Weber's Theory of Religion

In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber argues that there is a close association between religion and the advancement of economic capitalism, thus an indicator of social change  (Pals, 159). In his book, Weber explores the connection of Protestants being told it was crucial to work towards material success (Pals, 159). This emphasis then influenced the rise in capitalism as there was a was importance placed on working, rather than spending time with family, friends, or leisure (McGivern, 2013). The adaptation of different social values, such as economic and social values, illustrates how religion can produce social change. Due to the key players at the time, they were able to influence the ideology of the majority of people. Furthermore, Weber discusses the term, Verstehen. Verstehen refers to the empathic approach and understanding of social action (Kalberg). In order to examine the Verstehen, Weber explained that we must look at the behavior, as well as examine the motivation behind the behavior (Kalberg). Verstehen was crucial to Weber's sociological approach, he completed this by examining a group's vaults, traditions to further understand their subjective meaning (Kalberg).