Religion in Society by Ronald L. Johnstone

Author:Ronald L. Johnstone [Johnstone, Ronald L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Sociology, General, Sociology of Religion
ISBN: 9781317344537
Google: 1znvCgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2015-11-17T04:06:48+00:00

Toward a Resolution of the Issue

While still other critiques of Weber’s hypothesis could be introduced, enough have been summarized to make the point that the link between Calvinism and capitalism, if one exists at all, is far from a unitary causal one. Of course, Weber himself spoke not of cause but of strong encouragement and support—what we today tend to call reinforcement. Actually, most of Weber’s critics grant some such supportive role for Calvinism. This is the position taken by Tawney, who says that the “capitalistic spirit,” though “as old as history, found in certain aspects of Puritanism a tonic which braced its energies and fortified its already vigorous temper.”22 And Rachfahl, the first to criticize Weber’s hypothesis, points out several indirect ways in which the doctrinal positions of Protestant theologians influenced economic matters. He concludes that despite important weaknesses in Weber’s interpretation, the basic contention that Calvinism had an important influence upon economic activity is valid.23 Rachfahl’s observations are the following:

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