ABSTRACT
Weber has an intense interest in the religion sphere. If salvation paths become central in a religion, the realm of “salvation striving” may become separated sharply from daily life’s utilitarian “practical rationalism.” He then queries whether the salvation religion’s “psychological premiums” take hold of the believer in a comprehensive manner, indeed to such an extent that the religion domain provides a supernatural justification for the manifold rationalization of action that appears with the “methodical-rational” organization of life.
Throughout his analysis, Weber asks whether a religion’s salvation paths and goals apply exclusively to the “virtuosi” devout or also to the laity. In the case of the asceticism and mysticism salvation paths, a comprehensive directing of the believer’s conduct occurs. At this point, Weber discusses the “ethic of conviction” of the faithful. The rationalization of action in this domain plays a large part in Weber’s sociology of civilization.
