Interactionism and Religion

• religion deals with the problem of theodicy 
• by this he means it makes sense of and explains a world full of difficulty, inequalityy and danger
• this helps to justify social inequality 
• however, it is not inevitable it will always be a conservative force 

• Calvinism brought about social change by bringing about modern capitalism 
• capitaism is the sense of greed and wealth to be able to buy luxury goods
• modern capitalism is the rational persuit of profit for profits sake 
• this spirit has elective affinity and unconcious similarity to calvinist beliefs and attitudes

Calvinist Beliefs 

• predestination, our soul is damned or saved from the start meaning we can not change our place in society 
• divine transcendence, no human beings know the will of God and so a salvation panic can occur
• Ascesticism, abstience, self discipline and denial will lead to a life in heaven after death
• vocation, this worldly gains are achieved through constant methodical work, we must accumulate wealth rationally 

• some countries with large Calvinist populations never developed capitalism 
• slavery, colonialism and piracy were probably more influential 
• capitalism predates calvinism 
• Capitalists were drawn to Calvinism as it legitimates their interests 

HOWEVER 

• Weber does not discount the impotance of the economoy and material factors
• admits capitalism was only possible due to technology