ABSTRACT
Buried deeply within Max Weber’s classical study, Ancient Judaism (1952), as well as “The Sociology of Religion” chapter in Economy and Society (1968) and The Religion of China (1951),2 lies a powerful causal analysis of the rise and expansion of monotheism in ancient Israel. Unfortunately, to this day, it has remained unknown. In part, Weber himself must be held responsible: the poor organization and generally obtuse character of Ancient Judaism, as well as the fact that he fails to offer introductory and concluding overviews, has obscured this analysis. Nor does he systematically present his procedures and strategies to establish causality in this volume, in Economy and Society, or in his methodological essays. However, any hope of comprehending his analysis of the rise and expansion of monotheism-the major task of this chapter-depends upon an understanding of his causal methodology.3
