Introduction
The book chosen for this paper is, “Christianity and the Social Crisis,” it was written by Walter Rauschenbusch and later published in 1907. This book focuses on the church’s role in society and the author emphasizes the importance of intervening and dealing with societal challenges (Rauschenbusch, 1907).
Discussion
He believes the church has a critical role to play in addressing poverty and the social problems that the members of a community face. As a Baptist minister, he implores the church to embrace the ‘social gospel.’ This came when the United States of America was experiencing industrialization and urbanization (Rauschenbusch, 1907). This led to increased inequality and impoverishment of the underprivileged societies. As such, he believed the church had a duty to help those affected by providing better conditions.
Rauschenbusch was a minister in the American Baptist Church and a theologian. He advocated for the social gospel movement because he believed that the church had a role to play in society. According to Rauschenbusch (1907), the early 20th-century industrialization had increased challenges for the people, and thus the church had a social responsibility to help the people. He was revered for his work and opinions towards social justice and this contributed significantly to the credibility of the book.
The context of this book was majorly influenced by the changes that the United States of America was experiencing at the time. Industrialization was at its peak, leading to urbanization and unemployment since most human laborers were replaced with machinery. Consequently, unemployment increased hence high poverty levels among the people (Rauschenbusch, 1907). Wages were low, and crime levels increased as people tried to fend for their families. The poor living conditions motivated the rise of the social gospel movement. The movement focused on influencing the church to intervene and save people from suffering.
Conclusion
The intended audience of this book was the leaders of the churches because they had the power to answer the call of the social gospel movement. The author believed that the church was responsible for improving the lives of the community. As such, the book was aimed at urging the clergy on the importance of helping the underprivileged. This book was significant in shaping and inspiring the beliefs of many church leaders on the aspect of the social gospel.
Reference
Rauschenbusch, W. (1907). Christianity and the Social Crisis. The American Yawp Reader. Web.