William Graham Summer was a Yale professor who strongly supported Social Darwinism. He justified poverty basing his arguments on Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species. On the other hand, Walter Rauschenbusch was a Theology student and a missionary. He founded Social Gospel, which criticized Christians’ treatment of the poor. Rauschenbusch advocated for social and economic equity. Working from different ideologies, Graham and Rauschenbusch’s approaches to poverty has some similarities and differences.
Summer and Rauschenbusch trace the origin of poverty to nature. They argue that the cause of all social problems is nature. William Summer supports the Darwinism position that nature should take its course without interference. This reiterates that poverty is natural and, all its victims must accept it. Rauschenbusch also shares Summer’s view. He affirms that one generation can genetically transfer sins to the next. This implies that the inheritance of sin is beyond human control. He theologically explains that sin is the father of all social injustices in the community.
Poverty alleviation, they take contrasting grounds. According to William summer, social and economic inequality is healthy and acceptable. He asserts that those at the lowest social order should remain so without any intervention; not even government interference. But Rauschenbusch laments that, Industrial Revolution brought great social inequality in the community. Lack of industrial laws to protect workers promoted overexploitation of the poor by strong industrial powers who disguised themselves under Christianity. Worst of all, these industrialists called themselves Christians. Contrary to Summer, he treated human advancement as progressive event that can eventually improve human lifestyle. He believed that poverty alleviation is a big possibility.
In my opinion, I strongly disagree with William Summer. People born in poor families must work hard to improve their living conditions. This is because many people in the have succeeded not withstanding their economic background. Social Gospel is a bit sensible. I give him credit for his support to the poor and the vulnerable members of the society.
Works Cited
Erick, Foner. Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History.3rd Ed. USA: W W Norton &
Company Incorporated, 2010. Print.
