The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Terms

Asceticism is the practice of living a virtuous, disciplined life by abstaining from worldly pleasures. Catholic monks practice monastic asceticism, forgoing earthly possessions, money, and a career to pray and care for the poor. Protestants… read analysis of Asceticism

A denomination within Protestantism that later spawned the Mennonites and the Quakers. Early Baptists believed themselves to be members of the only “true church,” an exclusivity than led them to shun the outside world… read analysis of Baptists

The Protestant concept of the “calling” refers to one’s secular occupation and argues that the premiere way for one to serve God is by laboring in the work God assigned to them. Martin Luther developed… read analysis of Calling

Calvinism is the body of doctrines that John Calvin developed during the Protestant Reformation, the most notable of which is the doctrine of predestination. read analysis of Calvinism

Catholicism is the largest unified movement in Christianity. Although there are some divisions within the Catholic Church, they are far fewer than the divisions in Protestantism. Weber treats Catholicism as a unified movement for… read analysis of Catholicism

The elect are those destined for salvation according to Calvin’s doctrine of predestination. read analysis of Elect

Lutheranism is the body of doctrines that developed out of Martin Luther’s writing and teaching during the Protestant Reformation. Although Lutheranism developed at the same time as Calvinism, Lutheranism rejects predestination and… read analysis of Lutheranism

The Mennonites are a Protestant movement that abstains from public office, military service, or formal religious organization. read analysis of Mennonites

Methodism is a movement that descended from Calvinism and the teachings of John Wesley. Despite its heritage, Methodism is less militaristic than Calvinism and rejects the idea of predestination. read analysis of Methodism

Pietism is a movement that rose out of the Lutheran denomination in the 17th century and placed a much greater emphasis on personal piety and self-discipline. read analysis of Pietism

Predestination is the Calvinist doctrine that humanity is completely wretched and separated from God, and thus cannot earn their own salvation. Instead, God divinely chose a minority of humanity to save, long before the earth… read analysis of Predestination

Presbyterianism is a subsequent development of Calvinism that originated in England and Scotland. read analysis of Presbyterianism

The Protestant Reformation was a religious upheaval that spread through Europe in the 16th century, initiated by Martin Luther’s criticisms of Catholic doctrine. The Protestant Reformation had wide-reaching political, intellectual, and cultural effects, most… read analysis of Protestant Reformation

Protestantism is a movement within Christianity that rejects the Catholic Church’s authority. Protestantism emerged during the Protestant Reformation, when the German monk Martin Luther began criticizing Catholic doctrine and practice. There are many denominations… read analysis of Protestantism

Although Puritanism occasionally refers to the early Protestant movement as a whole, it specifically refers to the English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to further reform the Church of England. English… read analysis of Puritanism

The Quakers (also known as the Religious Society of Friends) are a religious group descended from Calvinism. Quakerism was popular in early America. read analysis of Quakerism

The antithesis of the capitalist spirit. Traditionalism is an economic viewpoint that centers around minimizing work and maximizing pleasure and leisure time—in other words, working enough to satisfy one’s needs but not attempting to… read analysis of Traditionalism