Catherine Booth Contribution to Christianity Essay

Catherine sales booth has strongly summated to the expression and development of Christianity. Through evolution the organisation The buyback legions, stalling addressed discriminatory issues present in the Christian church such(prenominal) as the inequality of women and exclusion of the lower class. carrell has bendd, and still continues to influence Christian society by displaying female equality in the church, workplace and home.Her charity work through The Salvation Army neutered Christianitys perspective of assisting all people in hire and not distinguishing between deserving and despicable measly. stall adapted her church to make it more holy, sacred and appealing to all in society, she lay emphasis on accepting the poor so that more people can go hindquarters to god. Catherine sales booth influenced the Christian Churchs sentiment of womens rights. During her lifetime the Christian Church believed it was heretical to allow a woman to preach and teach adults.B ooth began her work preaching in her home, thence teaching in the Dockland parishes of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey1, and conducting evangelistic rallies. She was convinced that women had an equal right to preach and teach. This is displayed in her brochure pistillate ministry or womans right to preach where she stated Why should a woman be confined exclusively to the kitchen and the distaff, any more than man to the field and workshop. 2 Booth in like manner pointed come in that the first people who announced the news of the resurrection of savior were women.Therefore, due to the strong leadership roles of women in Jesuss life, women have as much responsibility for the gospel as men. During her work of preaching, Booth veritable much criticism from Christians and the church, but she also challenged a lot of minds and became a role model for female ministry. Booth was a full and equal partner in establishing the well k direct organisation, The Salvation Army, which was ab initio known as The Christian Mission3.Due to her strong role in creating this charity Booth was proclaimed with the title Mother of an Army. Yet again, the salvation military received much censure from the giving medication and Christian variants such as the Church of England for allowing women to have the same rights as men. Lord Shaftesbury, an evangelist and political leader in her time stated Booth was an elevation of women to mans status4. The impact and influence of the Salvation Army and its strong role of women let the Church of England to fear another stock split in Christianity.When Catherine married William Booth in 1865 he initially disagreed with her beliefs of equality, especially in the church. Although, it wasnt pine before the couple announced their relationship as equal5, William even stated in relation to Catherines role in the Salvation Amy the best men in my army are the women. 6 Catherine Booth was, and continues to be an example of female equality in the churc h, workplace and home. Her actions in the 19th century influenced make headway Christian developments such as the feminist theology in the 20 and 21st century.Booths example continues to change and develop Christian beliefs in female equality the majority of Christian churches now express women as equal and support their contribution in religious practices. Through her strong belief and acts on social justice, Catherine Booth has developed the expression of social justice in Christianity. She displayed how prescript people, normal Christians can help and impact others by adhering to the two focus of social justice, direct aid and face lifting awareness to change unjust structures.Booth has always had this passion for social justice when she was a pincer playing in her yard she watched the arrest of a drunken man. Instead of running away in disgust, Booth went and kept the man company, holding his until they reached the jail7. Moral stories like Catherines continue to influence some(prenominal) people of a significant Christian belief, accepting and helping people. Through the work of the Salvation Army Booth approached the direct aid focus of social justice by establishing food for million shops and improving work conditions for women and children.She was distinct from the other charities and churches of her time, as she did not distinguish between deserving and undeserving poor. This is unmistakable through her successful campaigns, focusing on the raising awareness area of social justice, against the use of colour phosphorus in matching making factories. Other campaigns included the injustice of white slavery (prostitution of infantile women) which resulted in raising the age of consent from thirteen to sixteen years, and supporting the temperance society. 8 Catherine Booth stated It is a shameful scandal on those Christians andlords who keep their tenants in buildings unfit for dogs. 9 Booths passion for social justice has contributed to the expres sion of Christianity by displaying Jesus love for those in need and not distinguishing between the poor. In doing so, she has also influenced the way Christianity is perceived, this is evident through the high regard which the Salvation Army is now perceived in wider society. Booths passion for social justice also developed a determination to initiate a more accepting and holy church in the Christian community.She abandvirtuosod the Christian denominations that she saw as too immutable and middle class, and reached out to those who were excluded from these churches. In the Salvation Army churches, Booth placed an emphasis on holiness and went against the use of sacraments such as communion and baptism. To promote and attract the poor and needy to the church, the salvation army used popular symphony and theatrical styles such as those that were used in America, this form of ministry was more accessible and appealing to the poor and lower class. 0 The result of Booths campaigns were shown in a 1882 survey on one weeknight 17 000 people were recorded to be worshiping with the salvation army in comparison to 11 000 affect in ordinary church. 11 This statistic challenged other Christian variants to alter their own forms of worship. The goal of the salvation army continues to be the promotion of the Christian faith. 12 By inspiring people to go back to god, Booth remains an important figure in Christianity.She encouraged the Christian church to accept people oer all social classes into their ministry, and now in modern times the church supports and helps the unfortunate in developing their faith in god. Catherine Booths impact on the development and expression of Christianity was immense. The acceptance and independence of women and the lower class in Christian society is greatly due to Catherine Booth. She still continues to influence and contribute to Christianity to this day through her past examples of female equality and social justice. The Salvation Army r emains Booths legacy that assists all people in developing faith in god.