Many scholars claim that Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious phenomenon in human history. Using two important essays of Max Weber as a foundation, this thesis examines whether growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is promoting the Protestant Ethic described by Weber as well as Social Capital and Spiritual Capital. Analyzing data from the World Values Survey, this thesis argues that growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is not creating a new Protestant Ethic among its followers, nor is Pentecostalism creating any greater Social Capital or Spiritual Capital among its followers when compared to other religious groups in the region. This thesis argues that the strong emotional character of Pentecostalism weighs against the creation or Social Capital and Spiritual Capital and that the tendency of Pentecostals to find assurance of their salvation in emotional experience does not promote the frugality or rationalization of work necessary for the Protestant Ethic.

The aim of this thesis is to explore the influence of religion on the work ethic values of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner-managers in Turkey. The emergence of religious/pious business people in Turkey has been regarded as a phenomenon. This research pays special attention to the religious transformation and secularism in Turkey. It is based on semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 Turkish SME owner-managers. The sample of the study has been divided into two groups: The practicing Muslim Turkish managers (the religious group), and non/less practicing Muslim Turkish managers (the secular group). Discourse analysis of the qualitative data, first, clarifies where to seek the religious influence on business activities. It indicates that the influence of religion should be sought within individuals‘ conduct/manner of living leading the moral values and the mentalities of the business people, rather than seeking cause and affect relationship. The contemporary Islamic interpretation in Turkey, as it is called Turkish/Anatolian interpretation of Islam, is found to re-shape the existing teachings of the religion and reproduce the religious structure through the practices. In this respect, five distinguishing characteristics emerged as signs of the religious influence behind the pious business people‘s actions: Hard work as an Islamic duty, good will (intention), responsibility, bounty/benevolence and the balance/equilibrium in one‘s life. It is also observed that the new Islamic discourse in Turkey provides moral energy exclusively for the religious business people in terms of influencing and encouraging entrepreneurial activities. Meanwhile, the study demonstrates that the work ethic values of the religious Turkish SME owner-managers have been evolving to be more rational and professional, especially after the 1980s liberal economy. This transformation has been evaluated within the concept of secularisation.

Esta tese perscruta o modo como Max Weber, na segunda edição de A ética protestante e o espírito do capitalismo, recorre a dois conceitos oriundos da psicanálise freudiana, a saber, os conceitos de angústia e ab-reação. Defende, além disso, que estes devem ser compreendidos como parte de uma constelação na qual estão incluídos ainda dois conceitos de lavra propriamente weberiana: os de desencantamento do mundo e prêmios psicológicos. Com isso, por um lado, joga-se luz sobre uma relação jamais discutida explicitamente por Weber e virtualmente negligenciada pela literatura especializada. Por outro, busca-se sustentar uma compreensão da obra em seu núcleo distinta da atualmente dominante na weberologia, que compreende a explicação weberiana da gênese do espírito capitalista moderno na chave de uma ação racional puramente orientada a valores. / This thesis examines how Max Weber, in the second edition of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, makes use of two concepts derived from Freudian psychoanalysis, namely, the concepts of anxiety and ab-reaction. It further argues that these concepts should be understood as part of a constellation in which two other Weberian concepts are included: the disenchantment of the world and psychological premiums. Thus, on the one hand, it sheds light on a relationship that was never explicitly discussed by Weber and has been virtually neglected by specialized literature. On the other, it seeks to maintain an understanding of the core of Webers work distinct from its current dominant reading in Weberology, which understands the Weberian explanation of the genesis of the modern capitalist spirit in the key of a pure value-rational action.

Esta tese perscruta o modo como Max Weber, na segunda edição de A ética protestante e o espírito do capitalismo, recorre a dois conceitos oriundos da psicanálise freudiana, a saber, os conceitos de angústia e ab-reação. Defende, além disso, que estes devem ser compreendidos como parte de uma constelação na qual estão incluídos ainda dois conceitos de lavra propriamente weberiana: os de desencantamento do mundo e prêmios psicológicos. Com isso, por um lado, joga-se luz sobre uma relação jamais discutida explicitamente por Weber e virtualmente negligenciada pela literatura especializada. Por outro, busca-se sustentar uma compreensão da obra em seu núcleo distinta da atualmente dominante na weberologia, que compreende a explicação weberiana da gênese do espírito capitalista moderno na chave de uma ação racional puramente orientada a valores. / This thesis examines how Max Weber, in the second edition of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, makes use of two concepts derived from Freudian psychoanalysis, namely, the concepts of anxiety and ab-reaction. It further argues that these concepts should be understood as part of a constellation in which two other Weberian concepts are included: the disenchantment of the world and psychological premiums. Thus, on the one hand, it sheds light on a relationship that was never explicitly discussed by Weber and has been virtually neglected by specialized literature. On the other, it seeks to maintain an understanding of the core of Webers work distinct from its current dominant reading in Weberology, which understands the Weberian explanation of the genesis of the modern capitalist spirit in the key of a pure value-rational action.

In the United States, faith-based and other small credit unions are vanishing at the rate of nearly a credit union each workday. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to provide managers of faith-based credit unions with information about differences in financial performance and risk tolerance between faith-based and non-faith-based credit unions in order to improve their investment strategy and long-term sustainability. The study included a comparison of ratios measuring the financial performance and risk tolerance of randomly selected faith-based credit unions in the United States with the corresponding ratios of non-faith-based credit unions of similar size and location from 2003 to 2012. The data were collected from the National Credit Union Association, the U.S. government regulator of federally insured credit unions. The data analysis involved t tests and one-way ANOVAs to determine the differences in mean ratios of financial performance and risk tolerance between faith-based and non-faith-based credit unions. The findings demonstrated mixed support for the theoretical framework based on the Protestant ethic theory, which holds that certain traits associated with religion (e.g., thrift and debt avoidance) might influence financial performance and risk tolerance. The findings revealed significant differences between faith-based and non-faith-based credit unions in capital adequacy, liquidity risk, and credit risk, but not in profitability and interest rate risk. The implications for social change include the potential to strengthen the risk management and investment strategies for faith-based credit unions, thereby helping to ensure the continuation of vital financial services valued by members and their communities.

During Elijah Muhammad’s tenure as leader of the Nation of Islam, he launched an economic program that sought to empower black people in America. This study examines the perceptions and experiences of five individuals who were directly involved in Muhammad’s economic program using a phenomenological approach. The findings of this study revealed that this program helped them develop an identity, provided a way out of economic oppression, improved their work ethic, made them economically self-sufficient, and the pioneers believe that this program has current applications.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:01:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1005226 bytes, checksum: 99535e6d7d1d8adc519070ee93866c77 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In this research we seek to show the influence of massive religious phenomenon of Post modernity on the traditional reformed Protestant churches as the Presbyterian. The main goal of this work was: Analyze relations of Christians with the sacred in the discursive, practical utilitarian and spectacular conceptions of postmodern religiosity in a traditional Presbyterian Church Protestant Christian. The subject of this survey, which was qualitative, were the leaders of this religious institution, especially pastors and priests. We verify, by interviews and observations, which many followers of Presbyterian Church are involved or are contradictory in the acceptance of spectaculars practices and of utilitarian mysticism in its religious experience. In summary, they practice postmodern religiosity by the fact they think and live the religion as a consumer product. This influence of the massive religious about them has led us to see the frequent breaking of religious ethics established within the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Internal Constitution of Presbyterians from many followers of this institution. We start from the classic work of Weber (1998), the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism and resorted to other theorists as Bauman (1997), Lipovetsky (2007), Frankl (1994 and 1997), Pierucci (2006), Prandi and Pierucci (1996), Eliade (1978 and 1992), Debord (1997) and others who have inspired us in this research. / Neste trabalho de pesquisa buscamos mostrar a influência do fenômeno religioso massificado da pós-modernidade sobre as igrejas protestantes reformadas tradicionais como a Presbiteriana. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi: Analisar as relações dos cristãos com o sagrado nas concepções discursivas, práticas utilitárias e espetaculares de religiosidade pósmoderna em uma igreja cristã protestante tradicional Presbiteriana. Os sujeitos desta pesquisa qualitativa foram os líderes desta instituição religiosa, especialmente os pastores e presbíteros. Constatamos pelas entrevistas e observações, que muitos adeptos da Igreja Presbiteriana estão envolvidos ou se mostram contraditórios na aceitação das práticas espetacularizadas e de misticismo utilitário em sua vivência religiosa. Em resumo, eles praticam a religiosidade pósmoderna pelo fato de pensar e vivenciar a religião como produto de consumo. Esta influência da massificação religiosa sobre eles nos levou a perceber a quebra frequente da ética religiosa estabelecida na Confissão de Fé de Westminster e na Constituição Interna dos Presbiterianos por parte de grande número de adeptos desta instituição. Partimos da obra clássica de Weber (1998), A ética protestante e o espírito do capitalismo e recorremos também a outros teóricos como Bauman (1997), Lipovetsky (2007), Frankl (1994; 1997), Pierucci (2006), Prandi e Pierucci (1996), Eliade (1978; 1992), Debord (1997) e outros que nos inspiraram nesta pesquisa.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:02:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1820163 bytes, checksum: be65a022190ff6336bc43ec22a2e653e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Growth in the informal economy is a troubling trend that is beginning to cause a split social consequence, the gradual demoralization of the tax collection system of the State, which formally begins with a minimum of legal norms the development of this economy, with construction space intended for that market. The Shopping Center Terceirão in João Pessoa-PB, is one of those buildings, which highlights the presence of some of these evangelical churches actively participating in business activities and through its symbolic power, direct marketers adherents of a particular sect to use a particular language that identify and heat sales. To understand the scale of representations and the reasons for those actions as well as their interaction with certain subjective signs, semiotic elements were used to compare with Weberian studies, taking into account the spread of Protestantism site, combined with the mercantile spirit, which comes to a "particular ethos" to the interaction of a capitalist conception / informal, with a religious ethics / mercantilist. The study was based on an ethnographic research whose overall objective was to analyze from the transdisciplinarity: religion, morality and economics, the behavior of this triad in the face of an ethical nature of Calvinist religious employed by those churches. As data collection instruments were used participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the adoption of ethics that binds a particular religious doctrine with a need, is characterized by the imperative to rationalize the feelings that governs the social and personal relationships of the group and acts as a legitimate element of these churches, therefore, the interaction the dynamics of the informal market with religious agents there is a dichotomous relationship between ideas an interests of the group / O Crescimento da informalidade na economia é um fenômeno inquietante que começa a provocar uma cisão social de conseqüências imprevisíveis, pela paulatina desmoralização do sistema de arrecadação tributária do Estado, que começa formalizar com um mínimo de normatização jurídica o desenvolvimento dessa economia paralela, com a construção de espaços destinados a esse mercado. O Shopping Centro Terceirão em João Pessoa-PB, é uma dessas construções, que chama atenção pela presença de algumas igrejas evangélicas participando ativamente dessas atividades mercantis e através de sua força simbólica, direciona os comerciantes adeptos de uma determinada vertente religiosa a usar uma linguagem peculiar que os identificam e aquecem as suas vendas. Para compreender a dimensão das representações e dos motivos dessas ações, bem como sua interação subjetiva com determinados signos, foram utilizados elementos semióticos para comparar com estudos Weberianos, levando em consideração a propagação do protestantismo local, aliado a esse espírito mercantil, que vem a dar um ―ethos particular a essa interação de uma concepção capitalista/informal, com uma ética religiosa/mercantilista. O Estudo teve como base uma pesquisa etnográfica, cujo objetivo geral foi analisar a partir da transdisciplinariedade: religião, moral e economia, o comportamento dessa tríade frente a uma ética religiosa de cunho Calvinista empregada por aquelas igrejas. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados foram utilizados a Observação Participante e Entrevistas Semi-Estruturadas. Os resultados apontaram que, a ética que vincula adoção de uma determinada doutrina com uma necessidade religiosa, é caracterizada pelo imperativo de racionalização dos sentimentos que rege as relações sociais e pessoais do grupo, bem como age como elemento legitimador dessas igrejas, portanto, na interação da dinâmica do mercado informal com os agentes religiosos existe uma relação dicotômica entre idéias e interesses do grupo

Objectives. Scholars have debated Max Weber's theory of the relationship between religion and capitalism for almost 100 years. Still, the debate is clouded by confusion over Weber's claims about religious doctrine and over the supporting evidence. The purpose of this study is to clarify Max Weber's claims regarding the concept of the calling and the related "anti-mammon" injunction and concept of "good works" and substantiate with historical evidence the religious doctrine Weber describes. Methods. Comparative analysis of early Protestant Lutheran and Calvinist documents from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was used to flesh out a history of ideas to determine whether evidence exists to support Weber's claims related to religious doctrine. Results. Historical analyses revealed that the concept of the calling pre-dated Luther in the Bible. Luther's innovation was not in his use of the word beruf but in his application of the concept of the calling to the common people and his teaching of that idea. The idea of sanctified work was key in both Lutheran and Calvinist documents. There was an increased emphasis on work and encouragement to accumulate wealth in Calvinist documents. Conclusion. Weber's etymological evidence surrounding Martin Luther's use of the word beruf in his German translation of the bible is idiosyncratic and not important to the transmission of the concept of the calling. Luther's application of the concept of the calling to the laity and idea of sanctified work, however, is the foundation on which the Protestant ethic rests, as Weber claims. Weber's other claims regarding the concept of work in early Protestantism are also supported here. Weber did not overstate the implications for societal transformation in early Protestant theology.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:48:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ivan Santos Ruppell Junior.pdf: 398345 bytes, checksum: d0764d82b307a953cb7c4ca9f0f9d677 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-12 / Launched at the beginning of the twentieth century, the book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism became a classic work of Sociology of Religion, when it developed a social analysis method feeling the influence of religion in the society structure. With tests from Calvinists Groups of seventeen and eighteen centuries, the sociologist Max Weber extract elements from Puritan Calvinist Doctrina which ones gave a behavior to Christians in the economic society, generating a new type of capitalism the modern Ocident capitalism. John Calvin was one of the main leaders of the Protestant Reformation of sixteen century and at this time, he transmitted to the Christian Church and to the world, an acknowledged work about Protestant Systematic Theology that became the base of Reformed Churches Doctrina. In this dissertation, we tried to appreciate the analysis of Max Weber about Protestan Ethics, which dominated the spirit of capitalism, like to learn from original writes of Calvin at sixteen century, the proposal of behaviour and elements of Doctrina tha identified an original Protestant Etchic to the reformer thoughts. The purpose is to know and to recover the Calvin thoughts and then the trues and values that formed his different Christian Ethic, to advise the Christian behaviour in society. / Lançado no início do século 20, o livro A Ética Protestante e o Espírito do Capitalismo tornou-se obra clássica da Sociologia da Religião, ao desenvolver método de análise social em percebendo a influência da religião na estrutura da sociedade. Tendo por objeto textos oriundos de grupos Reformados Calvinistas dos séculos 17 e 18, o sociólogo Max Weber extraiu elementos da doutrina puritana calvinista que propiciaram uma conduta aos cristãos em meio à sociedade econômica, gerando assim um novo tipo de capitalismo o capitalismo moderno ocidental. João Calvino é um dos principais líderes da Reforma Protestante do século 16, época em que legou à Igreja Cristã e ao mundo, reconhecida obra de Teologia sistemática Protestante, que se tornou base de doutrina às Igrejas Reformadas. Nesta dissertação, buscamos apreciar a análise de Max Weber acerca da ética protestante que denominou espírito do capitalismo, bem como apreender dos escritos originais de Calvino no século 16, a proposta de conduta e elementos de doutrina que identificariam uma Ética Protestante original ao pensamento do reformador. O propósito é conhecer e resgatar o pensamento próprio a Calvino e assim as verdades e valores formadores de sua distinta ética cristã orientada à conduta do cristão em sociedade.