Socialism and Christianity in Early 20th Century America

Author:   Jacob Henry Dorn
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN:  

9780313302626


Pages:   272
Publication Date:   30 August 1998
Recommended Age:   From 7 to 17 years
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
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Socialism and Christianity in Early 20th Century America


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Overview

Despite an anti-religious reputation and the anti-religious worldview of many members, the American Socialist movement held a primarily religious and moral attraction for a small but highly articulate group of American Christians of diverse religious tradition. This study explores the dramatic and at times dangerous lives of individuals who found in the vibrant, growing socialist movement before World War I the grounds for hope that the biblical ideals of human worth and economic justice would at last be fulfilled. Its subjects are male and female, black and white, native- and foreign-born, clergy and lay people, and products of Christian traditions ranging from African-American Baptist to Episcopalian. Readers will find not Milquetoasts standing hesitantly on the sidelines, but Christians with an unequivocal commitment to the complete socialist program who made major contributions to socialist work as authors, political candidates, and party leaders. Biographical chapters examine the interaction between their subjects' experiences amidst the suffering of an urban-industrial society and their religious commitments, the perspectives on the meaning of socialism they brought to their work for the Socialist Party of America, and their careers after war and the rise of communism shattered the socialist movement. These biographies and an introductory chapter on the wider relationships between religion and socialism in Progressive-era America demonstrate that Christians made quite substantial contributions to the party, and that, far from being a monolithic group, they spread out across the spectrum of socialist ideology and tactics. Other issues include attempts to spread socialism within the churches, the Socialist Party's debates over religion, Roman Catholic efforts to prevent Catholic workers' acceptance of socialism, and the ethical qualities that made socialism appealing to Christians.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jacob Henry Dorn
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Praeger Publishers Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.568kg
ISBN:  

9780313302626


ISBN 10:   0313302626
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   30 August 1998
Recommended Age:   From 7 to 17 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand   Availability explained
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

"Introduction ""The Oldest and Youngest of the Idealistic Forces at Work in Our Civilization"": Encounters Between Christianity and Socialism by Jacob H. Dorn ""An Active and Unceasing Campaign of Social Education"": J. Stitt Wilson and Herronite Socialist Christianity by Douglas Firth Anderson From Slavery to Socialism: George Washington Woodbey, Black Socialist Preacher by Philip S. Foner A Path Approaching Full Circle: Kate Richards O'Hare by Sally M. Miller ""A Spiritual and Moral Socialism"": Franklin Spencer Spalding and Christian Socialism, 1901-1914 by John R. Sillito ""Not a Substitute for Religion, but a Means of Fulfilling It"": The Sacramental Socialism of Irwin St. John Tucker by Jacob H. Dorn Christianity, Democracy, and Socialism: Bouck White's Kingdom of Self-Respect by Mary E. Kenton Millionaire Socialist and Omnist Episcopalian: J. G. Phelps Stokes's Political and Spiritual Search for the ""All"" by Robert D. Reynolds, Jr. Essay on Sources by Jacob H. Dorn Index"

Reviews

"""This is a significant contribution to the study of a topic that has often been clouded by the enthsiasms of Christian historians keen to prove the relevance of the church and by the impatience of socialist historians with religious reforms....Every article is exceedingly well documented and the Essay on Sources' (223-37) is a genuine treasure....[A] book that has pushed forward the scholarly frontier on this topic.""-Church History ?Dorn's volume of biographical profiles provides students of the Progressive Era with a useful supplement to the studies of the major figures of that period.?-Choice ?The authors very aptly focus on the Socialist involvement of their subjects....Dorn's fine collection gives us a start on what can be done.?-Anglican and Episcopal History ?There is a rich tapestry of personalities and issues presented here that will whet the appetites of researchers for years to come.?-Labor History ?This is a significant contribution to the study of a topic that has often been clouded by the enthsiasms of Christian historians keen to prove the relevance of the church and by the impatience of socialist historians with religious reforms....Every article is exceedingly well documented and the Essay on Sources' (223-37) is a genuine treasure....[A] book that has pushed forward the scholarly frontier on this topic.?-Church History ""Dorn's volume of biographical profiles provides students of the Progressive Era with a useful supplement to the studies of the major figures of that period.""-Choice ""The authors very aptly focus on the Socialist involvement of their subjects....Dorn's fine collection gives us a start on what can be done.""-Anglican and Episcopal History ""There is a rich tapestry of personalities and issues presented here that will whet the appetites of researchers for years to come.""-Labor History"


This is a significant contribution to the study of a topic that has often been clouded by the enthsiasms of Christian historians keen to prove the relevance of the church and by the impatience of socialist historians with religious reforms....Every article is exceedingly well documented and the Essay on Sources' (223-37) is a genuine treasure....[A] book that has pushed forward the scholarly frontier on this topic. -Church History


Author Information

JACOB H. DORN is Professor of History, Wright State University. His publications focus on religion in the public sector and include a biography of Washington Gladden and essays and articles on the Social Gospel and urban religion.

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