Changes

==Argument==

==Argument==

Weber argues that the religious values of Protestantism—specifically [[Puritan]] values that emphasize hard work and disparage waste and leisure, contributed enormously to the rise of [[capitalism]] and economic success of Protestant nations.  Protestants saw success in business as evidence of [[predestination]], and thus put a heavy emphasis on entrepreneurial activity, as opposed to Catholics, who saw wealth as a sign of sin.  Weber focused on the doctrine of Calvinism drawn from the Bible — which though did not hold that salvation must be earned, according to his interpreter Anthony Giddens, "success in a calling eventually came to be regarded as a ‘sign’ – never a means – of being one of the elect"<ref>Weber, Max (1904-5).  [https://ia902809.us.archive.org/19/items/WeberMax.TheProtestantEthicAndTheSpiritOfCapitalism2005/Weber%2C%20Max.%20-%20%20The%20Protestant%20Ethic%20and%20the%20%27Spirit%27%20of%20Capitalism%20%5B2005%5D.pdf ''The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism''], trans. of "Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus" by Parsons, Talcott 1930, intr. by Giddens, Anthony 1976 (London:  Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005), p. xiii.</ref> — to be a major cause of the rise of capitalism. The specific sect was less important than the shared values of the sects and their minority position in the general culture. He used the life and ideas of [[Benjamin Franklin]] as part of his evidence.

Weber argues that the religious values of Protestantism—specifically [[Puritan]] values that emphasize hard work and disparage waste and leisure, contributed enormously to the rise of [[capitalism]] and economic success of Protestant nations.  Protestants saw success in business as evidence of [[predestination]], and thus put a heavy emphasis on entrepreneurial activity, as opposed to Catholics, who saw wealth as a sign of sin.  Weber focused on the doctrine of Calvinism drawn from the Bible — which though did not hold that salvation must be earned, according to his interpreter Anthony Giddens, "success in a calling eventually came to be regarded as a ‘sign’ – never a means – of being one of the elect"<ref>Weber, Max (1904-5).  [https://ia902809.us.archive.org/19/items/WeberMax.TheProtestantEthicAndTheSpiritOfCapitalism2005/Weber%2C%20Max.%20-%20%20The%20Protestant%20Ethic%20and%20the%20%27Spirit%27%20of%20Capitalism%20%5B2005%5D.pdf ''The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism''], trans. of "Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus" by Parsons, Talcott 1930, intr. by Giddens, Anthony 1976 (London:  Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005), p. xiii.</ref> — to be a major cause of the rise of capitalism. The specific sect was less important than the shared values of the sects and their minority position in the general culture. He used the life and ideas of [[Benjamin Franklin]] as part of his evidence.