Changes

[[Max Weber]] (1864 – 1920) thought that the truth claims of religious movement were irrelevant for the scientific study of the movements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> He portrayed each religion as rational and consistent in their respective societies.<ref>Kunin, page 38</ref>

[[Max Weber]] (1864 – 1920) thought that the truth claims of religious movement were irrelevant for the scientific study of the movements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> He portrayed each religion as rational and consistent in their respective societies.<ref>Kunin, page 38</ref>

Weber acknowledged that religion had a strong social component, but diverged from Durkheim by arguing, for example in his book  [[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] that religion can be a force of change in society. In the book Weber wrote that modern [[capitalism]] spread quickly partially due to the Protestant wordly ascetic morale.<ref>(Kunin)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> Weber's main focus was not on developing a theory of religion but on the interaction between society and religion, while introducing concepts that are still widely used in the [[sociology of religion]]. These concept include

Weber acknowledged that religion had a strong social component, but diverged from Durkheim by arguing, for example in his book  [[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] that religion can be a force of change in society. In the book Weber wrote that modern [[capitalism]] spread quickly partially due to the Protestant worldly [[Ascesis|ascetic]] morale.<ref>(Kunin)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> Weber's main focus was not on developing a theory of religion but on the interaction between society and religion, while introducing concepts that are still widely used in the [[sociology of religion]]. These concept include

*[[Church sect typology]],<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/cstheory.htm</ref> Weber distinguished between [[sect]]s and churches by stating that membership of the former is a choice while the latter is determined by birth. The typology later developed more extensively by his friend [[Ernst Troeltsch]] and others.<ref name="Bendix49-50">{{cite book |last=Bendix |title=Max Weber |url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s  

*[[Church sect typology]],<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/cstheory.htm</ref> Weber distinguished between [[sect]]s and churches by stating that membership of the former is a choice while the latter is determined by birth. The typology later developed more extensively by his friend [[Ernst Troeltsch]] and others.<ref name="Bendix49-50">{{cite book |last=Bendix |title=Max Weber |url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s  

|pages=49–50}}</ref> According to the typology, churches, [[Ecclesia (sociology of religion)|ecclesia]], [[denomination]], and [[sect]]s form a continuum with decreasing influence on society. Sects are protest break away groups and tend to be in tension with society.  

|pages=49–50}}</ref> According to the typology, churches, [[Ecclesia (sociology of religion)|ecclesia]], [[denomination]], and [[sect]]s form a continuum with decreasing influence on society. Sects are protest break away groups and tend to be in tension with society.