Interactionism and Religion -MAX WEBER
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- Created on: 22-01-15 17:34
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- Interactionism and Religion -MAX WEBER
- Religion deals with theodicy (How we make sense of the world)
- it answers questions like 'Why am I poor, whilst he is rich?'
- In many western religions there is a belief that suffering in this life will bring rewards in the next
- Calvinism
- In Weber's view capitalism was allowed to develop in the West, because it was compatible with the Calvinist teachings.
- Many of the early entrepreneurs were Calvinists and they tended to save or reinvest their wealth
- The Calvinist beliefs transformed the undisciplined workforce into conscientious and industrious who saw their work as a life purpose that was willed by God
- Weber argues these ideas helped initiate Western economic development through the industrial revolution and capitalism
- The protestant ethic not only encouraged 'the spirit of capitalism' but also a new 'spirit of labour' and the former could not have existed without the latter
- Calvinists believed in pre-destination. You were either damned or saved.
- Work was seen as a calling and God was most effectively worshiped through a disciplined life and denied indulgence
- All activity that distracted from work was 'evil'
- If a persons work was rewarded with material success it was a sign of Gods grace that they were one of the elect
- All activity that distracted from work was 'evil'
- In Weber's view capitalism was allowed to develop in the West, because it was compatible with the Calvinist teachings.
- CRITICISMS OF WEBER
- Some countries with large Calvinist populations like Norway and Sweden did not industialise
- Marxists such as KAUTSKY (1982) argue capitalism predates Calvinism
- Early capitalists were attracted to Calvinism because it made their interests appear legit.
- Religion deals with theodicy (How we make sense of the world)
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