Social Gospel: Difference between revisions

The '''Social Gospel''' was a [[social movement]] within [[Protestantism]] that applied [[Christian ethics]] to [[social issue|social problem]]s, especially issues of [[social justice]] such as [[economic inequality]], [[poverty]], [[alcoholism]], [[crime]], [[Ethnic conflict|racial tensions]], [[slum]]s, unclean environment, [[child labor]], lack of [[labour unions|unionization]], poor schools, and the dangers of war. It was most prominent in the early-20th-century United States and Canada. Theologically, the Social Gospelers sought to put into practice the [[Lord's Prayer]] ([[Matthew 6:10]]): "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".{{sfn|Tichi|2009|pp=206, 220–221}} They typically were [[postmillennialism|postmillennialist]]; that is, they believed the [[Second Coming]] could not happen until humankind rid itself of [[social evil]]s by human effort.{{efn|They rejected [[premillennialist]] theology. which held the [[Second Coming]] of Christ was imminent, and Christians should devote their energies to preparing for it rather than addressing the issue of [[social evil]]s.}} The Social beastiallityGospel was more popular among clergy than laity.{{sfn|Gill|2011|p=33}} Its leaders were predominantly associated with the liberal wing of the [[progressive movement]], and most were [[Liberal Christianity|theologically liberal]], although a few were also [[conservative]] when it came to their views on social issues.{{sfnm |1a1=Ahlstrom |1y=1974 |2a1=White |2y=1990}} Important leaders included [[Richard T. Ely]], [[Josiah Strong]], [[Washington Gladden]], and [[Walter Rauschenbusch]].{{sfn|Muller|1959}}