Beyond the Noise of Solemn Assemblies: The Protestant Ethic and the Quest for Social Justice in Canada

Richard Allen's scholarship on the social gospel has significantly contributed to Canadian social and religious history by recovering key aspects of the tradition and its contribution to reform movements and politics. His book, Beyond the Noise of Solemn Assemblies, presents a comprehensive overview of a major thread in the fabric of the country, challenging the view that religion is personal and isolated from the public square. It discusses various topics such as the transition from providential to progressive thought, the new spirituality of social solidarity, the role of the social gospel in pioneering urban reform, the significance of Norman Bethune's religious upbringing, post-war ecumenical coalitions, and the prospects for democratic socialism.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 424 pages
\n Publication date: 15 January 2019
\n Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
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Since the 1970s, Richard Allen's scholarship on the social gospel has made groundbreaking contributions to Canadian social and religious history by reclaiming essential aspects of the tradition and its role in reform movements and politics. His book, Beyond the Noise of Solemn Assemblies, compiles and extends many of his renowned works to provide a comprehensive overview of a significant thread in the country's fabric.

Allen challenges the notion that religion is solely personal and disconnected from public affairs, arguing that the sacred and the secular must be intertwined in discussions of public matters. He delves into various topics, including the transition from providential to progressive thought in nineteenth-century Canada, the emergence of a new spirituality of social solidarity among Winnipeg college students in the 1890s, the social gospel's pioneering role in urban reform, the validation of political revolt by farmers and workers through radical Christianity, the revolutionary vision articulated by Christian intellectuals in the 1930s during the Depression era, the influence of Norman Bethune's religious upbringing on his life and work, strategically focused post-war ecumenical coalitions such as Project North and the Latin American Working Group, and the prospects for democratic socialism in the aftermath of the Cold War.

The book begins with a chapter that explores the author's upbringing in a ministerial household deeply committed to the Protestant ethic as the essence of socialism. This introductory chapter sets the stage for understanding the social Christian movement in Canada.

In conclusion, Richard Allen's scholarship on the social gospel has significantly enriched our understanding of Canadian social and religious history. Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Allen has demonstrated the enduring relevance of the social gospel tradition in shaping Canadian society and politics. Beyond the Noise of Solemn Assemblies is a valuable contribution to the field, providing a comprehensive and engaging account of this important historical movement.

\n Weight: 754g\n
Dimension: 166 x 234 x 36 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780773555044\n \n