Walter Rauschenbusch The Social Gospel
Modern History Sourcebook: Walter Rauschenbusch, The Social Gospel: A Study in the Making of America's Poor People, 1908. This text is a vital survey of life in the New York textile and clothing industries during the early years of the Industrial Revolution. At the time, the textile market was controlled by the powerful and highly organized Workingmen's Party, which governed the economic fortunes of New York. Walter Rauschenbusch's The Social Gospel is an impressive, lively, and insightful account of that tumultuous period in American history.
In this highly enjoyable study of early America's social gospel, we are introduced to the rise of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the most important worker cooperative in America, and the life and work of Walter Rauschenbusch.
In this highly enjoyable study of early America's social gospel, we are introduced to the rise of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the most important worker cooperative in America, and the life and work of Walter Rauschenbusch.
From his own life as a textile worker and union leader, he emerges as an unforgettable character–a skilled story teller, an astute interpreter of his fellow man, and an ardent advocate of economic freedom and social responsibility. Though sometimes overly complex for a university student, The Social Gospel is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in early America.
Rauschenbusch depicts the spiritual riches available to ordinary men through the story of the man calledapy, who seizes the opportunity offered by the workers' strikes of the 19th century to form an underground railroad to bring food and materials to the workers of the West Coast. Along the way, walter uncovers the secrets of other laborers, both black and white, about their lives and struggles against the injustice of the bosses and the cruelty of the working conditions.
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| Walter Rauschenbusch The Social Gospel |
The secret of walter's success is his understanding of the theological and social context of the textile workers' strikes. Though the story is ultimately about the quest for material gain, it is also about the sin of sinlessness that transforms the penniless workers into respectable citizens. The message of The Social Gospel is that the gospel lies in the heart of every person.
Though it differs from Martin Luther's 95theology in many ways–its prognosis for the future, its preoccupation with the kingdom of God, its rejection of private freedom, its biblical premis, and its polemics with liberalism and modernity–the fundamental themes of this novel echo much of late medieval and renaissance theology. It concerns itself with two contrasting camps: the Calvinistic “papist of the soul” and the “cleric catholic”. The result is an engaging and rewarding re-examination of faith and theology.
Following the story of the railway worker's surprising success at winning a strike, Walther Rauschenbusch follows his convert to the Baptist faith. Though initially a committed Calvinist, Walther redabbits to the Baptist faith as soon as his conviction of the social gospel becomes evident. In a series of events he returns to the Calvinistic side and renounced his former beliefs. This is when the plot against the striking man comes into view. While serving as a railway guard, Walther's faith in the social gospel takes a real turn for the worse when he beheads a Baptist minister on charges of witchcraft and murder.
Reboarding from his baptism into the Augsburg Confession, Walther now turns to the main teaching of his mentor, the reformed sage and aphorism master, Alfred Redlich. Walther and his associate, Hans Memling, go to Walther's homeland, Macmillan, to seek out Redlich's former master. But there is trouble in store for these new friends. In the course of their search for Redlich, they learn that Redlich's former master, Zwingle, has been secretly summoning other ministers to attack Walther and other Calvinists in Macmillan.
With the threat of violence so near, the two young men set out once again to find Redlich, only to be betrayed yet again. Now the stakes are higher. To make matters worse, they learn that Redlich now leads a band of radicals who plan to attack Rottweiler and other Protestant leaders in England. The boys now have more to fear than what they had to start with. For those who believe in the social gospel, a theology for the social gospel is necessary to understand the horrific circumstances the characters find themselves in.
What I found most interesting about this novel was that there was much that I did not recognize as belonging to a work of this genre. It was interesting to me that Ruter utilizes a version of the social gospel in this story, but also makes it seem very different from what I expect to find in an eclecticism work.
Though it differs from Martin Luther's 95theology in many ways–its prognosis for the future, its preoccupation with the kingdom of God, its rejection of private freedom, its biblical premis, and its polemics with liberalism and modernity–the fundamental themes of this novel echo much of late medieval and renaissance theology. It concerns itself with two contrasting camps: the Calvinistic “papist of the soul” and the “cleric catholic”. The result is an engaging and rewarding re-examination of faith and theology.
Following the story of the railway worker's surprising success at winning a strike, Walther Rauschenbusch follows his convert to the Baptist faith. Though initially a committed Calvinist, Walther redabbits to the Baptist faith as soon as his conviction of the social gospel becomes evident. In a series of events he returns to the Calvinistic side and renounced his former beliefs. This is when the plot against the striking man comes into view. While serving as a railway guard, Walther's faith in the social gospel takes a real turn for the worse when he beheads a Baptist minister on charges of witchcraft and murder.
Reboarding from his baptism into the Augsburg Confession, Walther now turns to the main teaching of his mentor, the reformed sage and aphorism master, Alfred Redlich. Walther and his associate, Hans Memling, go to Walther's homeland, Macmillan, to seek out Redlich's former master. But there is trouble in store for these new friends. In the course of their search for Redlich, they learn that Redlich's former master, Zwingle, has been secretly summoning other ministers to attack Walther and other Calvinists in Macmillan.
With the threat of violence so near, the two young men set out once again to find Redlich, only to be betrayed yet again. Now the stakes are higher. To make matters worse, they learn that Redlich now leads a band of radicals who plan to attack Rottweiler and other Protestant leaders in England. The boys now have more to fear than what they had to start with. For those who believe in the social gospel, a theology for the social gospel is necessary to understand the horrific circumstances the characters find themselves in.
What I found most interesting about this novel was that there was much that I did not recognize as belonging to a work of this genre. It was interesting to me that Ruter utilizes a version of the social gospel in this story, but also makes it seem very different from what I expect to find in an eclecticism work.
There were parts of the novel that felt forced, and I'm not certain I liked the theological underpinnings of the story. However, if you enjoy religious fiction or if you are a fan of the works of writers such as Walter Isaac, then I would recommend you give “The Heavensgate Scandal” a try. It is well-written, has a good storyline, and is enjoyable overall.
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