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BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Blackburn
Elective affinity is a term used by Weber which describes the sociological, philosophical and theological connections between Protestantism within Christianity and the ethos (character) of capitalism. Protestantism provides a basic for capitalistic enterprise, although this may not always be a conscious, obvious connection. (116).
Encylopedia.com
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Elective affinity
A term used by Max Weber to describe the relationship between Protestantism and capitalism (in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, 1905). It refers to the resonance or coherence between aspects of the teachings of Protestantism and of the capitalist enterprise, notably the ethos of the latter.
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A more modern way of describing the situation to which the concept applies might be in terms of the connections between beliefs, actions, and the unintended consequences of action. (see R. H. Howe , ‘Max Weber's Elective Affinities’, American Journal of Sociology, 1978
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Admittedly, another new philosophical term for me.
I have heard of the "Protestant work ethic' previously.
As the Apostle Paul noted in the New Testament, for example:
2 Thessalonians 3:7-11
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to [a]follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat [b]anyone’s bread [c]without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would [d]follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
Footnotes: 2 Thessalonians 3:7 Lit imitate us 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit from anyone 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit freely 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Lit imitate us
At the same time, the Book of James warns against the abuses of the rich and Jesus Christ stated it was nearly impossible for the rich person to inherit the Kingdom of God (Mathew 19, Mark 10, Luke 18).
The Christian is to (when capable by implication) work hard and use the earthly and created tools provided to earn food and necessities for life and achieve a level of prosperity within a Protestant, biblical worldview. But this should not occur by abusing those that do not prosper, the poor, humanity or creation.
