Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)

Major works

•          A Theology of the Social Gospel

•          Christianity and the Social Crisis

Importance

•          Great proponent of a social gospel and critic of orthodox Christianity

•          His focus was primarily ethical

•          Human need was his starting point

•          Said Inerrancy was a human invention

•          Denied the deity of Christ and vicarious atonement

•          Was a strong critic of capitalism

•          Said Premillennialism stymied the social conscience of Christians

•          Influenced by Schleiermacher; Ritschl and Harnack