How the social gospel movement explains the roots of todays religious left

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

"Throughout American history, religion has played a significant role in promoting social reform. From the abolitionist movement of the early 19th century to the civil rights movement of the 20th century, religious leaders have championed progressive political causes."

To read more:

http://religionnews.com/2017/07/18/how-the-social-gospel-movement-explains-the-roots-of-todays-religious-left/

[Igel]

1. Most people forget the social gospel movement.

It's one of those things that if you know about, you know about it and it fits in where it needs to. If you don't know about you, you're not going to google anything like it to run into it. And most people these days, if there's something that is tangential to what they Really Need to Prove ignore it instead of exploring.

It was important as a predecessor of liberation theology and the Jesus Movement in the '60s, and all together they provided the template for other things that many objected to so strenuously for their blatant and so utterly unconstitutional attempt to mix church and state (like Christian reconstruction or the more general Religious Right).

As though social gospel and liberation theology didn't attempt the same things. Nobody's ever said that people have a problem being so preoccupied with their own faults that they simply don't bother noticing others'. Most hypocrisy, I prefer to think, is due to simple lack of mindfulness and observation skills.

[guillaumeb]

4. Most do forget because it is not really emphasized in history classes.

Too much American history is "great man history", focusing on the acts of a few great men, (and they are invariably all men), as if every other US citizen is merely a spectator or puppet to be manipulated and guided by the great man.

[Voltaire2]

2. Throughout American history, religion has played a significant role in suppressing social reform.

It turns out that babble based on nothing can be used to justify anything.

[guillaumeb]

3. Perhaps you should read the first reponse and respond to that also.

The point of the article is to remind us all that religion has played a significant role in many progressive social movements. But if your only object is to dismiss such articles as "babble based on nothing" you might be taken seriously if you could refute what was actually posted. Lacking any such serious refutation, your reply shows only your own personal opinion.

So when you talked of "babble based on nothing"............, I will allow all who read this to reach their own conclusions.

[Voltaire2]

5. why? it regurgitates the op.

The role of religion in suppressing progress is also left out of the superficial history most people are exposed to. If one were to make an objective analysis of the role of religion in society, it is primarily a tool of control used by the state to maintain the status quo. The exceptions are interesting, and should be acknowledged, but they are exceptions.

You misread what I wrote. I did not dismiss the articles as babble based on nothing, it is religion that is babble based on nothing. It is that aspect of religion that lends itself so readily to all sorts of political objectives.

[Lordquinton]

9. It's also very good at taking credit

And disowning failures.

See recent discussions where people doing bad things are actually atheists and not Christian.

[guillaumeb]

10. Name a belief system that has not been used by some to achieve political objectives.

No belief system does anything. People do things.

[Voltaire2]

12. I certainly didn't claim that religions are the only belief systems that are used to achieve

political objectives. Are you arguing with somebody else? Perhaps somebody made of straw?

[guillaumeb]

13. I am shocked, shocked I say that you would accuse me.

Now I am over the shock.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Reminds me of a Dilbert cartoon in which an employee is recieving an award for working massive

amounts of overtime for the entire year (Cleaning up his own mess).

[trotsky]

7. Quite relevant here. n/t

[Bretton Garcia]

8. But social gospel partly followed secular socialism, democracy?

So secular social movements should get some credit for helping partially improve religion?

[guillaumeb]

11. Everyone who was an abolitionist, or worked in the many social justice movements

should share in the credit.