Everything about The Social Gospel totally explained
The
Social Gospel movement is a
Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the late
19th century and early
20th century. Social Gospel principles continue to inspire newer movements such as
Christians Against Poverty. The movement applied
Christian principles to
social problems, especially poverty, inequality, liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene, poor schools, and the danger of war. Theologically, the Social Gospel leaders were overwhelmingly
post-millennialist. That is because they believed the
Second Coming couldn't happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort. For the most part, they rejected
premillennialist theology (which was predominant in the
Southern United States), according to which the
Second Coming of Christ was imminent, and Christians should devote their energies to preparing for it rather than addressing the issue of social evils. Social Gospel leaders were predominantly
liberal politically and
theologically.
In The United States
The Social Gospel was a driving force in much of Protestant America. The Presbyterians said it best in 1910: [Rogersand Blade 1998]
The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
In the early 20th century, many Americans were disgusted by the poverty level and the low quality of living in the slums. The social gospel movement provided a religious rationale for action to address those concerns. Activists in the Social Gospel movement hoped that by public health measures as well as enforced schooling so the poor could develop talents and skills, the quality of their moral lives would begin to improve. Important concerns of the Social Gospel movement were labor reforms, such as abolishing child labor and regulating the hours of work by mothers. By 1920 they were crusading against the 12-hour day for men at U.S. Steel. Many reformers inspired by the movement opened settlement houses, most notably
Hull House in Chicago operated by
Jane Addams. They helped the poor and immigrants improve their lives. Settlement houses offered services such as daycare, education, and health care to needy people in slum neighborhoods.
In the
United States prior to
World War I, the Social Gospel was the religious wing of the
progressive movement which had the aim of combatting injustice, suffering and poverty in society. During the
New Deal of the 1930s Social Gospel themes could be seen in the work of
Harry Hopkins,
Will Alexander and
Mary McLeod Bethune, who added a new concern with African Americans. After 1940, the movement withered, but was invigorated in the 1950s by black leaders like Baptist minister
Martin Luther King and the
civil rights movement. After 1980 it weakened again as a major force inside mainstream churches; indeed those churches were losing strength. Examples of its continued existence can still be found, notably the organization known as the
Call to Renewal and more local organizations like the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.
In Britain
The
Labour Party is known to be affiliated with the
Christian Socialist Movement. This affiliation denotes an indirect influence of the Social Gospel Movement in Britain. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the Labour Party and a member of the Christian Socialist Movement, once said in addressing the problem of terrorism and in general the brotherhood of Christians and Muslims, "We all are descendants of Abraham."
In literature
The Social Gospel theme is reflected in the novels
In His Steps (1897) and
The Reformer (1902), the creations of the
Congregational minister
Charles Sheldon, who coined the motto "
What would Jesus do?" In his personal life, Sheldon was committed to Christian Socialism and identified strongly with the Social Gospel movement.
Walter Rauschenbusch, one of the leading early theologians of the Social Gospel in the United States, indicated that his theology had been inspired by Sheldon's novels.
The 21st Century
In the United States, the Social Gospel is still influential in
mainline Protestant denominations such as the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
Presbyterian Church USA, the
United Church of Christ,
United Methodist Church and seems to be growing in the
Episcopal Church especially with that churches effort to support the
ONE Campaign. In Canada, it's widely present in the
United Church and in the
Anglican Church. Social Gospel elements can also be found in many service and relief agencies associated with Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church in the United States. It also remains influential among Christian socialist circles in Britain in the
Church of England,
Methodist and
Calvinist movements.
In
Catholicism,
liberation theology has similarities to the Social Gospel. In the
Anglican Church, the social gospel has found expression in
pacifism.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Social Gospel'.
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