What was the primary criticism of Social Darwinism by the Social Gospel Movement?

The primary criticism of Social Darwinism by the Social Gospel Movement centered on the notion that it ignored societal responsibility. Social Darwinism applied the concept of "survival of the fittest" to human societies, arguing that social and economic disparities were a natural result of competition, implying that those who were less successful were simply less fit. This perspective overlooked the collective responsibility of society to address social injustices and improve conditions for all individuals.

In contrast, the Social Gospel Movement emphasized the need for social reform based on Christian ethics, advocating for the betterment of society as a whole and highlighting the moral obligation to care for the less fortunate. They believed that it was crucial to address systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and lack of access to education and healthcare rather than attributing these problems to individual shortcomings. This focus on communal responsibility and active engagement in social welfare was fundamentally at odds with the tenets of Social Darwinism, which tended to justify inaction towards social issues.