Weberian Approach

Weberian Approach

1. Religion could INFLUENCE the economic base

2. Calvinism assisted in the rise of Capitalism

   • Encouraged attributes like hard work, thrift, material success
     • If someone displayed these qualities this meant to them that they would go to Heaven (predestination)
     • Calvinism along with other causal factors e.g. advances in technology helped in the rise of Capitalism
       • Elective affinity
   • In the West, Capitalism thrived
     • In the East, religions like Hinduism stressed that individuals accept their lot in life
       • Discouraged economic innovation

3. Religion is a vehicle of social control

   • Provided central shared values of western society

4. Advantages

   • Shows how the superstructure of society can influence the economic base contradicting Marx
   • Combines interpretivism and structuralism
   • In contrast to the beliefs of Durkheim and Marx, says that religion is a dynamic for social change rather than a conservative force

5. Disadvantages

   • Eisenstadt
     • Did not explain why Capitalism became strong in societies where Calvinism wasn't significant
   • Kautsky
     • Capitalism existed first and this produced the rise of Calvinism
   • Samuelson
     • Some countries in Europe e.g. Scotland had large Calvinist communities and did not develop quickly on Capitalist lines