rather not go free.'  If he does this, his master must present him before God.  Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl.  After that, the slave will belong to his master forever.  (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

So, that's good news! You will be free after 6 years! You only work for nothing and have no freedom for 6 years! Although, at that time, the life expectancy was, at most, 40 years. So that's a big chunk of life! And your wife and sons or daughters! They can remain propriety of your master! Then, the only choice you have to keep them, is to become a slave forever! Hooray for the Bible! So many options!

But that not the only thing it says about family and slavery!

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.  If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again.  But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her.  And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter.  If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife.  If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.  (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

Oh. So, if you're a woman, you can't go free like men do! Unless your master becomes your husband and doesn't feed you, or clothe you, or sleep with you! That would be so sad, when you're forced to marry your master and then he fails to forcibly sleep with you!

Well, I hope at least that the Bible teaches masters to be kind to their slaves!

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished.  If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property.  (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.  "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly.  Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given."  (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

There, you see! You can't beat your slave to death. He must at least survive one day or two! That's love!
And what encouragement shall the Bible give to the slaves. Words of hope for freedom?

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear.  Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.  (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed.  If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful.  You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts.  Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.  (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

Is it just me or it seems that all of this was written by someone who really liked to have slaves? There's your wonderful bible right there.