social gospel


noun Protestantism.

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.

Origin of social gospel

First recorded in 1915–20

Cultural definitions for 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).