ABSTRACT
This chapter explores what role religion plays in society on a theoretical level. The global domination of European capitalism and science had only been possible on the basis of the "Protestant ethic", the sacralization of work and thriftiness as components of a religious life. For Karl Marx, the main reason for the "underdevelopment" of the colonies consisted in the overwhelming importance of religion, which influenced all spheres of life. Even though Max Weber's assessment of religion differed significantly from Marx's, the final outcome of their analyses was almost identical. Rationalization in turn involves secularization and the decrease of religion's relevance in favor of science and technology. The strong interpretation of Weber's thesis actually claims that "religion" as an instrument of rationalization has to give way to more efficient instruments in "modern" societies, especially science. Most religious activities are not about domination or a leading position in the realm of religion.
