Jane Addams

Jane Addams, in her foundation of Hull House, had some definite religious ideas to put into practice, although they may not have been explicitly stated. One of the big motivating factors for her was the religious beliefs of her father, and the values he instilled in her carried over throughout her life. One of the most important or relevant of these values, I think, is the sense that everyone should be equal and have the same chances and so on. This could be seen as a secular belief, one very historically relevant, or it could be a feature of her Quaker upbringing.

Jane Addams' strong devotion and attachment to her project bespeak a commitment that may go beyond the bounds of normal secular attachment. One of the most powerful motivators is a sense of religious injustice, and I think there was a healthy dose of this in Addams' desire to help the disenfranchised in Chicago. Religion was not the only motivator for Addams, but it seems to have been a significant one at the very least, and perhaps the main factor involved in her decisions regarding Hull House.