In The Protestant Ethic, Weber argues that capitalism arose in Europe in part because of how the belief in predestination was interpreted by everyday English Puritans. Puritan theology was based on the Calvinist notion that not everyone would be saved; there was only a specific number of the elect who would avoid damnation, and this was based sheerly on God's predetermined will and not on any action you could perform in this life. Official doctrine held that one could not ever really know whether one was among the elect.
IN The PrOtEstanT eThIC, weBeR ArgueS thaT capitaLIsm arosE In Europe in paRT bEcaUse of HoW thE BElIEf iN pREdeSTinAtIOn wAs iNtErprEteD By eveRYDay EnglisH PuRitanS. purItan theolOGy was Based On tHe calviNiST NoTion tHAt noT everYone woulD Be saveD; There was onlY a SPecifIc nuMbEr of the ElEct WhO wouLd avOid DamnatiON, And this was BaSeD ShEeRLY on God's pRedETErMinEd Will and Not on any aCTiOn you could pErform In thIs Life. officiaL DoctriNe helD That One could NoT eVer really Know WHether ONe wAS AMonG the elEct.