Are protestants better capitalists ?

Résumé du document

First, we will see that if protestant theology has undoubtedly influenced the early expansion of capitalism in America, it is probably no longer the main factor explaining the important commitment of Protestants to modern capitalism. As an illustration of this fact, we will show that even among fundamentalist Protestants, there is no longer a consensus about the theological justifications of capitalism (I). Today, however, what favours the capitalist skills of Protestants seems to be less theology than the fact that Protestantism is divided in well-organized communities, some of which function as successful profit-making organizations actively participating to the worldwide expansion of capitalism (II)...

Extraits

[...] The wealth of protestant sects is the logical consequence of their active involvement in capitalism. Yet it is important to note that protestant sects have always favored a certain type of capitalism, industrial rather than financial. In addition, some religious communities only gradually became capitalists, after having started off as communists. For instance, in the beginning of the 19th century, a religious sect called the Rappite- Harmonists established a colony named "Economy" in Pennsylvania, based on the principle of the equal sharing of economic wealth. [...]

[...] On the other hand, christian reconstructionnists believe that social progress comes with the accumulation and development of wealth. Capital is accumulated by inheritence which is a God given right. In a free economy, property is freed from restrictions of the State and depends on Family and religious laws. Why? Because God, as creator of earth, is the ultimate owner and prohibits as such, any forms of central planning. They condemn monetary policies because in the Ancient testament, “metallic currencies” illustrate honesty. [...]

[...] We can also say that economic thinking often varies independent of theological beliefs. In short there is little relationship between standart fundamentalists attributes and economic orientation. Fundamentalists and evangelical leaders with similar theological beliefs and similar social traits subscribe to different economic views. The economic teaching of evangelical leaders appear to have had little impact on national debate, economic policies and institutions. There is no difference worth mentionning between the economic views of a typical evangelist and a typical amercian. [...]

[...] Are protestant sects better capitalist organizations? We have just seen that if the protestant ethic may have favored the early expansion of capitalism, the Calvinist doctrine of predestination no longer seems to be at the heart of modern capitalism, though it still exists in some religious communities such as the Amish. To understand the special relationship that links Capitalism to Protestantism today, the focus has to shift to what makes American Protestantism so different, bearing in mind the existence of hundreds of different protestant churches throughout the country, in contrast with the centralization that characterizes other religious groups, such as Catholics. [...]

[...] The sense of community created by protestant sects is another reason explaining why they are such successful capitalists. At the end of the 19th century, the most successful businessmen were generally members of Baptists or Methodists sects. These sects functioned as very efficient capitalist organizations: when a sect member moved to a different place or wished to go on a business trip, he would always carry the certificate of his congregation with him. Thereby, he could find not only easy contact with sect members but, above all, he could find (obtain?) credit everywhere. [...]