Jump to:

• social gospel
  social gospel

  noun

  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.
• Social Gospel
  Social Gospel

  A religious movement that arose in the United States in the late nineteenth century with the goal of making the Christian churches more responsive to social problems, such as poverty and prostitution. Leaders of the movement argued that Jesus' message was as much about social reform as about individual approaches to salvation (see also salvation).

social gospel

American  

noun

Protestantism.

1. 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.

---

Social Gospel Cultural  

1. A religious movement that arose in the United States in the late nineteenth century with the goal of making the Christian churches more responsive to social problems, such as poverty and prostitution. Leaders of the movement argued that Jesus' message was as much about social reform as about individual approaches to salvation (see also salvation).

---

Etymology

Origin of social gospel

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

No. Many proponents of the early 20th century social gospel saw their efforts to help the needy as part of building a Christian society.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 17, 2024

“We were social action, social gospel kind of people,” Larry, the painter’s brother, said of their upbringing.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2022

His priestly parsimony came with a social gospel.

From Washington Post • Jul. 9, 2020

Churches were moved to intervene through their belief in the concept of the social gospel.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

After all, King himself was speaking, first and foremost, as a preacher, fulfilling an emerging mission of religion: preaching the social gospel of justice and equality.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson