There is a famous book by Max Weber called The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. His thesis is that Protestantism created the values that developed capitalism.
Max Weber argued that Protestantism, particularly the Calvinist branch, was a necessary condition for the development of capitalism. He believed that the Calvinist emphasis on hard work, discipline, and frugality contributed to the growth of capitalist economies in Western Europe.
Max Weber suggested in 1904 that certain tenets of Protestantism were more favorable to commerce and thus led to the rise of capitalism in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.Karl Marx earlier suggested the reverse connection; that the rise of commerce and capitalism in Europe led to the Protestant Reformation. That would have been in the second half of the 19th century (1870 -ish).
Max Weber defines "spirit of capitalism" as the ideas and esprit that favor the rational pursuit of economic gain.
Max Weber focused his studies on the sociology of authority, bureaucracy, and the relationship between religion and economics. He is best known for his analysis of the impact of Protestantism on the development of capitalism, particularly in his work "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism." Additionally, Weber examined different types of authority—traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational—and how they shape social structures and governance. His work laid the foundation for modern sociology and influenced various fields, including political science and economics.
religion
changes in religion
Well, whether it actually does so is open for debate and requires consideration of the evidence.The classic argument that capitalism is a by-product of the Protestant mindset comes from sociologist Max Weber, who took it as his life's work to "debate the ghost of Karl Marx."Weber's book argues that Calvinism (a form of Protestantism) leads its practitioners to try to accumulate wealth as a sign of their worth in the eyes of God. According to Weber, this "ethic" leads to a capitalist society in which bureaucracy becomes increasingly important.Weber's argument is famous. It may also be one of the most over-rated things in the history of social science.
Max Weber traced the social invention of capitalism to the Protestant Reformation. He argued that the Protestant work ethic, particularly in Calvinism, played a significant role in shaping the values and behaviors that led to the rise of capitalism in Western societies.
He compared the extent of capitalism in Catholic and Protestant countries.
The Merton thesis is a theory proposed by sociologist Robert K. Merton. It suggests that the Protestant work ethic of early Protestantism played a significant role in the development of capitalism in Europe. Merton argued that the values and beliefs of Protestantism, such as hard work, thrift, and honesty, contributed to the rise of capitalism.
According to Max Weber, the Protestant ethic was a central factor in the birth of capitalism. He argued that the values associated with Protestantism, particularly Calvinism, promoted hard work, frugality, and a sense of individual responsibility, which contributed to the development of a capitalist economy. This ethic helped to create a culture that valued economic success as a sign of personal virtue and divine favor.