The Multidimensional Research Thoughts Concerning Max Weber’s Comparative Religion

Max Weber’s research on the Comparative religion is theoretically and methodologically complex and original. Based on entry-point of Weber’s books The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Sociology of Religion, and The Religion of China:Confucianism and Taoism, this thesis attempts to analyze Weber’s research thoughts concerning Comparative religion. By taking the "Ideal Type" as a tool, the author tries to reveal the ideological implication based on the theoretical presupposition of "combination of norms and instrumentalism presupposition" and the "value-free/neutral" methodology.Chapter one elaborates on research background of Weber’s Comparative religion from historical narrative and intellectual perspectives, pointing out that the historical process and idealism of intellectual traditions of Germany constituted the background of Weber’s religious studies. Chapter two discusses Weber’s research on the relationship between the protestant ethic and capitalism. By introducing normative elements into his analysis, Weber held that internalization of protestant ethic norms help shape the material-oriented modern economic ethics and pointed out that value rationality is of great importance to instrumental rationality. Weber expounded his research method which combined interpretive understanding and causal explanation and criticized one-dimensional research on the origin of modern capitalism. In Chapter three, the author explains paragon of Weber’s "multidimensional study". In Sociology of Religion, Weber explored evolution of primitive religion to religious redemption and religious ethics to modern economic ethics. While in study of religious class, Weber pointed out that sociological basis and social life styles related to religion played an important role in transformation of religious ethics. In turn, ethical norms, particularly religious ethics, also shaped social life styles.Chapter four talks about comparative research on religions (Confucianism and Taoism) in China. In the author’s opinion, Weber’s "comprehensive theory" appears to be ambiguous in his study of political authoritativeness of Confucianism and classifications of scholars in imperial China. However, he still "comprehensively" considered that mysticism-centered Taoism and practical rationality-centered Confucianism failed to create modern rational life order.The final chapter makes a conclusion of Weber’s research thoughts of Comparative religion. Weber’s main contribution lies in his adoption of the method of multi-dimensional discussion and combination of normative research and instrumental research in presupposition in his general study of social science. According to Weber, the society is composed of interactive components including religion, politics and economy. And every "dimension" is independently driven by its causality. While in social activities, ideas are involved in the complex context which consists of several powers including economy, politics, social stratification and laws. Correspondingly, order is also multi-dimensional in nature.