Final answer:
The most influential Social Gospel preacher was Walter Rauschenbusch. He advocated for social justice and the application of Christian principles to address social issues. His book, Christianity and the Social Crisis, became a foundational text for the Social Gospel movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most influential Social Gospel preacher was Walter Rauschenbusch. He was an American theologian and Baptist minister who played a key role in shaping the Social Gospel movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Rauschenbusch's book, Christianity and the Social Crisis, published in 1907, became a foundational text for the Social Gospel movement.
Rauschenbusch advocated for social justice and the application of Christian principles to address social issues such as poverty, labor rights, and inequality. His emphasis on the kingdom of God as a present reality and the importance of social reform influenced many other Social Gospel preachers and activists.
Other notable Social Gospel preachers include Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and Harry Emerson Fosdick. They all made significant contributions to the Social Gospel movement, but it can be argued that Rauschenbusch had the greatest impact.
Learn more about Walter Rauschenbusch