Washington Gladden and the Social Gospel

The video introduces the social gospel movement, a late 19th to early 20th-century American Christian movement emphasizing political and economic justice. It highlights key figures like Washington Gladden, who advocated for reforming capitalism with Christian principles, and Walter Rauschenbusch, who envisioned a democratic socialist society. The movement's optimism contributed to its early success but also its decline post-World Wars. Despite its decline, the movement influenced later Christian social movements, including the civil rights movement and liberation theology.

What was the main goal of the Social Gospel Movement?

• To promote individual salvation

• To achieve political and economic justice

• To support industrial capitalism

• To spread Christianity globally

According to Washington Gladden, what is necessary for human salvation?

• Personal wealth

• Social salvation

• Strict religious practices

• Political power

What did Washington Gladden believe was the greatest social sin?

• Lack of education

• Political corruption

• Religious intolerance

• Exploitation of workers and predatory competition

What type of society did Washington Gladden envision?

• A socialist republic

• A theocratic state

• An anarchist society

• A Christianized form of democratic capitalism

Where did Walter Rauschenbusch serve that influenced his views on the Social Gospel?

• An impoverished church in Manhattan

• A wealthy suburban church

• A university in Ohio

• A rural church in Pennsylvania

What did Walter Rauschenbusch believe was necessary for societal reform?

• Maintaining the capitalist system

• Complete restructuring and Christianization of society

• Increasing military power

• Promoting individual wealth

What type of society did Walter Rauschenbusch advocate for?

• A monarchy

• A democratic socialist republic

• A capitalist democracy

• A communist state

How did Gladden and Rauschenbusch's views on capitalism differ?

• Both wanted to replace capitalism with socialism

• Gladden wanted to reform capitalism with Christian principles, while Rauschenbusch wanted to replace it with democratic socialism

• Both wanted to maintain capitalism without any changes

• Gladden wanted to dismantle capitalism, while Rauschenbusch wanted to reform it

What led to the decline of the Social Gospel Movement?

• Lack of funding

• Opposition from the government

• World Wars and resulting cynicism about human nature

• Success of the movement

Which later movements were influenced by the Social Gospel Movement?

• The Renaissance

• The Civil Rights Movement and Liberation Theology

• The Enlightenment

• The Industrial Revolution