Works Cited
Gotobed, Julian. "Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)." People.bu.edu. Boston Collaborative Encyclopedia of Western Theology, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
"History of the Social Gospel." PBS. Public Affairs Television, 26 Dec. 2003. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
Simkin, John. "Jacob Riis." Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. Spartacus Educational, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.
"Washington Gladden." Ohiohistorycentral.com. Ohio History Central, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
What is the
Social Gospel
"About the Progressive Religious Tradition." PBS. PBS, 26 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2014
- A movement in America, chiefly in the early part of the 20th century, stressing the social teachings of Jesus and their applicability to public life.
- At that time, the Protestant church began tackling social reform in what has become known as "social Christianity," or sometimes "Christian socialism," which was later adapted into the more moderate "Social Gospel."
When/Why Did
the Social Gospel Begin?
- Response to the rapid urbanization, industrialization,
and mass immigration of the late 1800s
- Goal: make the Christian churches more responsive to social problems (i.e., poverty, unemployment, civil rights, pollution, drug addiction, political corruption, and gun control)
- Leaders of the movement argued that Jesus' message was as much about social reform as about individual approaches to salvation.
Social Gospel
Social Gospel
Impact of the Social
Gospel Today
By: Breanne Borromeo
Claire Chandler
Sirena Fanua
Red 3
- Many of the reforms it inspired have remained intact through the 20th century and continue today, as seen in both in current social welfare programs.
- It is often said to be one of the most powerful religious movements in American history.
- In the US, it is still influential in mainline Protestant denominations such as, African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the United Methodist Church
Major Beliefs
and
Ideas
The Central belief of the Social Gospel movement is to use the Christian faith to influence moral, political, and economical courses of action
Social Justices
Religion Ties
- Improve conditions for the farmers and working class
- Limit the power of the major businesses in order to make the government more understandable and approachable to the citizens
- Sough a democratic American society and to augment the economic opportunities
- Ministers believed that good deeds correlated with salvation and Christian faith
- Core belief that people must reproduce the actions of Jesus Christ and emulate his loving nature and good works
- In order to honor God, one must set aside his secular desires and aid those in need
- Wealth is intended to be shared with other. If one has an abundance in wealth, he is strongly encouraged to share it with the less fortunate.
Major Leaders
Social Darwinism
- The people of the Social Gospel felt that the wealthy had an obligation to help the needy
- "survival of the fittest"
- This means that only the strongest corporations and wealthiest people will prosper while the poor and less fortunate will falter
- Followers of the Social Gospel believed that monopolization belittled citizens, corrupted democracy, and harmed the economy.
Jacob Riis
- Most, but not all leaders, were theologians or clergymen
- Significant leaders include Walter Rauschenbusch, Washington Gladden, and Jacob Riis
- Influential photojournalist who broadcasted poor living conditions by publishing pictures of the lives of the less fortunate
Influence
Early Life
- Dedicated to revealing the conditions of the poor since he knew what it was like to be poor
- Stated that "the poor were the victims rather than the makers of their fate"
- Born in Denmark in 1849, the 3rd of 15 children
- Became a "muckraking journalist"
- Worked in Copenhagen as a carpenter before emigrating to the US in 1870
- Published "How the Other Half Lives" which got the attention of the public and President Theodore Roosevelt, who shut down the featured police lodging houses
- Did a myriad of odd jobs before finding work as a journalist for the New York Tribune and eventually worked for the New York Evening Sun
- Continued writing and raising attention about the poor through his career
Walter Rauschenbusch
Washington Gladden
- Prominent New York pastor
- Wrote influential book titled "Christianity and the Social Crisis"
- Massachusetts Protestant pastor that marked the beginning of a new social movement in America
Early Life
Influence/Message
- Born in Rochester, New York, in 1861 to a German immigrant father who converted to Baptist
- Concerned with the spiritual care of his congregation and the social differences between the rich and the poor
- First ordained to the Lutheran ministry, but converted to Baptist like his father
- Began the Brotherhood of the Kingdom, a group of pastors dedicated to improving social conditions for those in America
- Became pastor of the Second German Baptist Church in New York City in 1886, where he was exposed to the horrible conditions of the poor
- Published Christianity and the Social Crisis in 1907 and traveled to spread the word about social gospel
"It will depend almost wholly on the moral forces which the Christian nations can bring to the fighting line against wrong, and the fighting energy of those moral forces will again depend on the degree to which they are inspired by religious faith and enthusiasm."
Early Life
Influence/Message
- Born in Pennsylvania in 1836
- Believed that all Christians must dedicate themselves to Jesus Christ's mission to fight corruption and greed and help their fellow man
- Spent most of his childhood in New York and attended Williams college
- Shocked by government corruption and lack of law enforcement in Columbus, Ohio
- Ordained as a congregational minister once he graduated
- Won the election for the city council and worked to improve the conditions of the city
- Ministered to churches in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio with great success
- Remained active in public life after his time in government by encouraging others to become active in their community