Weber and Religion

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Weber and Religion
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Key Points

• Weber takes the fact that individuals believe in
  the existence of the supernatural seriously.
• Weber is interested in the relationship between
  religious conduct and ideas and other aspects of
  human behavior.
• Weber is interested in how religion and ideas can
  be forces of social change (cause breakthroughs)
  more than in their ability to reinforce tradition
  and maintain stability.
• Magic vs. Religion Magical forces can be
  compelled and magicians deal with ad hoc
  interests while religious forces must be
  worshipped and priestly functions are organized
  systematically into a cult.

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Ideal Types

• Ideal Type a conceptual tool that serves as a
  measuring rod for social observers to determine
  the extent to which concrete social institutions
  are similar and how they differ from some defined
  measure In other words, they are concepts we use
  to categorize and compare things
• Example Ideal capitalism might consist of the
  following
• Private Ownership of all potentially profitable
  activity 
• Pursuit of Profit 
• Competition between companies 
• Laissez Faire, or government keeps its hands off
  the economy 

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Weber on the Rise of Modern Capitalism

• Webers Question Why did modern capitalism arise
  in the West rather than in the East?

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Features of Modern Capitalism

• rational accounting weighing costs and benefits
  of production decisions
• free market absence of irrational limitations
• rational technology reduced to calculation,
  implies mechanization
• calculable law reliable laws that allow
  prediction of penalties and protections
• free labor workers able to sell labor without
  restriction
• commercialization of economic life use of paper
  work, contracts, banking, certificates of
  ownership
• development of the capitalist spirit
• It must be possible to conduct the provision
  for needs exclusively on the basis of market
  opportunities and the calculation of net income

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The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

• Main Question Why are Protestant districts more
  likely than Catholic districts to adhere to
  principles of modern capitalism? Or, what is the
  spirit of capitalism and how did it arise?

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Key Terms

• Calling refers to specific obligations, set by
  God, that an individual is expected to fulfill
• Predestination idea that God alone, by his
  grace, designates who will receive the gift of
  eternal life or eternal death attributes,
  actions and worth of individuals have no bearing
  on where they end up

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How the Reformation Promoted Capitalism
Important to Figure Out Status
Search for a Sign
Attempt to Look Elect
No Means to Obtain Grace of God
Pursuit of Worldly Success
Frugal Lifestyle (Asceticism)
Notions of Calling and Predestination
Protestant Reformation
Capitalist Spirit