An eclectic intellectual tradition forms the foundation of modern social welfare in the United States. Basic principles related to the Protestant work ethic, the English Poor Laws, the Judeo-Christian tradition, and Marxism have all left their influence on public policies that assist the poor. The current election year has given rise to a re-examination and reformulation of poverty programs and policies.
Although modern government regulations that deal with poverty are purely secular, a significant portion of past social welfare ideology was based on religious principles. In his theory of the Protestant work ethic, Weber attempted to explain the influence of religious thought on economic activity. Weber's theory was that capitalism in America and Europe is an outgrowth of the desire by religious individuals for worldly asceticism. He believed that the essence of the spirit of capitalism is the acquisition of wealth as an end in itself. Under this system it was the duty of the individual to increase wealth: "Man is dominated by the making of money, by acquisition as the ultimate purpose of his life" (Weber, 1958, p. 53). In the capitalist worldview, money comes about as a result of diligence and proficiency in one's calling. The attitude toward economics that emerged as a result of the Protestant Reformation was in direct contrast to the Roman Catholic mindset, which viewed work as a punishment for original sin.
Weber agreed with the Calvinist point of view that individuals were preordained by God to occupy their particular positions in life. The Calvinists were not opposed to the accumulation of wealth, on the contrary, they felt it enhanced the prestige of God's elect. Eventually, the possession of wealth became interpreted as a sign that an individual was among those called by God for salvation. Calvinists did not object to capitalism, only to the use of money to support a lifestyle not based on asceticism.
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