What is meant by a Protestant work ethic and how did this idea become associated with Protestantism?

Answer 1

The sociologist/historian/everything-all-round-genius-nosey-it Max Weber coined the term the Protestant work ethic, I'm pretty sure.

WIKIPEDIA:
His major works[1] deal with rationalisation in sociology of religion and government, but he also contributed much in the field of economics. His most famous work is his essay The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, which began his work in the sociology of religion. In this work, Weber argued that religion was one of the non-exclusive reasons for the different ways the cultures of the Occident and the Orient have developed, and stressed importance of particular characteristics of ascetic Protestantism which led to the development of capitalism, bureaucracy and rational-legal state in the West. In another major work, Politics as a Vocation, Weber defined the state as an entity which claims a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force, a definition that became pivotal to the study of modern Western political science. His most known contributions are often referred to as the 'Weber Thesis'.
END WIKIPEDIA.

He looked at Protestants, who are a minority in Europe, and reckoned they were more productive than Catholics. There's perhaps some proof that Protestants, at least in the 1800s/early 1900s, were taught to work hard, whereas Catholics were disabled with decadence, a corrupt Church and guilt. Minorities are almost always more productive, per head, than majorities, though. Quakers are more productive than Church of England followers (both Protestant).

Answer 2

The Protestant work ethic didn't exist until Henry VIII's reformation of the churches. When he decided to create a new church so he could get his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, he deliberately made sure that the new Church of England, the new Protestant/Puritan faith, was different to the Catholic Church of Rome.

Simply put, this was because at the time there was a lot of corruption in the Catholic Church, it was full of hypocrisy and sin. The Church of England, led by Henry VIII decided to move away from this back to the pure roots of the faith, inspired by a group of Christians called the Calvinists. The Calvinists believed in living very humbly and morally, and not getting all caught up in the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. This involved simplifying the images, symbols and the decor of the churches, an outward sign of the purity within the people.

The Church of England adopted this idea of living humbly and morally, which included having a strong work ethic, as the Bible, and therefore the Lord, valued hard work, self-discipline etc. Part of living in accordance with a high moral code involved very hard work and dedication - linked to obedience to God. Along the way, the idea of a work ethic was linked to the Protestants' Puritan lifestyle and thus, the Protestant work ethic was born.

Answer 3

The Protestant work ethic was a Victorian concept, and comes from the public schools via sports such as football (soccer) and rugby. If yo were to read 'Football and the English' by Dave Russell, especially the chapters regarding the establishment of the Cambridge rules and the spreading of football to the working classes, you will get a good idea.

Answer 4

The aristocracy in Europe and in England was Catholic and Anglican and made up the nobility. The protestants were the middle and lower class who worked hard and were frugal because they had so little. The aristocracy had others do the work for them while the common folk, mainly the Protestants in England, did the work for themselves. Thus the Protestant Work Ethic came into being.

Chow!!

Answer 5

The Protestant work ethic is a fair days work, for a fair days pay. It was used to teach a lesson. Back when it first came about, preachers and ministers taught their lessons by parables. Much like Jesus, and Buddha and Kung Fu did. The Protestants were willing to go out and teach. The Catholics and the Jews felt that people should come to them to learn.

Answer 6

This link below provides a background to the Protestant work ethic and its significance for Protestants in early America:

http://www.coe.uga.edu/~rhill/workethic/hist.htm

Answer 7

Blame it on Calvin (1509 - 1564). Labour was a sacrifice to God and one had to work to repay God for his bounty - also 'the Devil finds work for idle hands'. So work til you drop or go to hell. Upping the retirement age seems to indicate that his influence is still felt in the Western world.
The Protestant work ethic is not something the USA can lay claim to.