MAX WEBER

MAX WEBER: SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION (1864  – 1920) Sociology of Religion: 

Relationship between Protestantism and Capitalism.

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Relationship of religions to capitalism

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Religion and Capitalism

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Interdependent

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Economic system affects ethical values

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Moral attitudes develop economic system

Religion and economic system: 

Relationship between religion and economic system.

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Religion lacks rationality, cannot motivate economic development

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Religion develops another worldly outlook

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Religion based on rationality developed economically

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Protestant religion based on rationality

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It is worldly

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Countries following protestant ethics economically well off 

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Others not following, economically backward.

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Protestantism helped to create norms of capitalism

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Protestant reform action gave impetus to capitalist economy.

Spirit of Capitalism: 1. Scientific mode of business management 2. Scientific techniques in production 3. Free labor and free trade

4. Scientific laws 5. Organized markets.

Protestant Ethics: 1. Rational values 2. Creative altitude to work 3. New altitude towards collection of interest on loans 4. Concept of salvation 5. Strictures on alcoholism 6. Rejection of holidays 7. Encouragement to literacy 8. Protestant asceticism

Other values prevalent among followers: 1. Time is money 2. Money begets money 3. Honesty is the best policy 4. To save penny, to earn it 5. Early to bed and early to rise.

Marx and Webber compared: 1. To Marxists, Protestantism by product of capitalism 2. Webber came to opposite conclusion