Question

Did Jane Addams' actions show a belief in Social Gospel or in social darwanism?

Answer 1

Jane Addams' actions showed a belief in Social Gospel. Addams was an American activist and social workers who is known as the "mother of social work". Throughout her life she was a prominent leader in women's suffrage and helped America on issues such as world peace, local public health and acted as an advocate for middle class women. In 1931 she became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Social Gospel, the religious movement Addams believed in, emerged in the late 19th century and aimed to solve problems caused mainly by industrialization and urbanization. It advocated these issues by applying Christian principles and the teachings of Jesus - particulary, his second commandment: "love thy neighbor as thyself". Social Gospel was all about looking our for the good of all, they firmly believed that wealth was meant to be shared. Followers of this movement did not believe in Social Darwinism or "the survival of the fittest".

Answer 2

Jane Addams deservedly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 after many years of social work and charity efforts.

The ideologies and philosophical movements in vogue previous to her time, such as Darwinism, threatened the traditional values of Christianity in favor of empirical research and a more scientifc approach.

Addams' actions aimed to integrate religious values with the progressiveness of modernity, and this union is examplified in the Social Gospel.

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