In this influential book, Ely produced an impact outside his own field of economy that was felt in the world of theological study. Supporting the finest contributions of social thinking in his day, he points out the basic, fundamental social principles of Christianity in his first chapter, but also demonstrates how they are not met. He further addresses the church and the world, philanthropy, ethics and economics, and the opportunity afforded to the church by the social crisis of his day. Still timely and sensible, this treatment of a layman’s view of the social obligations of Christianity maintains its ability to challenge convention and urge for progress. A significant treatment of an essential aspect of ethical religious principles, this book would be profitably read by all who are interested in a fair society.

Richard Theodore Ely (1854-1943) was a noted progressive economist who helped establish the Social Gospel movement. He studied at Columbia University and the University of Heidelberg. He taught at the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

• TABLE OF CONTENTS (page 6)
• PREFACE (page 7)
• SOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY: I. STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES (page 11)
• II. STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES CONCLUDED (page 20)
• III. THE SIMPLE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (page 29)
• IV. THE CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD (page 40)
• V. THE ALIENATION OF WAGE-WORKERS FROM THE CHURCH (page 49)
• THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD (page 61)
• PHILANTHROPY (page 95)
• ETHICS AND ECONOMICS (page 125)
• THE SOCIAL CRISIS AND THE CHURCH'S OPPORTUNITY (page 145)