what is the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism?

The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism is a theory produced by interactionist Max Weber. Weber studied a group of Calvinist protestants and their ascetic lifestyle. Calvinists believe in a thing called predestination, which meant that God had already decided who was and wasn't going to heaven, and it couldn't be changed. In order to overcome the anxiety this gave them, they lead an ascetic lifestyle- refraining from drinking and sexual pleasures, and working very hard in their careers. Weber concludes that it is this ascetic lifestyle led by the Calvinists that caused for a boom in the economy and industrialisation. This is therefore an argument FOR religion being a changing force on society. 

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Answered by Lucy B. Sociology tutor

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