those who pursue religion often turn away from worldly affairs they're suspicious of wealth and business preferring an ascetic life of contemplation and prayer the sociologist and economist Max Weber argued that after the Reformation one form of Christian Protestantism Calvinism encouraged a different attitude to work with far-reaching effects Calvinists believed in predestination a precise number of souls would go to heaven the lucky ones had places reserved by God however most Calvinists were terrified there would be no seat awaiting them in paradise they were always on the lookout for signs that they had been saved one clear
indication that they were on the guest list was that they were actively contributing to their community through their work in his book the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism weber argued that the Calvinists need to reassure themselves through their industry was an important factor in the growth of capitalism in Northern Europe they built up businesses that generated wealth but at the same time lived thrifty lives they reinvested any surplus and so helped fuel capitalism eventually capitalism would have a life and momentum of its own but according to Weber at least its initial impetus came
from a theological source
