Final answer:
The Social Gospel is best described as a religious movement that aimed to apply Christian ethics to solve social issues like poverty and inequality. Minister Charles Sheldon and others prompted followers to act by questioning 'What would Jesus do?' The movement led to the rise of charitable works by religious organizations and had a considerable impact on social reform.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Social Gospel movement is best described as a religious movement. It emerged in the early twentieth century and was a significant religious trend that sought to apply the teachings of Christianity, specifically the ethos of Christian ethics, to address and find solutions for widespread social problems such as poverty, crime, and the exploitation of child labor. Closely associated with the movement was minister Charles Sheldon, who challenged people to consider 'What would Jesus do?' in their daily lives and decisions. The movement played a significant role in addressing labor reform and income inequality by advocating for improved living conditions for workers. Additionally, it was part of a larger trend where urban churches began to provide direct services and assistance to impoverished communities.
The Social Gospel was grounded in the belief that service to the poor was not just charity but a moral duty for those with material wealth. It inspired various religious organizations and institutions to become more actively involved in charitable works and influenced religious service organizations like the Salvation Army and the YMCA/YWCA to grow in both numbers and reputation. Moreover, the movement's call for fair treatment of workers and its critiques of racial and religious discrimination led to practical efforts to ameliorate these problems. While it occasionally had paternalistic overtones, its impact was profound, including the return of urban poor to churches that established outreach missions in previously ignored neighborhoods.