Question #3: Compare and contrast the ideologies of Social Darwinism and the
Social Gospel
14.
Q:Social Darwinists were seeking to explain and fix certain social problems. What social
problems did they attempt to solve? How did they attempt to fix these problems? Give
specific examples of their theories and beliefs.
A. Social Darwinists
1. Social Problems
a. During this time period, the gap between the rich and the poor
was increasing.
b. To help explain why some were prospering while others were
struggling, Social Darwinism rose to existence.
2. Beliefs
a. Society only progressed and became better because only the fittest
people survived
b. “Survival of the fittest”- those who can adapt will survive and the
weak will be killed off, making the country stronger
c. Used “survival of the fittest” to give a reason not to help the poor
d. Laissez-faire market: minimal government interference in the
economic affairs of the people and society
1. A laissez-faire economy would eliminate any that could not
adapt to the economy without government help
e. Philanthropy
1. Using one’s fortune to further progress socially
Text Page 266-276
http://historyisastateofmind.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/social-darwinism-and-the-gospel-ofhuman-survival-what-it-was-and…still-is/
15.
Q: Social Gospelists were seeking to explain and fix certain social problems. What social
problems did they attempt to solve? How did they attempt to fix these problems? Give
specific examples of their theories and beliefs.
A. Social Gospel
1.Social Problems
a. The gap between the rich and the poor was increasing, and as a
result some were living very well while some were living in poor
conditions
b. The Goal was to improve conditions in the cities
a. Churches began to do community functions which were designed
to improve society.
2.Beliefs
a. Used the two biblical ideals: Charity and Justice
1. Social Programs, Day cares, and charities to help the poor came
from Community functions
2. Christian Mission
a. Religious Faith and interest in reforms helped make the
Christian Mission, which was “a social welfare organization
that became known as the salvation army in 1878.” (Page 269)
become bigger.
b. The Christian Mission gave the poor practical aid and religious
counseling.
c. This movement attracted reformers who believed it was their
Christian Duty to help the poor in every way they could.
3. Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
a. Organized Bible studies, prayer meetings, citizenship
training, and fitness activities.
4. Dwight L. Moody
a. President of Chicago YMCA
b. Moody was a preacher who strongly supported charities
that were in favor/helped the poor, however rejected both
Social Darwinism and the Social Gospel.
c. Moody “believed in helping the poor by redeeming their
souls and reforming their character.” (page 269)
5. Settlement Houses
a. Jane Addams created settlement houses for poor
neighborhoods.
b. In settlement houses regular people lived with/helped the
poor residents(mostly outsiders) by giving them medical
care and giving them food.
Text Page 268-269
http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/007867851x/student_view0/unit1/chapter3/chapter_overvi
ew.html
16.
Who were the proponents of Social Darwinism? Provide biographies of leading
advocates. Eg: William Graham Sumner
A. Herbert Spencer
a. British philosopher
b. Coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”
i.
Those who can adapt will survive and the weak will be
killed off, making the country stronger.
1. Those with better traits succeed, becoming wealthy
and powerful.
2. Those lacking in discipline or intelligence sink into
poverty.
ii.
Government must not interfere to improve conditions
because this would only result in the preservation of bad
traits while penalizing those who possess good traits.
c. Published The Origin of Species (1859)
d. "Progress: Its Law and Causes"
B. William Graham Sumner
a. The first professor of political and social science at Yale
b. Produced a work that gave him worldwide renown. Originated the
concepts of ethnocentrism, folkways & more
i.
“The Rich Are Good-Natured”
ii.
Wrote in defense of laissez-faire
C. NOT Charles Darwin
a. Darwin's theory is far from equivalent to the beliefs of Social
Darwinism
b. Darwin's theory promoted the maintaining of biodiversity
i.
Did not depict which people should live or die
Textbook Pg 266
(http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spencer/)
(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/spencer-darwin.asp)
17.
Q:Who were the proponents of Social Gospelism? Provide biographies of leading
advocates. EG: Billy Sunday
A. Washington Gladden
a. American Protestant clergyman
i.
The first notable U.S. clergyman to approve of unions
1. Supported the unity in the workforce
b. Opposed racial segregation
c. Did not support socialism or laissez faire economics
d. Advocated the application of "Christian law" to mend social issues
B. Josiah Strong
a. American Protestant Clergyman
b. Promoted the improvement of all races
i.
So they could be enlightened and closer to God
c. Supported missionary work
i.
Used Protestant religious principles in hopes to solve the
social downfalls caused by industrialization, urbanization
and immigration.
ii.
Believed in sin and redemption
d. Believed that Social Gospelism was necessary to destroy social
sin and bring back social justice
C. Walter Rauschenbusch
a. Baptist pastor
b. Author of Christianity and the Social Crisis
i.
"Whoever uncouples the religious and the social life has
not understood Jesus. Whoever sets any bounds for the
reconstructive power of the religious life over the social
relations and institutions of men, to that extent denies the
faith of the Master."
ii.
His work explained people's responsibility towards society
c. Write the Theology for the Social Gospel
He said to revitalize Social Gospelism “a systematic
theology" was necessary
ii.
Stated that individualism "has made sinfulness of the
individual clear"
Washington Gladden, Recollections (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1909), frontispiece.
(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/rausch-socialgospel.asp)
i.
18.
Q:Where did these ideologies take root? Why in these sections of the country? (think
rural vs. cities)
A. Social Darwinism
1.
The North- big industrial and urban cities
a. During this time period, the North was still the leader in wealth and
industry. Competition was part of everyone’s lives in the North so
“survival of the fittest” was a good justifier for big industries to
squash all the little industries.
b. Laissez- faire, a belief in Social Darwinism, also appealed to the
North because they wanted to be able to do their business without
government interference.
c. The North had the largest factories and these big leaders
believed that only the best would survive in a competitive world.
B. Social Gospel
1.
Cities, specifically the slums
a. People were in need of reforms to improve their lifestyles during
the nineteenth century, especially in the cities.
b. Competition was at its strongest in the North and this the
existence of very rich and very poor. This lead to unhappiness
and the need for reform
c. People in the North also were losing touch with their Christian
beliefs and once they heard the preachings of God and how they
could retain salvation if they took part in the reform movement,
they became easy targets.
Text, Pg 266, Pg 269
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/spencer-darwin.asp
Packet
19.
Q:Who generally supported each of these theories? What group in society was drawn to
these messages? Why? (think about: who would benefit--- either economically or
socially(think status)--- from these theories?(Unions? Churches? Workers? Farmers?
Large Employers?)
A. Social Darwinism1.
Big Business/ Corporate leaders
a. They benefitted most because they gained justification for
overpowering all the little people.
b. The Rich also gained reason for not having to help the poor
because with social Darwinism it came down to the fact that those
who weren’t prospering just weren’t meant to
B. The Social Gospel
1.
Christians (the protestant denomination), Unions, all the “little guys”,
and the middle class
a. The Christian society wanted to spread their Christian beliefs to
those in the city and benefited by becoming closer to God with
their good deeds
b. It helped the Unions because it spread the need for more
Worker’s rights and better working conditions
c. It benefitted the lower class and “little guys” because it opposed
Social Darwinism and helps them gain better working conditions
and more opportunity
d. The middle-class was drawn to this new reform movement
because it gave them opportunity to reach salvation and to gain a
good reputation and possibly rise in political standards.
Text, Pg 266, Pg 268
Packet
https://www.utoledo.edu/llss/pspa/faculty/DAVIS/gospel.htm