Biography of John Calvin

Religion and capitalism

10 July 1509
27 May 1564
The first half of the XVI century, the largest European Christianity reformers: John Calvin and Martin Luther. Calvin, however, unlike Luther, wanted to be the legislator of a society tending to wild capitalism, while Luther was limited to considering the commercial activity of the bourgeoisie as an aspect of the feudal society that had to give more space, but always within the limits of feudalism. Born on 10 July 1509 in Noyon (France) Calvin he soon moved away from the Church, firmly convinced that the eternal bliss was destined to a select few and granted only through divine grace. Also believed that after death, the fact of going to heaven or hell was already predestined.
His followers have always confined to spend your life working, waiting for a sign from God. According to the thought of Calvin, work was tantamount to praise God. Calvin went out of work, a way to glorify God and to express clearly the firmness of faith and its foundation in grace. Only when subordinated to the common good, the enrichment and the resulting profit were considered fair. In this sense, Calvino is considered the precursor of capitalism. The Puritans of Northern Europe were the first disciples of Calvin, to follow the example dictated by French theologian, using a lifestyle devoted to diligence, sobriety and moderation and based exclusively on work.
Even the Economist and German sociologist Max Weber in his book theProtestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism"was found to speak often of the relationship between profit and Calvinism. Productive work according to Calvin, became a form of prayer, an offering to God of his certainties. But still according to the theologian and humanist was right to distinguish usury, which oppress and exploit the poor, from the loan and interest and productive investments. According to Calvin, even the same religion was considered so the principle of Government by themselves in everyday behavior.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.