Ascetic Protestantism

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Weber tries to understand the relationship between ascetic Protestantism and the spirit of capitalism. The writtings of Richard Baxter provide good insight on asectic protestantism. According to Baxter the will of God clearly states that only activity and no idleness and enjoyment serves to icrease his glory. His real moral objection though, is to relaxation, idleness, socialibilty and distraction from the pursuit of a righteous life.(baxter 2001) According to him time is infinitely valuable. Baxter says that work is tried and proven mechanism for the practice of asceticism and the purpose of life itself involves work. Wasting time is the worst of sins. Baxter says that even those with possession shall not eat without working. Possessions are only objectionable because of this risk of relaxation, only activity promotes God's …show more content…
The societal divison of labour and occupational stratification is seen as a direct manifestation of Gods divine plan. Weber then attempts to clarify the ways in which the Puritan idea of the calling and asceticism influenced the development of the capitalistic way of life. Asceticism opposed the spontaneous enjoyment of life and its opportunities. Enjoyment leads people away from work in a calling and religion. Weber argues, "That powerful tendency toward uniformity of life, which today so immensely aids the capitalistic interest in the standardization of production, had its ideal foundations in the repudiation of all idolatry of the flesh. The Puritans rejected any spending of money on entertainment because according to them it didn't "serve God's glory." They felt a duty to hold and increase their possessions. It was ascetic Protestantism that gave this attitude its ethical foundation. Asceticism also condemned dishonesty and impulsive greed. The pursuit of wealth in itself was bad, but attaining it as the result of one's labor was a sign of God's