How Religion Evolved from Polytheism to Ethical Monotheism - Assignment Example

Social interaction and symbolism and the need to control human behavior led to the integration of several higher beings categories into one common being who was recognized by all.

The religious culture of capitalism resulted from this interaction between communities. As monotheism developed, some cultures, especially the western cultures were considered special and set apart. These cultures promoted dependency and capitalism, values that were embraced in the religion. This too was the origin of the modern spiritual values that promote abject capitalism and individualism. Modern spirituality guides people on an individualized journey of faith and practice.

1. Explain Max Weber’s theory of stratification and social change. How do class, status, and power legitimate authority in modern society? Finally, explain the relationship between authority and social change in bureaucratic society.

According to Weber, stratification and social change are based on status and power. The factors, class, status, and power do not co-vary, and it is, therefore, possible for someone to possess one of the factors and lack the others. The stratification systems are, therefore, constructions of society. Class, status, and power are also responsible for the legitimation of society. As society constructs the stratifications, legitimation ensures that the systems remain together. A particular class of people with a specific status gain and retain power and domination over others.

In a bureaucratic society, there is an increased size of the population being controlled, and hence the tasks are massive. The markets and the mass democracy needs also increase, and hence class, power,r, and status have to come into play. This interaction of the factors increases the power of the top class to have authority and control over the mass. Read More