The role of religion in the development of communities: Comparison of Protestantism, Tokugawa and Islam

Abstract

Considering the role of religion in different aspects of human life, two viewpoints, one positive and the other negative, are widespread among scholars. The present paper has dealt with the former, the importance of religion in social life and its role in the development of communities. Some scholars of the former, including Max Weber, claimed that Protestant is the only school of progress for societies while undermining the efficiency of other religions. In addition to casting doubt on Weber's exclusive viewpoint, the present paper through implementing Tokugawa religion by Robert Bellah, one of Weber's students, intends to explain the efficiency of Islam in development of societies. Thus, given the comprehensiveness of Islam and noticing social aspects of it along with individual ones, the main purpose of the present paper is to determine whether development and improvement have been taken into account by Islam or not. Despite Islam's consideration on this issue, the question is why Muslim communities are not as much developed as Western communities.