The Search for Social Salvation: Social Christianity and America, 1880-1925In their studies of social Christianity, scholars of American religion have devoted critical attention to a group of theologically liberal pastors, primarily in the Northeast. Gary Scott Smith attempts to paint a more complete picture of the movement. Smith's ambitious and thorough study amply demonstrates how social Christianity--which included blacks, women, Southerners, and Westerners--worked to solve industrial, political, and urban problems; reduce racial discrimination; increase the status of women; curb drunkenness and prostitution; strengthen the family; upgrade public schools; and raise the quality of public health. In his analysis of the available scholarship and case studies of individuals, organizations, and campaigns central to the movement, Smith makes a convincing case that social Christianity was the most widespread, long-lasting, and influential religious social reform movement in American history. |
Contents
Reassessing Social Christianity Participants and Purposes | 11 |
When Stead Came to Chicago Social Christianity and Political Reform | 51 |
Charles Sheldons In His Steps and the Social Gospel Novel | 79 |
To Reconstruct the World Walter Rauschenbusch Christian Socialism and Social Change | 105 |
Women and Social Christianity Vida Scudders Quest to Create a Cooperative Commonwealth | 155 |
Blacks and Social Christianity Reverdy Ransom a Champion of Black Civil Rights | 187 |
Social Christianity Businessmen and the Golden Rule John Wanamaker John J Eagan and Arthur Nash | 221 |
Social Christianity Businessmen and the Golden Rule II Nelson O Nelson and Samuel M Jones | 253 |
Evangelicals and Social Christianity The Men and Religion Forward Movement of 19111912 | 303 |
Conservative Critics of Social Christianity | 333 |
Toward a New Definition of Social Christianity Advocates Activities Principles and Achievements | 363 |
Social Christianity in White Protestant Denominations 18801925 | 405 |
Select Bibliography | 443 |
Index | 487 |
About the Author | 511 |
Common terms and phrases
American argued Arthur Nash Baptist Bible biblical Boston Charles Stelzle Chicago Christ Christian socialism Christianizing the Social Church and Social City civic Congregationalist congregations conservatives cooperative Council of Churches crusade Culture denominations Eagan economic employees Ethics Evangelical Federal Council Fleming H George Golden Rule Graham Taylor History industrial institutional churches Jesus John Wanamaker Jones Papers Josiah Strong Journal justice Kingdom labor liberal Lutheran Macmillan Methodist ministers Missions moral N. O. Nelson Nash National numerous organizations pastor Philadelphia political Presbyterian Progressive Progressive Era Progressivism promoted proponents of social Protestant Protestantism quotation Ransom religious Revell Reverdy Review RF Papers Salvation Scudder Seminary Sept Sheldon social Christianity Social Gospel social ministries Social Order social problems social reform Social Service socialist society Southern Stead theological tion twentieth century Union United University Press urban W. T. Stead Walter Rauschenbusch Wanamaker's Washington Gladden William women workers World York