Social progressivism is a philosophy that supports social reform for the good of society, with the goal of creating a more equal and fair society and holds that it is possible to improve human societies through political reform or government mandates.
Slavery was entrenched in the United States until 1865, but she was decidedly anti-slavery and spoke out repeatedly against racism and classism. She wrote, “No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God… All men are of one family by creation.” She referred to this bondage as “the high crime of slavery” and repeatedly warned that God would punish the United States for “the sin of slavery.”
In 1906, an article she wrote for The Review and Herald stated, “The advocates of temperance fail to do their whole duty unless they exert their influence, by precept and example, by voice and pen and vote, in behalf of prohibition [the government mandated, legal prevention of the sale of alcohol in the U.S.] and total abstinence.
She believed that women should work outside of the home if they desired. She felt they should be paid for their labors just as their husbands were. She encouraged her readers by asking them to “Study the Scriptures for further light on this point. Women were among Christ’s devoted followers in the days of His ministry, and Paul makes mention of certain women who were ‘helpers together’ with him ‘in the gospel [Philippians 4:3]. Letters and Manuscripts-Volume 4 (1909). She supported women becoming physicians, teachers, bible workers, etc. at a time when most were homemakers.
And she believed in animal rights. In 1896, she wrote “…it lowers a man in the sight of God when he treats animals in a cruel way.” “They can never enter the kingdom of heaven, for their temper is in accordance with that of Satan.” Wow.
These ideas made her an unconventional person in the eyes of most, but her views were always supported by the Bible.