A Kind of Life Imposed on Man: Vocation and Social Order from Tyndale to Locke

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University of Toronto Press, 1996 - Great Britain - 163 pages
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Vocation, or calling - the idea that everyday work is the locus of Christian obedience - is, at first glance, peculiarly a theological notion. But doctrines of vocation formed the core of much of the economic and social theory of Protestantism at a time when such theory was culturally and politically influential. Hence it has also attracted attention from, and caused controversy among, sociologists, economic historians, and political theorists. Max Weber made vocation one of the foci of his celebrated studies of `the Protestant ethic' and the `spirit of capitalism.' In this book, Paul Marshall offers the first systematic study of the development of the idea of vocation in England from 1500 to 1700.

Vocational theory illuminates four themes that are examined in this work: the relationship between Renaissance and Reformation social thought; the nature of the competing political forces in mid-seventeenth century England, particularly as they related to Puritan social views; the interpretation of seventeenth-century political theory, notably the thinking of John Locke; and contemporary theological discussions of the relationship of vocation to the existing social order, which parallel debates between the Levellers and their opponents during the civil war.

The doctrine of calling was a key element in various English social theories. It emphasized personal responsibility yet still treated the social order as divinely sanctioned, and it produced a distinct `Protestant ethic,' if not the one that Weber had in mind.

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Contents

From the Ancient World
12
The More Circle and the Early
27
Puritans
37
Copyright

7 other sections not shown

Common terms and phrases

abide accepted active allowed Anglicans appeared attitude became better Bishop body calling Calvin capitalism century Christian Church Civil common Commonwealth conception concern contemplative continued criticized described developed discussion distinction divine doctrine duties earlier economic Elizabethan emphasis England English equal existing fact give given God's Goodwin hand hath hence Holy human Ibid idea idleness individualism John labour later less Letter Concerning Toleration Levellers live Locke Locke's Luther maintained means mind nature necessity noted notion one's particular particular calling Perkins person political poor position Protestant Protestant Ethic Puritans question rational refer Reformation relation religion religious riches sense Sermons serve similar social society specific spiritual station stress teaching Theological theory things Thomas thou thought tion trade Treatise understanding view of calling vocation wealth Weber writings

About the author (1996)

Paul Marshall is Senior Fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C., where he also lives.

Bibliographic information

QR code for A Kind of Life Imposed on Man
TitleA Kind of Life Imposed on Man: Vocation and Social Order from Tyndale to Locke
AuthorPaul A. Marshall
PublisherUniversity of Toronto Press, 1996
Original fromthe University of Michigan
DigitizedJul 9, 2009
ISBN0802007848, 9780802007841
Length163 pages
  
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