Great piece. I have read Weber for one of my sociology classes and you’ve done a great job of explaining his idea simply while also adding context from his life. One thing for me that stood out about Calvinism that you didn’t talk about much is how Calvin came to believe predestination. It’s quite ingenious. Since God is omnipotent, but more importantly, omniscient, he already knows, and has decided, who go to heaven and who will go to hell. Thus, it is already decided whether or not we are predestined to be saved. So we need to act as if we are to prove it to yourself (as much as prove it to others)
Another interesting part is the psychological effects of this doctrine on the people who followed it. Weber says it must have been incredibly lonely to have to interpret the bible on our own and also just have to wonder whether or not we are saved. This anguish was soothed by physical labour, as the exercise made you feel good about your destiny (and well now we would know that the physical labour was giving happy neurochemicals such as serotonin etc).
Anyways, I get that there’s only so much you can fit in a small article. But yeah great job!
Great piece. I have read Weber for one of my sociology classes and you’ve done a great job of explaining his idea simply while also adding context from his life. One thing for me that stood out about Calvinism that you didn’t talk about much is how Calvin came to believe predestination. It’s quite ingenious. Since God is omnipotent, but more importantly, omniscient, he already knows, and has decided, who go to heaven and who will go to hell. Thus, it is already decided whether or not we are predestined to be saved. So we need to act as if we are to prove it to yourself (as much as prove it to others)
Another interesting part is the psychological effects of this doctrine on the people who followed it. Weber says it must have been incredibly lonely to have to interpret the bible on our own and also just have to wonder whether or not we are saved. This anguish was soothed by physical labour, as the exercise made you feel good about your destiny (and well now we would know that the physical labour was giving happy neurochemicals such as serotonin etc).
Anyways, I get that there’s only so much you can fit in a small article. But yeah great job!
Great points Justin, and many thanks indeed for your kind comments - best regards David M