Josiah Strong was a prominent American pastor and author in the late 19th century, known for his influential writings on social issues and American theology. He played a key role in advocating for social reforms and was a leading voice of the Social Gospel movement, which aimed to address societal problems through a Christian lens. His views often emphasized the importance of moral and spiritual renewal in tackling the challenges of urbanization and industrialization.
Strong's most notable work, "Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis," published in 1885, presented a vision of America as a divinely favored nation destined to spread its values globally. He argued for the importance of Anglo-Saxon superiority and the responsibility of Americans to civilize and Christianize other nations. This perspective reflected the prevailing attitudes of his time and influenced American imperialist policies.