Religion 50, Liberation and 20th Century Christian Thought
Spring 2011

Reading questions for Charles C. Morrison, The Social Gospel and the Christian Cultus

1)  	According to Morrison, in what respects has the social gospel succeeded over the past generation, and in what respects has it failed?

2)	How does Morrison link biblical criticism, evolution and theological liberalism to the dynamics of the social gospel movement?

3)	Morrison claims that “We do not now have a truly ethical gospel for individuals.  Our evangelism is not ethical in the deeper Christian sense” (175).  What does he mean by this?

4)	Morrison calls for the Christian church to become so autonomous and outspoken that it runs the risk of alienating the bourgeois class (172).  Do you agree that the church should run this risk?  Why or why not?