Weber

Sparked by the observation that many religious groups were involved in business, Weber explores the relationship between religion and the economy in The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism. Calvinism (a branch of Protestantism) provided the explanation Weber was looking for about pursuing profits. Through historical events and happenings, Calvinists have come to view their successes and profits as a sign of God’s favor. Weber claims that modern capitalism was created by all these religious that had similar views about the economy. But this is a two way relationship. Weber also explores the idea that capitalism impacted different religious movements as well. In Bureaucracy, Weber discusses it as an organizational structure that is developed through “rational-legal” authority. He said these structures come about based on traditional structures but with a few alterations. These changes range from official selection to abstract rules to employment by this administration as a career. Weber states that making these changes will not necessarily fix the traditional system.
I thought it was very interesting that Weber explored both sides of the coin in The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism. His first stance was on how different religions used their beliefs to pave the way to economic capitalism. But Weber also covers how this goes the other way and that this capitalist movement helped develop some of these religious values. You don’t usually see people taking both sides of their own argument.
While I think Weber did a good job arguing both sides of this particular argument, I’m not so sure I agree with him. Religions were about way before people were concern with the economy and capitalism. I think economic capitalism had more of an influence on religion than the other way around—what do you think?