Dennis M. Sullivan

Eugenics and Protestant Social Reform

History & Biography

“The eugenics movement of the early twentieth century has had a profound influence on medical ethics. Though the core ideas of eugenics go back to Aristotle, teachers of health care ethics have rightly traced their recent roots to the late nineteenth century, within social Darwinism and the Industrial Revolution. But where was the American evangelical church in all this? For more than two millennia, Christianity has defended poor, vulnerable, and marginalized individuals, with their value grounded in the imago Dei. Christian theology should have pushed back against the worst abuses of negative eugenics that sterilized the 'feeble-minded' and other genetically 'defective' persons. Yet given the interplay of science, theology, and attempts at social reform, eugenics sometimes co-opted the church. Philosopher and theologian Dennis Durst deftly and thoughtfully examines these complex relationships. This book is a rich academic resource for seminary and health care students alike.”