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But all the most interesting theories about religion and behaviour refer to unconscious influences. The best-known was devised by Max Weber, a father of modern sociology, who drew a connection between the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Noting that Protestant parts of Germany were doing better (in the 19th century) than Catholic ones, he thought the “inner loneliness” of Protestants—who can never be sure if they are saved in the eyes of God—made them work harder. Unlike many other forms of faith, Protestantism has no mystical rite to absolve sin.
Sascha Becker, a professor at Britain’s Warwick University who tests Weber’s theories against real life, says the German thinker was both right and wrong. Protestant Germany did prosper, but not because of theology or psychology. Protestants wanted boys and girls to be able to read the Bible higher literacy led to faster development. But for a given level of education, Protestants and Catholics did equally well. “Whether people are Protestant or Catholic now makes no difference,” Mr Becker says. Besides, the Catholic bits of Germany such as Bavaria are the richest.
Peter Berger, an American sociologist, has found that Weber’s theories have a certain plausibility in Latin America, where a Protestant, and especially a Pentecostalist minority, outperforms the Catholic majority. Both there and in Africa an individualist Protestant “prosperity gospel” which links financial success with divine favour seems more popular with the upwardly mobile than the recent Catholic stress on “liberating” the poor as a class.

A. 어휘
refer to 언급하다, 照會(조회)하다, 적용하다. unconscious 무의식적인.
devise 考案(고안)하다. sociology 사회학. Protestant ethic 청교도 윤리.
Protestant parts 청교도 지역. mystical 신비주의적인.
rite 儀式(의식), 祭式(제식). absolve 죄를 赦(사)하다, 사면하다.
theology 신학. literacy 文字(문자) 解得比率(해득비율).
Besides 뿐만 아니라. plausibility 그럴듯함, 타당성.
Pentecostalist 오순절 교도. gospel 福音(복음).
divine favour 神의 恩寵(은총). the upwardly mobile 상향 이동.
class 계급.