“God bless you, and God bless the United States of America” – Ronald Regan (Goldenthal 2015). Is our modern capitalist society where wealth is earned and maintained by private individuals originated from religion, specifically Christianity? Max Weber believed that religion played a central role in the western world’s economic development (Ritzer & Guppy 2014). In the article “God Bless America: How Christ became Central to Capitalism and US politics”, Goldenthal (2015) discussed the idea of how God or the idea of Christianization became the religion of the United States of America. The United States has not always used Christian terms to support their ideas of politics and capitalism. In this article, Princeton University professor, Kruse
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In Weber’s mind, the system was not as simple. It does not only consist of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat as there are a lot of other non-economic social factors that are important for who the hold of power in society. An example could be the Church having power but not necessarily belonging to these two groups. In addition, institutions also have the structural power to shape how people think. Some scholars would portray Weber’s ideas as a debate against Marx’s ghost. Although ideas of Marx and Weber were different, they both relate to America’s use of religion and are both critical of the macro structures that force individuals into the system of market relationship. In the article, the invention of Christian America by corporation giants is an example of a macro structure binding individuals. The American society described is another illustration that corporations and governments try to use the power of religion, politics, and institution to force the working class once again believing in the capitalistic system or the “American Dream” is working in their favours. It is a social issue since these individuals are not aware of the situation they are in but bounded by the higher forces in the society - social …show more content…
As the article mentioned, when the Great Depression has occurred, religious leaders and business coalitions started the use of religion, politics and institutional powers to make the stagnant market active again. Although Marx and Weber have conflicting beliefs on the role of religion towards capitalism; Marx focusing on the class systems and Weber believes religion playing an important role. They would likely view the American capitalistic society differently; nevertheless, Marx and Weber both believe that the macro structure binds individuals into the forces and relations of the market structure. Finally, the current state of capitalism has amplified consumerism in the American society, people are blinded by the materialism that they get for self satisfaction and affection from others. In conclusion, from Protestantism to capitalism, the ways of thinking have changed due to corporations and government institutional power, politics and religion steering the consumer culture where consumption becomes one of the primary sources of meaning in life (Ritzer & Guppy 2014). The emerge of capitalism has completely changed the meanings in the American
In Weber’s mind, the system was not as simple. It does not only consist of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat as there are a lot of other non-economic social factors that are important for who the hold of power in society. An example could be the Church having power but not necessarily belonging to these two groups. In addition, institutions also have the structural power to shape how people think. Some scholars would portray Weber’s ideas as a debate against Marx’s ghost. Although ideas of Marx and Weber were different, they both relate to America’s use of religion and are both critical of the macro structures that force individuals into the system of market relationship. In the article, the invention of Christian America by corporation giants is an example of a macro structure binding individuals. The American society described is another illustration that corporations and governments try to use the power of religion, politics, and institution to force the working class once again believing in the capitalistic system or the “American Dream” is working in their favours. It is a social issue since these individuals are not aware of the situation they are in but bounded by the higher forces in the society - social …show more content…
As the article mentioned, when the Great Depression has occurred, religious leaders and business coalitions started the use of religion, politics and institutional powers to make the stagnant market active again. Although Marx and Weber have conflicting beliefs on the role of religion towards capitalism; Marx focusing on the class systems and Weber believes religion playing an important role. They would likely view the American capitalistic society differently; nevertheless, Marx and Weber both believe that the macro structure binds individuals into the forces and relations of the market structure. Finally, the current state of capitalism has amplified consumerism in the American society, people are blinded by the materialism that they get for self satisfaction and affection from others. In conclusion, from Protestantism to capitalism, the ways of thinking have changed due to corporations and government institutional power, politics and religion steering the consumer culture where consumption becomes one of the primary sources of meaning in life (Ritzer & Guppy 2014). The emerge of capitalism has completely changed the meanings in the American