Max Weber on Church, Sect, and Mysticism

Author(s): Ferdinand Toennies, Georg Simmel, Ernst Troeltsch, Max Weber

Source: Sociological Analysis, Vol. 34, No. 2 (Summer, 1973), pp. 140-149
Published by: Oxford University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3709720
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M a x W e b e r o n
C h u r c h , S e c t ,
a n d
M yst ic ism1
In t r o d u c t io n
Th e
fo llo win g
d isc u ssio n
b y
M a x W e b e r o n
c h u r c h , se c t ,
a n d
myst ic ism o ffe r s
a n
e x c e pt io n a l e x a mple o f
t h e
d iffe r e n t wa ys
wh ic h
fo u r o f
t h e
gr e a t e st
Ge r ma n
so c io lo gist s
r e la t e d t o
ke y
issu e s in t h e d o ma in s
o f
t h e
so c io lo gy o f r e ligio n
a n d t h e
fo r ms o f r e ligio sit y
in t h e c o u r se
o f
a
c o llo qu y
h e ld a t t h e
fir st me e t in g o f
t h e
Ge r ma n
S o c io lo gic a l S o c ie t y (De u t sc h e
Ge se llsc h a ft fu r
S o zio lo gie )
a t
Fr a n kfu r t
in
1910. Th e
c h ie f
t h e me s a t issu e in t h e ir
c o llo qu y, t h o u gh
n o t
a lwa ys
so
pla in ly
st a t e d ,
we r e t h e va r ie d
pa t t e r n s o f
r e la t io n s
o f c h u r c h e s, se c t s, myst ic isms,
r a t io n a lisms, r a t io n a liza t io n s,
a n d se c u la r iza t io n s o n t h e r o a d s t o
mo d e r n it y.
Th e ma in
pa r t ic ipa n t s
in t h e
c o llo qu iu m
we r e Er n st
Tr o e lt sc h ,
wh o in it ia t e d t h e
d isc u ssio n
b y o ffe r in g
a n h ist o r ic
pa pe r
o n S t o ic -C h r ist ia n n a t u r a l
la w;2
Fe r d in a n d
To e n n ie s, Ge o r g S imme l,
a n d W e b e r
h imse lf. (A fift h
ma n wh o
figu r e d
in t h e
b a c kgr o u n d o f
t h e se d isc u ssio n s b u t wa s n o t n a me d
b y a n y o f
t h e d isc u ssa n t s wa s
W e b e r 's c lo se
fr ie n d , Ge o r g Je llin e k,
a b o u t wh o se se min a l r e se a r c h we sh a ll
spe a k
in
a n
e ssa y
o n t h is
c o llo qu y
n o w in
pr e pa r a t io n .3)
W e sh a ll t h e r e wish t o
fo c u s
o n t h e
o u t c o me s
o f
W e b e r 's in t e r a c t io n s a n d
e x c h a n ge s
wit h t h e o t h e r s in t h e
h o pe o f
id e n t ifyin g
d ist in c t ive c o n t r ib u t io n s h e a n d t h e
o t h e r s, e spe c ia lly
Tr o e lt sc h
(a n d
Je llin e k),
ma d e t o a wid e r
pr o c e ssu a l
a n d
c o mpa r a t ive -h ist o r ic a l so c io lo gy o f
r e ligio u s
o r ie n t a t io n s a n d mo ve me n t s t h a n is
u su a lly
a sc r ib e d t o t h e se me n
n o wa d a ys b y spe c ia list s
in t h e
so c io lo gy o f r e ligio n . (BN)
1Tr .
b y Je r o me
L.
Git t le ma n ,
e d .
b y Be n ja min
Ne lso n fr o m "Disku ssio n sr e d e zu E. Tr o e lt sc h 's
Vo r t r a g iib e r
'Da s st o isc h -c h r ist lic h e
Na t u r r e c h t ', "
in M a x W e b e r Ge sa mme lt e
Au fsa t ze
zu r
S o zio lo gie
u n d
S o zia lpo lit ik (Tib in ge n : J.C .B. M o h r , 1924), pp.
462-70. Th e t r a n sla t o r a n d e d it o r t h a n k
Pr o fe sso r
S t e ph e n Be r ge r
o f t h e
De pa r t me n t
o f
S o c io lo gy
o f t h e S t a t e
Un ive r sit y
o f Ne w Yo r k a t
S t o n y Br o o k, N.Y.,
fo r so me
h e lpfu l su gge st io n s
a b o u t t h e t r a n sla t io n .
2A t r a n sla t io n o f t h e fu ll t e x t o f Tr o e lt sc h 's
pa pe r
h e r e u n d e r d isc u ssio n will so o n b e
a ppe a r in g
in a
vo lu me o f Tr o e lt sc h 's C o lle c t e d
Pa pe r s
n o w
b e in g
e d it e d
b y Ja me s
Lu t h e r Ad a ms.
(Th e o r igin a l
will
n o w b e fo u n d in E.
Tr o e lt sc h , Au fsa t ze
zu r
Ge ist e sge sc h ic h t e
u n d
Re ligio n sso zio lo gie . Tiib in ge n :
M o h r , 1924.)
3Th e e d it o r will h a ve a n
o ppo r t u n it y a lo n g
wit h o t h e r s t o
c la r ify
t h e se issu e s in a
su b se qu e n t
n u mb e r
o f
S o c io lo gic a l An a lysis.
140
141
I
Ho n o r e d
gu e st s!
I wish t o
sa y so me t h in g
a b o u t t h e
po in t s
r a ise d
b y
Pr o fe sso r To e n n ie s in h is r e ma r ks.* W it h
r e spe c t
t o t h e
su b je c t
we a r e
d isc u ssin g,
To e n n ie s h a s-t o a c o n sid e r a b le
d e gr e e -a vo we d
h imse lf t o b e a
su ppo r t e r
o f t h e e c o n o mic
in t e r pr e t a t io n
o f
h ist o r y
(a n
e x pr e ssio n
we
pr e fe r
in
pla c e
o f t h e "ma t e r ia list
in t e r pr e t a t io n
o f
h ist o r y").
On e c a n
pr o b a b ly
su m-
ma r ize h is
c o n c e pt io n
a s a wh o le
b y
me a n s o f a mo d e r n
e x pr e ssio n
wh ic h is
fr e qu e n t ly
u se d b u t n o t wit h e n t ir e
c la r it y, n a me ly:
t h a t t h e
r e ligio u s
c o n t r a -
d ic t io n s wh ic h we r e d isc u sse d in t h e le c t u r e we r e
"e x po n e n t ia l
fu n c t io n s" o f
so me e c o n o mic c o n t r a d ic t io n s o r o t h e r . No w
ge n t le me n ,
t h e r e c a n n o t b e t h e
sligh t e st
d o u b t t h a t e c o n o mic
r e la t io n sh ips
e n t e r
d e e ply
h e r e ,
a s
e ve r ywh e r e .
An d
my c o lle a gu e
a n d fr ie n d Tr o e lt sc h
h a s,
in h is we ll kn o wn
wo r ks,
d ir e c t e d o u r a t t e n t io n in t h e mo st fo r c e fu l ma n n e r t o t h e e c o n o mic
r e la t io n sh ips
a n d c o n d it io n s o f
spe c ific r e ligio u s d e ve lo pme n t s.
Bu t o n e
o u gh t
n o t t o t h in k o f t h is
d e ve lo pme n t qu it e
so
simply.
I b e lie ve t h a t
pe r h a ps, u lt ima t e ly,
I
a gr e e
wit h To e n n ie s o n
ma n y t h in gs.
Bu t wit h
r e spe c t
t o wh a t h e h a s
sa id ,
a t le a st in so me o f h is
r e ma r ks,
t h e r e is a n
a t t e mpt
a t a n
a ll t o o
r igid ly st r a igh t
c o n st r u c t io n .
Pr o fe sso r
To e n n ie s: Fo r t h e t ime
b e in g!
Pr o fe sso r
M a x W e b e r : If I h a ve u n d e r st o o d h im
(To e n n ie s) c o r r e c t ly,
h e
h a s
e mph a size d
t h e
r e la t io n sh ip
o f t h e
r e ligio u s
se c t s t o t h e
c it y
in
pa r t ic u la r . No w,
ge n t le me n ,
t h e fir st
spe c ific
se c t ,
t h e mo d e l se c t so t o
spe a k,
t h e Do n a t ist se c t in
a n t iqu it y4-o r igin a t e d
o n
pu r e ly a gr ic u lt u r a l
t e r r it o r y.
Th e c h a r a c t e r ist ic fe a t u r e o f t h is
se c t ,
like
e ve r y
se c t ,
wa s ma n ife st
in t h e fa c t t h a t it c o u ld n o t r e ma in sa t isfie d wit h t h e C h r ist ia n c h u r c h a s a
kin d o f e n t a ile d e n d o wme n t o f
gr a c e ,
a c h u r c h in d iffe r e n t a s t o wh ic h
pe r so n
b e st o we d t h is
gr a c e
in
sa c r a me n t s,
a n d t h u s in d iffe r e n t t o wh e t h e r o r
n o t t h e
pr ie st
wa s
wo r t h y.
Th e c h u r c h a d min ist e r e d
ma gic a l
a n d ma r ve lo u s
fo r c e s wh ic h it
d ispe n se d
a s a n
in st it u t io n ,
c o mple t e ly in d e pe n d e n t
o f t h e
in d we llin g
wo r t h in e ss o f t h e in d ivid u a l. Do n a t ism t u r n s
a ga in st
t h is. It
d e ma n d s t h a t if t h e
pr ie st
is t o b e
r e c o gn ize d
a s a
pr ie st b y
h is
c o n gr e ga t io n ,
h e sh o u ld
fu lly e mb o d y
h is
r e ligio u s qu a lific a t io n s
in h is
pe r so n a lit y
a n d
mo d e o f life . If o n e wish e s t o ma ke a
c o n c e pt u a l
d ist in c t io n b e t we e n a se c t
a n d a
c h u r c h ,
a se c t is n o t a n in st it u t io n
(An st a d t )
like a
c h u r c h ,
b u t a
c o mmu n it y
o f t h e
r e ligio u sly qu a lifie d .
All t h e me mb e r s o f t h e se c t a r e
c a lle d t o
sa lva t io n ;
o n ly
a
c o mmu n it y c o mpr ise d
in t h is
wa y-wh ic h
a lso
e x ist e d a s a n in visib le c h u r c h in t h e
t h o u gh t
o f
Lu t h e r , C a lvin ,
a n d
Au gu st in e -pa sse s
o ve r in t o t h e visib le c h u r c h .
*To e n n ie s,
a s a c o mme n t a t o r o n t h e Tr o e lt sc h
le c t u r e ,
wa s t h e fir st
spe a ke r pr e c e d in g
W e b e r a t t h e
Ge r ma n
S o c io lo gic a l me e t in g. (Tr .
's
n o t e .)
4Re se a r c h sin c e W e b e r 's
d a y
h a s c o n fir me d h is
e mph a sis
o n t h e r u r a l
b a c kgr o u n d s
o f t h e Do n a t ist
o ppo sit io n
t o t h e so -c a lle d Or t h o d o x . On t h is
e x t r e me ly impo r t a n t se c t ,
se e W . H.
Fr e n d ,
Th e Do n a t ist
C h u r c h : A M o ve me n t
o f
Pr o t e st in Ro ma n No r t h
Afr ic a (Ox fo r d :
C la r e n d o n
Pr e ss, 1952).
142 S OC IOLOGIC ALANALYS IS
Eve r yt h in g
wh ic h a r o se la t e r fr o m se c t s is lin ke d in t h e d e c isive
po in t s
t o
t h e d e ma n d fo r
pu r it y,
t h e e c c le sia
pu r a -a c o mmu n it y c o n sist in g o n ly
o f
t h o se me mb e r s wh o se mo d e o f c o n d u c t a n d life
st yle
d o n o t
c a r r y pu b lic
sign s
o f
h e a ve n ly
d isfa vo u r ,
b u t
pr o c la im
t h e
glo r y
o f Go d . Th e
c h u r c h e s,
in
c o n t r a st ,
pe r mit
t h e ir
ligh t
t o sh in e o n t h e
ju st
a n d t h e
u n ju st
a like ,
a c c o r d in g
t o t h e C a lvin ist a n d t h e
C a t h o lic ,
a s we ll a s t h e Lu t h e r a n d o c t r in e .
Ac c o r d in g
t o t h e C a lvin ist d o c t r in e o f
pr e d e st in a t io n ,
fo r
e x a mple ,
it is t h e
c h u r c h 's t a sk t o c o e r c e e ve n t h o se wh o a r e
ir r e d e e ma b ly
d a mn e d t o a ll
e t e r n it y,
in t o e x t e r n a l
c o n fo r mit y
t o t h e c h u r c h . Th e fo r ma t io n o f t h e
"se c t "
t ype
o f
c o mmu n it y
o c c u r s
fir st ,
a s wa s
sa id ,
o u t sid e t h e
c it y.
No w,
wh a t wa s t h e sit u a t io n o u t sid e
a n t iqu it y?
Pr o fe sso r To e n n ie s h a s
a sc r ib e d
r e spo n sib ilit y
fo r t h e kin d o f
d e ve lo pme n t t ypic a l
o f me d ie va l
C h r ist ia n it y
t o t h e
simplic it y
o f c ir c u mst a n c e s in t h e
a gr ic u lt u r a l
mid d le
a ge s.
He h a s st r e sse d t h a t t h e
c o n c e pt io n
o f c h u r c h wa s fr a c t u r e d in t h e
c it y,
pa r t ly
in fa vo r o f a
pu r e ly wo r ld ly,
o r a t
le a st ,
t h e
pu r e
wo r ld lin e ss o f a
se lf-d e ve lo pin g
r a t io n a lism,
pa r t ly
in fa vo r o f t h e se c t
pr in c iple (I simplify
wh a t h e sa id wit h o u t
fa lsific a t io n ,
pe r h a ps
wit h h is
a gr e e me n t ). Aga in st
t h is
vie w it c a n b e a sc e r t a in e d t h a t t h e
po we r
o f t h e
pa pa c y
r e st e d
d ir e c t ly (a n d
b y
n o me a n s
me r e ly po lit ic a lly) u po n
t h e c it ie s. Th e It a lia n c it ie s
su ppo r t e d
t h e
po pe
in
o ppo sit io n
t o t h e fe u d a l fo r c e s. Th e It a lia n
gu ild s
we r e
ge n e r a lly
t h e mo st C a t h o lic o n e s
a n ywh e r e d u r in g
t h e
pe r io d
o f t h e
gr e a t
c o n flic t s.
S a in t Th o ma s a n d t h e me n d ic a n t o r d e r s we r e n o t
po ssib le
o n
a n y t e r r it o r y
o t h e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e
c it y, simply
b e c a u se t h e o r d e r s live d
b y b e ggin g. Th e y
c o u ld n o t live
a mo n g
fa r me r s wh o t u r n e d
b e gga r s a wa y
fr o m t h e ir d o o r .
Pr o fe sso r
To e n n ie s:
Th e y
r e vo lt e d
a ga in st
t h e Be n e d ic t in e o r d e r .
Pr o fe sso r
M a x W e b e r :
C e r t a in ly,
b u t fr o m t h e
t e r r it o r y
o f t h e
c it y.
Th e
mo st
in t e n se ly c h a r ge d t h o u gh t s
o f t h e
c h u r c h ,
a s we ll a s t h o se o f t h e se c t s
(b o t h ,
t h e
h igh e st
fo r ms o f
pie t y)
a r e fir st
u po n c it y t e r r it o r y
in t h e mid d le
a ge s.
..
Pr o fe sso r
To e n n ie s
(in t e r r u pt in g
t h e
spe a ke r ):
Th e Fr a n c isc a n s h a ve
ve r y
impo r t a n t r e la t io n sh ips
t o t h e se c t s!
Pr o fe sso r
M a x W e b e r :
Un d o u b t e d ly,
t h e r e is n o
qu e st io n
o f t h a t . Bu t n o t
t h e
Do min ic a n s,
a n d I
me r e ly
st a t e h e r e t h a t t h e C h r ist ia n iza t io n o f t h e
mid d le
a ge s b y
t h e c h u r c h e s wa s fir st
c o mple t e d
a ft e r t h e r e we r e c it ie s. Th e
c h u r c h fo r m a n d it s n a t u r a l
la w,
a s we ll a s t h e se c t fo r m a n d t h e ir
flo u r ish in g,
we r e fir st d isc o ve r e d o n t h e
t e r r it o r y
o f t h e
c it y.
Th u s I wo u ld
n o t c o n c e d e t h a t t h e r e is a fu n d a me n t a l d ist in c t io n t o b e ma d e h e r e . Th e
id e a t h a t Pr o t e st a n t ism wa s
r e a lly
t h e fo r m in wh ic h C h r ist ia n
pie t y
a c c o mmo d a t e d it se lf t o t h e mo d e r n
mo n e y e c o n o my
h a s b e e n a d vo c a t e d
e n d le ssly.
In
qu it e
t h e sa me
wa y
it h a s b e e n
su ppo se d
t h a t Ro ma n la w wa s
o n ly a c c e pt e d
a s a
c o n se qu e n c e
o f t h e
r e la t io n sh ips
o f t h e mo d e r n
mo n e y
e c o n o my.
Bu t in
st r o n g
c o n t r a st t o t h e se
po sit io n s
is t h e fa c t t h a t -wit h o u t
e x c e pt io n -a ll spe c ific
fo r ms o f
c a pit a list
la w in mo d e r n t ime s
o r igin a t e
in
me d ie va l la w
(d ir e c t ly Ge r ma n ic ,
fo r t h e mo st
pa r t ),
a n d a r e
c o mple t e ly
M AX W EBER ON
C HURC H, S EC T,
AND M YS TIC IS M 143
u n kn o wn in Ro ma n la w. It is c e r t a in
fu r t h e r mo r e ,
t h a t t h e Re fo r ma t io n
wa s
fir st se t in mo t io n fr o m
r e gio n s
t h a t we r e
e c o n o mic a lly
fa r b e h in d
It a ly,
Flo r e n c e ,
e t c .
Also ,
a ll
se c t s,
e ve n t h e
Ba pt ist
se c t s,
h a ve
d e ve lo pe d
in r u r a l
a r e a s
(e .g.
o f
Fr ie sla n d ),
a n d
e spe c ia lly
we ll
u po n a gr ic u lt u r a l
so il.
No n e t h e le ss,
yo u
sh a ll se e h o w fa r we b o t h
a gr e e .
I
o n ly o b je c t
t o t h is
(a n d
pe r h a ps yo u
sh a ll n o t
d ispu t e
wh a t I
sa y a ga in st it ).
W e sh o u ld n o t
yie ld
t o
t h e
o pin io n (wh ic h
c o u ld b e d r a wn fr o m
yo u r
wo r d s,
e ve n
t h o u gh in d ir e c t ly
a n d
pr o b a b ly a ga in st yo u r in t e n t io n ),
t h a t o n e
migh t
vie w
r e ligio u s
d e ve lo pme n t s
a s a r e fle x o f
so me t h in g
e lse ,
o f so me e c o n o mic sit u a t io n . In
my o pin io n
t h is is
u n c o n d it io n a lly
n o t t h e c a se . If o n e wish e s t o
c la r ify
t h e
r e la t io n sh ip
b e t we e n e c o n o mic a n d
r e ligio u s ma t t e r s,
o n e sh o u ld r e c a ll t h e
fo llo win g.
As Pr o fe sso r To e n n ie s will
r e me mb e r ,
t h e
n o b ilit y
le d t h e
C a lvin ist -Hu gu e -
n o t r e vo lt in S c o t la n d a n d
Fr a n c e -e n t ir e ly
so in S c o t la n d a n d
pr e d o min a n t -
ly
so in Fr a n c e . An d t h is wa s t h e c a se
e ve r ywh e r e .
Th e
split
in t h e c h u r c h
we n t
pe r pe n d ic u la r ly
a n d
ve r t ic a lly t h r o u gh
t h e so c ia l st r a t a o f t h e 16t h
c e n t u r y;
it e mb r a c e d
pe r so n s
fr o m t h e
h igh e st
t o t h e lo we st c la sse s o f t h e
po pu la t io n .
It is
c e r t a in ly
n o a c c id e n t
(a n d
d o u b t le ss t h e r e a r e a lso e c o n o mic
r e a so n s)
t h a t t h e
n o b ilit y
r e t u r n e d t o t h e
la p
o f t h e
Episc o pa l c h u r c h ,
a n d
vic e
ve r sa ;
t h a t t h e S c o t t ish mid d le c la ss fo u n d a n o u t le t in t h e S c o t t ish
C o ve n a n t C h u r c h . It is n o a c c id e n t t h a t mo r e o f t h e Fr e n c h
n o b ilit y qu it
t h e
b a n n e r s o f t h e
Hu gu e n o t s
a ft e r a
pe r io d
o f
t ime ,
a n d t h a t wh a t r e ma in e d o f
t h e
Hu gu e n o t s
in Fr a n c e wa s
in c r e a sin gly
mid d le c la ss in c h a r a c t e r . Bu t t h is
t o o sh o u ld n o t b e t a ke n t o me a n t h a t t h e mid d le c la ss a s su c h h a d
d e ve lo pe d
t h e
pie t y
in
qu e st io n
fr o m e c o n o mic mo t ive s. On t h e
c o n t r a r y.
Th e mid d le
c la ss t h a t wa s
sh a pe d
in S c o t la n d h a s a
Jo h n Ke a t s,
fo r
e x a mple ,
t o sh o w a s
o n e o f t h e
pr o d u c t s
o f t h e ir
t ype
o f c h u r c h ma n . An d Vo lt a ir e kn e w t h e
ge n u in e t ype
we ll in Fr a n c e . In
sh o r t ,
it wo u ld b e
e n t ir e ly
mist a ke n
(a n d
I
o n ly o b je c t
t o
t h is)
t o wish t o
give
a o n e -sid e d e c o n o mic
in t e r pr e t a t io n (e ve n
t h e se n se t h a t t h e e c o n o mic wa s t h e c h ie f
c a u se ),
o r t h a t t h e se ma t t e r s c o u ld
b e t r e a t e d a s a me r e r e fle x o f t h e e c o n o mic .
No w I wish t o
sa y so me t h in g d ir e c t ly c o n c e r n in g
Pr o fe sso r Tr o e lt sc h 's
le c t u r e .
Fir st o f
a ll,
t h e d iffe r e n t
t ype s
wh ic h h e in t r o d u c e d t o u s. Fo r t h e
pr e se n t
o n e mu st
r e ga r d
t h e m a s
h a vin g mu t u a lly pe r me a t e d
e a c h o t h e r t o a
c o n sid e r a b le
d e gr e e -t h a t
is e vid e n t .
Th u s,
C a lvin ism
(fo r e x a mple )
is a
c h u r c h t h a t c o u ld n o t h a ve e n d u r e d o n t h e
st r e n gt h
o f it s o wn
d o gma t ic
fo u n d a t io n . Fo r if o n e ma n wa s d e st in e d t o
go
t o h e ll a n d a n o t h e r t o h e a ve n
b e c a u se o f Go d 's d e c r e e
pr io r
t o t h e c r e a t io n o f t h e
wo r ld ,
t h e n
e ve n t u a lly
o n e wo u ld h a ve t o r a ise t h e
qu e st io n
wh ic h C a lvin h imse lf a vo id e d -wo u ld it
b e
po ssib le
t o se e wh e t h e r a ma n wa s
pr e d e st in e d
t o t h e o n e
pla c e
o r t h e
144 S OC IOLOGIC ALANALYS IS
o t h e r ? In a d d it io n it mu st h a ve a wa ke n e d t h e
fo llo win g
r e fle c t io n : W h a t
pu r po se
c o u ld b e se r ve d
b y
t h e in t e r fe r e n c e o f st a t e
po we r
a n d t h e
d isc iplin e
o f t h e c h u r c h ? It is
a b so lu t e ly
u se le ss fo r t h e ma n wh o is c o n d e mn e d t o h e ll.
No ma t t e r wh a t t h e ma n
d o e s,
o r wh a t h e
is,
Go d h a s d e c r e e d t h a t e n d fo r
h im
ma n y
t h o u sa n d s o f
ye a r s a go -h e go e s
t o h e ll a n d is d a mn e d . Th e r e is
n o t h in g
t o b e d o n e . An d t h is is t h e
pu r po se
fo r wh ic h t h o se in st r u me n t s
po sse sse d b y
t h e c h u r c h
(in
c o n t r a st t o t h e
se c t s)
a r e
ge n e r a lly
se t in mo t io n !
In fa c t -I
simplify
t h e ma t t e r
a ga in -it
o c c u r s
r e pe a t e d ly.
W it n e ss t h e
c o lo ssa l
e x pa n sio n
in
En gla n d
o f a
Ba pt ism d e pe n d e n t u po n pr e d e st in a t io n
b e lie fs,
wh ic h wa s a
st r o n g su ppo r t e r
o f C r o mwe ll's mo ve me n t . Eve n t h e
sit u a t io n in Ne w
En gla n d ,
fo r
in st a n c e ,
fu r n ish e s e vid e n c e . Th e
o n ly
o n e s
wh o d o min a t e d t h e c h u r c h t h e r e we r e t h o se wh o se e x t e r n a l c o n d u c t a t le a st
e mb r a c e d t h e
po ssib ilit y
t h a t
t h e y
d id n o t
b e lo n g a mo n g
t h e c o n d e mn e d .
Th is we n t so
fa r ,
t h a t t h e o t h e r s-t h o se wh o d id n o t
c a r r y
t h e se e x t e r n a l
sign s-we r e ,
o n t h e se
gr o u n d s,
n o t in vit e d t o c o mmu n io n b e c a u se it wo u ld
h a ve d ish o n o u r e d Go d . An d t h e ir c h ild r e n we r e n o t a d mit t e d t o
c h r ist e n in g.
I wish t o
e x pa n d
o n t h e
fo llo win g po in t .
Th e Gr e e k c h u r c h
pla ye d
a
spe c ia lly sign ific a n t
r o le . It d id n o t
qu it e pe r mit
it se lf t o b e
pla c e d
in t h is
r o le wit h o u t fu r t h e r
d e ve lo pme n t .
Ge n t le me n ,
t h r e e d e c a d e s
a go
Ru ssia
fo u n d
it se lf,
po lit ic a lly
a n d
o r ga n iza t io n a lly, a ppr o x ima t e ly
in t h e sit u a t io n
o f Dio c le t ia n 's
e mpir e
(a n d
e ve n mo r e so o f c o u r se u n t il t h e a b o lit io n o f
se r fd o m),
a lt h o u gh
t h e c u lt u r a l
r e la t io n sh ips,
a n d in
ma n y r e spe c t s
t h e
e c o n o mic
r e la t io n sh ips,
we r e ,
in
pa r t , e sse n t ia lly
d iffe r e n t . Ru ssia n C h r is-
t ia n it y
wa s,
a n d st ill is
t o d a y
t o a c o n sid e r a b le
me a su r e ,
c la ssic a lly
C h r ist ia n
in it s
spe c ific t ype .
W h e n e ve r o n e lo o ks a t a n a u t h o r it a r ia n c h u r c h t h is is t h e
fir st
qu e st io n
t o b e r a ise d wit h
r e spe c t
t o it : W h e r e is t h e c o u r t o f la st r e so r t
in wh ic h t h e u lt ima t e in fa llib le
po we r
r e st s fo r
d e c id in g
wh e t h e r o r n o t
so me o n e
b e lo n gs
t o t h e
c h u r c h ,
o r if so me c h u r c h d o c t r in e is c o r r e c t o r
in c o r r e c t ?-a n d so fo r t h . W e kn o w t h a t in t h e C a t h o lic c h u r c h
t o d a y,
a ft e r
pr o lo n ge d st r u ggle s,
t h is
a u t h o r it y
is t h e
Po pe 's
a lo n e . W e kn o w t h a t in t h e
Lu t h e r a n c h u r c h
a u t h o r it y
r e st s in t h e
"wo r d , "
t h e
Ho ly S c r ipt u r e s,
a n d a lso
wit h t h o se wh o a r e c a lle d
u po n
t o
in t e r pr e t
t h e
S c r ipt u r e s
in vir t u e o f t h e ir
o ffic e ,
a n d
o n ly
t h e se .
If we n o w a sk wh o
r e pr e se n t s
t h e c o u r t o f la st r e so r t in t h e Gr e e k c h u r c h ,
t h e o ffic ia l a n swe r
(a s
Kh o mia ko vs in
pa r t ic u la r
h a s
in t e r pr e t e d it )
is t h e
c o mmu n it y
o f t h e c h u r c h u n it e d in lo ve . An d h e r e it b e c o me s
a ppa r e n t
t h a t
wh ile t h e C a lvin ist c h u r c h is
pe r me a t e d b y
se c t a r ia n ism,
t h e Gr e e k c h u r c h is
sa t u r a t e d ,
in
gr e a t
me a su r e ,
wit h a
ve r y spe c ific
c la ssic a l
myst ic ism.
Th e r e
live s in t h e Or t h o d o x c h u r c h a
spe c ific myst ic ism
b a se d o n t h e Ea st 's
5Fo r Kh o mia ko v's
vie ws,
se e : S .
Ku zn e t s, s.v., "Kh o mya ko v, A.S ., "
in
En c yc lo pa e d ia o f
t h e S o c ia l
S c ie n c e s, e d . E. R. A.
S e ligma n ,
IV
(1932), pp. 562-3;
Ru ssia n In t e lle c t u a l
Hist o r y:
An
An t h o lo gy,
e d .
a n d t r . M . Ra e ff
(N.Y.: Ha r c o u r t ,
Br a c e a n d
W o r ld , 1966) pp.
208-29; c f.
a lso I.V. Kir e e vski's
ve r y
impo r t a n t le t t e r ,
"On t h e Na t u r e o f
Eu r o pe a n
C u lt u r e a n d It s Re la t io n t o t h e C u lt u r e o f
Ru ssia , " ib id ,
pp.
174-207.
M AX W EBER ON
C HURC H, S EC T,
AND M YS TIC IS M 145
u n fo r ge t t a b le
b e lie f t h a t
b r o t h e r ly
lo ve a n d
c h a r it y,
t h o se
spe c ia l
h u ma n
r e la t io n sh ips
wh ic h t h e
gr e a t
sa lva t io n
r e ligio n s
h a ve
t r a n sfigu r e d
(a n d
wh ic h
se e m so
pa llid a mo n g u s),
t h a t t h e se
r e la t io n sh ips
fo r m a
wa y
n o t
o n ly
t o
so me so c ia l e ffe c t s t h a t a r e
e n t ir e ly in c id e n t a l,
b u t t o a
kn o wle d ge
o f t h e
me a n in g
o f t h e
wo r ld ,
t o a
myst ic a l r e la t io n sh ip
t o Go d . It is kn o wn h o w
To lst o y
c a me t o t e r ms wit h t h is
myst ic a l
b e lie f.
Ge n e r a lly spe a kin g,
if
yo u
wish t o u n d e r st a n d Ru ssia n lit e r a t u r e in it s fu ll
gr e a t n e ss,
t h e n
yo u
mu st
r e ga r d
t h e
myst ic a l
a s t h e su b st r a t u m
u po n
wh ic h
e ve r yt h in g
is b u ilt . W h e n o n e r e a d s Ru ssia n n o ve ls like Th e Br o t h e r s
Ka r a ma zo v
b y Do st o e vsky,
fo r
e x a mple ,
o r
To lst o y's
W a r a n d
Pe a c e ,
o n e h a s
t h e
impr e ssio n ,
a b o ve
a ll,
o f t h e t o t a l
me a n in gle ssn e ss
o f
e ve n t s,
a se n se le ss
pr o misc u it y
o f
pa ssio n s.
Th is e ffe c t is
a b so lu t e ly
n o t a c c id e n t a l. It d o e s n o t
me r e ly
r e st
u po n
t h e fa c t t h a t a ll t h e se n o ve ls we r e wr it t e n fo r
n e wspa pe r s,
a n d wh e n
t h e y
we r e
b e gu n
t h e a u t h o r h a d n o
su spic io n
o f h o w
t h e y
wo u ld
e n d
(a s
wa s t h e c a se wit h
Du ma s).
Ra t h e r t h e c a u se lie s in t h e se c r e t
c o n vic t io n t h a t t h e
po lit ic a l,
so c ia l, e t h ic a l,
lit e r a r y,
a r t ist ic ,
a n d
fa milia lly
sh a pe d
life is
r e a lly me a n in gle ss
in c o n t r a st t o t h e su b st r a t u m wh ic h e x t e n d s
b e n e a t h
it ,
a n d wh ic h is sh o wn a n d e mb o d ie d in t h e
spe c ific
fo r ms o f
Ru ssia n lit e r a t u r e .
Th is, h o we ve r ,
is
e x t r a o r d in a r ily
d iffic u lt fo r u s t o
gr a sp
b e c a u se it r e st s
u po n
t h e
simple
c la ssic a l C h r ist ia n id e a wh ic h Ba u d e la ir e
c a lls t h e
"h o ly pr o st it u t io n
o f t h e
so u l, "
t h e lo ve o f o u r fe llo w
c r e a t u r e , i.e .,
a n yo n e
a t a ll n o ma t t e r wh o h e
ma y
b e ,
e ve n t h e se c o n d -b e st . Th a t it is t h is
a mo r ph o u s u n sh a pe d life -r e la t io n sh ip
t h a t
gr a n t s
a c c e ss t o t h e
ga t e s
o f t h e
e t e r n a l, t ime le ss,
a n d d ivin e .6 Th e a r t ist ic
u n it y
o f t h e se
pr o d u c t io n s
o f
Ru ssia n
lit e r a t u r e ,
wh ic h we
c u st o ma r ily
fa il t o
se e ,
t h e
fo r min g pr in c iple
o f
t h e ir
gr e a t e st
wo r ks lie s o n t h e r e ve r se sid e o f wh a t is o b t a in e d
t h r o u gh
r e a d in g.
It lie s in t h e
gr a vit a t io n
o f t h e
pe r so n ,
in h is
b e h a vio r ,
t o wa r d t h e
spir it u a l e x t r e me s,
t h e
a n t ipo d e s,
t h is ma n wh o se a c t s
a ppe a r
t o o c c u r o n t h e
wo r ld 's
st a ge .
An d t h a t is t h e r e su lt o f Ru ssia n
r e ligio sit y.
Fr o m t h is a c o smic
qu a lit y,
c h a r a c t e r ist ic o f a ll Ru ssia n
r e ligio sit y,
is d e r ive d a
spe c ific
kin d o f
n a t u r a l
r igh t
wh ic h is
st a mpe d u po n
t h e Ru ssia n se c t s a n d a lso o n
To lst o y.
In a d d it io n it is
su ppo r t e d b y
t h a t
a gr a r ia n
c o mmu n ism wh ic h st ill se r ve s a s
d ivin e la w
d ir e c t in g
t h e
pe a sa n t
in t h e
r e gu la t io n
o f h is so c ia l in t e r e st s. I
c a n n o t d e t a il t h e ma t t e r
t h o r o u gh ly
n o w. Bu t a ll fu n d a me n t a l id e a ls o f
pe o ple
like W . L.
S o lo vje v go
b a c k t o t h a t b a sis.
S o lo vje v's spe c ific c o n c e pt
o f t h e
c h u r c h ,
in
pa r t ic u la r ,
r e st s o n it . Th e
c o n c e pt
r e st s o n
"c o mmu n it y"
(in
To e n n ie s
se n se ),
n o t o n
"so c ie t y."
I wish t o
po in t
o u t o n e
t h in g
in t h e sh o r t t ime
r e ma in in g.
In h is le c t u r e
o u r
c o lle a gu e
Tr o e lt sc h t r e a t e d t h e c o n t r a st s b e t we e n
c h u r c h , se c t ,
myst i-
6He lpfu l su gge st io n s
o n t h e
b a c kgr o u n d s
b r o a c h e d in W e b e r 's r e ma r ks o n Ru ssia will b e fo u n d in t h e
fo llo win g:
M .
C h e r n ia vsky,
Tsa r a n d
Pe o ple :
S t u d ie s in Ru ssia n
M yt h s (Ne w
Ha ve n : Ya le Un iv.
Pr e ss,
1961);
Ro b e r t C .
W illia ms,
"Th e Ru ssia n S o u l: A
S t u d y
in
Eu r o pe a n Th o u gh t
a n d
No n -Eu r o pe a n
Na t io n a lism, " Jo u r n a l o f
t h e
Hist o r y o f Id e a s,
31: 4
(Oc t .-De c ., 1970), pp. 573-88, e sp.
584 ff.
146 S OC IOLOGIC ALANALYS IS
c ism a n d t h e ir
r e la t io n sh ip
t o t h e wo r ld a n d t o n a t u r a l la w
st r u c t u r a lly, 7
a n d
o f c o u r se h e mu st d e a l wit h t h e m
st r u c t u r a lly.
Bu t t h e
ju st ific a t io n
fo r t h is
pr o c e d u r e d e pe n d s u po n
t h e fa c t t h a t wh e n o n e a sks a se c t a r ia n a b o u t t h o se
t r a in s o f
t h o u gh t
wh ic h ma d e h im a
se c t a r ia n ,
h e will c o me a t la st
(n o
ma t t e r h o w
o b sc u r e ly
h e
e x pr e sse s it )
t o wh a t we
ga t h e r e d t o d a y
fr o m o u r
c o lle a gu e
Tr o e lt sc h . If o n e a sks a me mb e r o f t h e C a t h o lic c h u r c h
wh y
h e is a
me mb e r o f t h is c h u r c h a n d n o t a
se c t a r ia n ,
in a simila r ma n n e r h e
is
u lt ima t e ly
le d t o t h e se
t h o u gh t s.
An d
yo u
c a n
gr a sp
t h e e vid e n c e fo r t h is
wit h
yo u r
o wn h a n d s wh e n
yo u
d isc o ve r t h a t Ba r o n vo n
He r t lin g
a ssu r e d h is
c o -r e ligio n ist s
a s fo llo ws: wh e t h e r t h e Bib le is c o n st r u e d in o n e
wa y
o r
a n o t h e r ,
a n d wh a t e ve r h a s
h a ppe n e d
wit h it
h ist o r ic a lly,
is a ma t t e r o f
in d iffe r e n c e ,
fo r t h e c h u r c h a s a
d ivin e ly
e n t a ile d e n d o wme n t t e lls u s wh a t
is
in t h e Bib le n o ma t t e r wh o wr o t e it . W h a t e ve r fit s in wit h t h is is a d ivin e
n o r m,
a d ivin e t r u t h . If we d id n o t h a ve t h e c h u r c h t h e Pr o t e st a n t Bib le
wo u ld n o t
h e lp
u s a t a ll. Th a t
b e in g
so ,
t h is
c o n c e pt io n
o f t h e c h u r c h
ma n ife st ly c o r r e spo n d s
in it s u lt ima t e
c o n se qu e n c e s
t o t h e o n e
r e po r t e d
t o
u s. I h a ve so me
po ssib le o b je c t io n s
t o t h e
le c t u r e , n a me ly
t h a t t h is c h a in o f
r e a so n in g
d o e s n o t h a ve t o b e
c o n sc io u sly
a live in
e ve r y
a d h e r e n t o f a c h u r c h
o r
se c t ,
a s a n
a n t ic ipa t io n ju st
fo r t h e sa ke o f b e lie f.
Fin a lly,
I sh a ll
o n ly po in t
o u t o n e
t h in g.
W h e n o n e
a n a lyze s
n a t u r a l la w
d o c t r in e s fr o m t h e
pe r spe c t ive
o f t h e
c h u r c h ,
t h e
se c t , e t c .,
a s Tr o e lt sc h
d o e s,
o n e h a s n o t o f c o u r se
t h e r e b y
sa id t h a t t h e se d o c t r in e s d id n o t r e su lt in
pr a c t ic a l c o n se qu e n c e s
fo r c o n d u c t wh ic h
a ppe a r
t o u s t o b e
e n t ir e ly
h e t e r o ge n e o u s
wit h
r e spe c t
t o t h e in h e r e n t c o n t e n t o f t h e c h u r c h d o c t r in e .
Th e
pr in c iple
o f
ir r a t io n a lit y,
a n d t h e la c k o f
c o n gr u it y
in va lu e b e t we e n
c a u se a n d e ffe c t is d u e t o t h e
fo llo win g:
A d o c t r in e like t h a t o f se c t a r ia n
Pr o t e st a n t ism, C a lvin ism, Pie t ism,
wh ic h mo st
pio u sly
c o n d e mn s t h e
c o lle c t in g
o f t h e e a r t h 's
t r e a su r e s,
ma y st r e n gt h e n
t h e
psyc h o lo gic a l
mo t ive
wh ic h t h is d o c t r in e se t in mo t io n in su c h a
wa y,
t h a t it le a d s
ju st
t h e se
ve r y
pe o ple
t o b e c o me t h e
gr e a t
b e a r e r s o f mo d e r n
c a pit a list d e ve lo pme n t .
Fo r ,
t h e u se o f t r e a su r e s fo r o n e 's sa t isfa c t io n we r e e ve n mo r e
sh a r ply
c o n d e mn e d
t h a n t h e
ga t h e r in g
o f
t r e a su r e s;
c o n se qu e n t ly, n o t h in g
le ss t h a n a n e ve r
r e n e we d u t iliza t io n o f t h e se t r e a su r e s fo r
c a pit a list pu r po se s
wa s
b r o u gh t
a b o u t . It fo st e r e d
c a pit a list d e ve lo pme n t
b e c a u se t h e
n e c e ssit y
fo r a sc e t ic
pr o o fs
in t h e wo r ld b r e d t h e ma n o f vo c a t io n
u po n
wh o m
c a pit a lism
r e st s.
Th is is
fr e qu e n t ly
t h e c a se . W h e n fo r
e x a mple ,
Tr o e lt sc h
po in t e d
o u t t h a t
a n a t io n a l c h u r c h
(Vo lkskir c h e ),
a n a t io n a l
C h r ist ia n it y
is t h e
o n ly
c o n c e iva b le fo r m o f c h u r c h t h a t is u n ive r sa l in a c c o r d a n c e wit h it s o wn id e a
o f
u n ive r sa lit y,
t h e n o f c o u r se t h e
o b je c t io n
t o b e ma d e
a ga in st
t h is is t h a t
7Fo r o t h e r
e x pr e ssio n s
o f Tr o e lt sc h 's vie w t h a t "t h e
c h u r c h ,
t h e
se c t ,
a n d
myst ic ism"
c o n st it u t e d "t h e
t h r e e ma in
t ype s
o f t h e
so c io lo gic a l d e ve lo pme n t
o f C h r ist ia n
t h o u gh t , "
se e
e sp.
Tr o e lt sc h 's S o c ia l
Te a c h in gs o f
t h e C h r ist ia n C h u r c h e s
(1919)
in
Ha r pe r
To r c h b o o k
e d .,
2 vo ls.
(N.Y., 1960), e sp.
II,
pp.
993,
1007.
M AX W EBER ON
C HURC H, S EC T,
AND M YS TIC IS M 147
e x pe r ie n c e
sh o ws t h a t Ame r ic a wa s t h e mo st
pio u s c o u n t r y (me a su r e d
n o t
o n ly qu a n t it a t ive ly
b u t
qu a lit a t ive ly)
u n t il t h e t h r e sh h o ld o f t h is
c e n t u r y.
It
d id n o t kn o w a st a t e c h u r c h fo r t h e
lo n ge st
t ime a n d
C h r ist ia n it y ge n e r a lly
t o o k o n t h e fo r m o f t h e se c t s. If I a m n o t
mist a ke n ,
in t h e mid d le o f t h e
1890's
o n ly
5% o f t h e Ame r ic a n
po pu la t io n
d id n o t
o ffic ia lly b e lo n g
t o a
r e ligio u s c o mmu n it y.
An d
me mb e r sh ip
in a
r e ligio u s so c ie t y
c o st s u n -
b e lie va b ly
mo r e in Ame r ic a t h a n wit h u s. It c o st s
so me t h in g
e ve n fo r t h o se
wh o la c k t h e me a n s. It c o st s t h e wo r ke r wh o
e migr a t e d
fr o m
Ge r ma n y
t o
Ame r ic a
(a n d
wit h wh o m
b y
c h a n c e I b e c a me
a c qu a in t e d
in t h e
r e gio n
o f
Bu ffa lo )
1, 800 ma r ks,
ye a r ly
r e ve n u e
pa yme n t s
t o t h e c h u r c h o f 100
ma r ks,
qu it e a pa r t
fr o m t h e c o lle c t io n s a n d so fo r t h .
Tr y
t o fin d a Ge r ma n wo r ke r
wh o wo u ld
pa y
a s mu c h fo r
a n y
c h u r c h
c o mmu n it y, a n y
a t a ll.
Pr e c ise ly
b e c a u se t h e r e
(in
Ame r ic a )
t h e
r e ligio u s t ype
is t h e se c t
t ype ,
t h e
r e ligio n
is a
n a t io n a l
(Vo lk)
a ffa ir . Be c a u se t h e se c t
t ype
is n o t u n ive r sa l b u t
e x c lu sive ,
a n d b e c a u se it s e x c lu sive n e ss o ffe r s d e fin it e
pr ivile ge s in wa r d ly
a n d
e x t e r n a lly
t o it s
su ppo r t e r s,
t h e r e a l
pla c e
o f C h r ist ia n u n ive r sa lism
is,
t h e r e fo r e ,
in e ffe c t ive
me mb e r sh ip
in a
r e ligio u s c o mmu n it y
t h e r e a n d
n o t ,
a s in
Ge r ma n y, a mo n g
t h e C h r ist ia n s in n a me
o n ly,
wh e r e a
pa r t
o f t h e
we ll-t o -d o
pa y
a ll t h e t a x e s fo r t h e c h u r c h -"t o
pr e se r ve r e ligio n
fo r t h e
pe o ple "-a n d ,
o t h e r wise a r e
h a ppy
if
t h e y
d o n 't h a ve t o h a ve
a n yt h in g
mo r e
t o d o wit h t h e ma t t e r . Th e
o n ly
r e a so n
t h e y
d o n 't le a ve t h e c h u r c h is
b e c a u se t h e
c o n se qu e n c e s
fo r a d va n c e me n t a n d fo r a ll o t h e r
po ssib le
so c ia l
pr o spe c t s
wo u ld b e
d isa gr e e a b le .
III
I wish t o
sa y o n ly
a fe w wo r d s a b o u t S imme l's r e ma r ks.* Th e
qu e st io n
c o n c e r n in g
t h e
ge n u in e me a n in g
o f C h r ist ia n
r e ligio sit y
is n o t
u p
fo r
d isc u ssio n
t o d a y. Ne ve r t h e le ss,
we h a ve
c e r t a in ly
b e e n
h a ppy
t o r e c e ive t h e se
a r gu me n t s.
S in c e
t h e y
h a ve b e e n
pa r t ly
d ir e c t e d
a ga in st
me ,
I sh a ll t h e r e fo r e
pe r mit myse lf
t o
r e ply b r ie fly.
Ha vin g e n t ir e ly
c o n c e d e d t h e t h e sis t h a t in a c c o r d a n c e wit h t h e
me t a ph ysic a l me a n in g
o f
C h r ist ia n it y, n o t h in g migh t
b e
pla c e d
b e t we e n t h e
so u l a n d it s
go d ,
t h e se
ma t t e r s,
t h e
e mpir ic a l r e la t io n sh ips
wh ic h
so c io lo gy
is
c o n c e r n e d
wit h ,
st a n d a s fo llo ws.
Eve r y d e vo u t ly pio u s
so u l,
e ve n t h e
ma jo r it y
o f t h e
r e ligio u s a mo n g
t h e
h igh ly
r e so lve d so u ls in
pr imit ive
C h r ist ia n it y
a n d in a ll t ime s o f
r e ligio u s e x c it e me n t ,
t h e se so u ls mu st fe e l
t h a t
t h e y r e a lly
h a d b e e n
st a n d in g
fa c e t o fa c e wit h t h e ir
go d ,
a n d n o t
so me t h in g
e lse ,
t o b e a b le in
a n y
fa sh io n t o
e n jo y
a ssu r a n c e
(in
fa it h )
in t h e ir
e ve r yd a y live s,
t h a t
is,
t o h a ve t h e "c e r t it u d o sa lu t is." Th is c e r t it u d e c a n b e
*S imme l c o mme n t e d o n Tr o e lt sc h 's le c t u r e a ft e r W e b e r ma d e t h e r e ma r ks t r a n sla t e d in se c t io n I a n d
II
a b o ve .
Ju st
pr io r
t o Tr o e lt sc h 's
r e ply,
W e b e r
r e jo in e d
t h e d isc u ssio n a n d
spo ke a ga in . (Tr .'s n o t e .)
148 S OC IOLOGIC ALANALYS IS
wo n in va r io u s
wa ys.
Fir st o f a ll it is n o t a
so c io lo gic a l
c e r t it u d e ,
b u t a
pu r e ly psyc h o lo gic a l qu e st io n
t h a t is t h e r e wit h t o u c h e d
u po n ,
b u t o n e wh ic h
h a s
so c io lo gic a lly
in t e r e st in g c o n se qu e n c e s.
Th e mo st e x t r e me
c o n t r a st in g
po le s
wh ic h e x ist
a r e ,
o n t h e o n e
h a n d ,
t h e fo r ms o f
wo r ld -r e je c t in g
r e ligio sit ie s (wh ic h
we a lso
e x pe r ie n c e
in mo d e r n
t ime s)
wh ic h a r e
pr e se r ve d
in t h o se
spir it u a l
mo ve me n t s o f wh ic h I
spo ke
e a r lie r a n d we r e a lso
c h a r a c t e r ist ic o f c e r t a in
pa r t s
o f
pr imit ive C h r ist ia n it y:
a kin d o f "a c o smic "
lo ve o f
ma n ,
t h a t is t h e o n e
po ssib ilit y.
On t h e o t h e r
h a n d ,
t h e r e is it s mo st
e x t r e me c o u n t e r
po le :
t h e C a lvin ist ic
r e ligio sit y
wh ic h fin d s t h e c e r t it u d e o f
b e in g
Go d 's c h ild in t h e t o -b e -a t t a in e d
"pr o vin g
o f o n e se lf"
(Be wa h r u n g)
a d
ma jo r e m
d e i
glo r ia m
wit h in t h e
give n
a n d o r d e r e d wo r ld . In o t h e r
wo r d s,
we
h a ve o n t h e o n e sid e t h e
c o mple t e ly a mo r ph o u s
fo r mle ssn e ss o f a c o smic
lo ve ;
o n t h e o t h e r sid e t h a t
u n iqu e
a t t it u d e
e x t r e me ly impo r t a n t
fo r t h e
h ist o r y
o f so c ia l a n d
po lit ic a l pr a c t ic e ,
t h a t t h e in d ivid u a l fe e ls h imse lf
pla c e d
wit h in t h e so c ia l
c o mmu n it y
fo r t h e
pu r po se
o f
r e a lizin g
"Go d 's
glo r y"
a n d t h e r e wit h t h e sa lva t io n o f h is so u l.
Th is la st
pe c u lia r it y
o f C a lvin ism d e t e r min e s t h e
me a n in g
o f t h e e n t ir e
in n e r
c o n figu r a t io n
o f t h e so c ia l st r u c t u r e wh ic h we se e
o r igin a t in g
o n t h is
fo u n d a t io n . In t h e
r e a r in g
o f t h e se st r u c t u r e s t h e r e is
a lwa ys
a d ist in c t ive
mo me n t wh ic h r e ve a ls t h e fo r ma t io n o f t h e so c ia l st r u c t u r e
u po n
a n
e go c e n t r ic
b a se . It is
a lwa ys
t h e in d ivid u a l wh o se e ks h imse lf
b y se r vin g
t h e
t o t a lit y,
wh a t e ve r it
ma y
b e c a lle d . To ma ke u se h e r e o f t h e
c o n c e pt u a l
po la r it ie s
u se d in o n e o f t h e fu n d a me n t a l b o o ks o f o u r mo d e r n so c ia l-
ph ilo so ph ic a l o r ie n t a t io n ,
Fe r d in a n d To n n ie s' wo r k o n
Ge me in sc h a ft
u n d
Ge se llsc h a ft :
t h e kin d o f h u ma n
r e la t io n sh ip
wh ic h
d e ve lo ps
o n t h is
fo r ma t io n is
a lwa ys
a
"so c ie t y" (Ge se llsc h a ft ),
a n "a sso c ia t ive so c ia l
r e la t io n sh ip" (Ve r ge se llsc h a ft u n g),
a "c iviliza t io n " wh ic h sh e d s it s "h u ma n i-
t y."
It is
a lwa ys e x c h a n ge , ma r ke t ,
go a l-o r ie n t e d a sso c ia t io n s,
in st e a d o f
pe r so n a l
b r o t h e r lin e ss. It is
a lwa ys
t h is a s
o ppo se d
t o t h e o t h e r kin d -t h a t
"c o mmu n it y"
o f a c o smic lo ve o n a
pu r e
fo u n d a t io n o f "b r o t h e r h o o d ." Th e
c o mmu n ism o f
pr imit ive C h r ist ia n it y
a n d it s d e r iva t ive h a ve
e mpir ic a lly
t h e
mo st va r ie d
mo t ive s,
b u t mo t ive s wh ic h
a lwa ys
(a s
in
pr imit ive C h r ist ia n it y)
c o n n e c t
u p
t o t h e o ld t r a d it io n o f t h e
pr imo r d ia l r e la t io n sh ip
o f b r o t h e r -
h o o d in wh ic h t h e
c o mmu n it y
o f
e a t in g
a n d
d r in kin g t o ge t h e r
fo u n d e d a
fa mily-like c o mmu n it y.
Th e
b a n n in g
o f
u su r y (in t e r e st )
fo r
C h r ist ia n s,
e ve n
in t h e t ime o f C le me n t o f
Ale x a n d r ia ,
wa s mo t iva t e d
b y
t h e o ld
pr in c iple
t h a t o n e d id n o t
h a ggle a mo n g
b r o t h e r s o r
e mplo y
d o ma n ia l
r igh t s,
a n d
u su r y (in t e r e st )
is a d o ma n ia l
r igh t .
On e d id n o t t a ke
a d va n t a ge a mo n g
b r o t h e r s,
b u t
pr a c t ise d
b r o t h e r h o o d .8
C o n c e d in g e ve r yt h in g
t h a t S imme l
sa ys
o n t h e
me a n in g
o f t h e
r e ligio u s a t t it u d e ,
st ill o n e
mu st ,
fr o m t h e
po in t
o f vie w o f
so c io lo gy, c o n st a n t ly pu t
t h e
psyc h o lo gic a l qu e st io n ,
a n d in d e e d
8C f.
B.
Ne lso n ,
Th e Id e a
o f Usu r y: Fr o m Tr ib a l Br o t h e r h o o d t o Un ive r sa l
Ot h e r h o o d ,
2n d
e d .,
e n la r ge d (C h ic a go : Un ive r sit y
o f
C h ic a go
Pr e ss a n d Ph o e n ix
Bo o ks, 1969).
M AX W EBER ON
C HURC H, S EC T,
AND M YS TIC IS M 149
it h a s b e e n r a ise d
b y
a ll
sid e s,
e ve n t h e mo st
e x t r e me ,
a n d
t h e r e fo r e ,
fr o m
t h e
r e ligio u s
st a n d po in t , pe r h a ps
t h e
h igh e st ,
fo r ms o f
myst ic ism, n a me ly:
Ho w,
t h r o u gh
wh a t
me d iu m,
d o e s t h e in d ivid u a l b e c o me c e r t a in o f h is
r e la t io n sh ip
t o t h e e t e r n a l?
Pr o fe sso r
S imme l: Re a so n !
Pr o fe sso r
M a x W e b e r : Th a t is
e n t ir e ly
c o r r e c t .
C e r t a in ly,
wit h o u t
d o u b t ,
it
is
me r e ly
a
c o gn it ive gr o u n d (Er ke n n t n isgr u n d ),
n o t a r e a l
gr o u n d (Re a l-
gr u n d )
fo r b liss.