Accomplishment Quote by Max Weber
“The capacity for the accomplishment of religious virtuosos the "intellectual sacrifice" is the decisive characteristic of the positively religious man. That this is so is shown by the fact that in spite of (or rather in consequence) of theology (which unveils it) the tension between the value-spheres of "science" and the sphere of "the holy" is unbridgeable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Economy and Society, Max Weber, 1922
Religious devotion demands intellectual sacrifice, creating a divide between scientific and sacred values that cannot be reconciled.
In simple terms: Faith requires giving up some rational inquiry.
Key Takeaway
Accept the tension between science and faith.
Themes
religion
intellectual sacrifice
science vs faith
conflict
Mood
thoughtful
scholarly
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical decision‑making
- education curricula
Key Concepts
sociology of religion
philosophy of knowledge
value systems
Questions to Reflect On
- Can rational inquiry coexist with faith?
- What role does sacrifice play in belief?
A Different Perspective
Some view the divide as bridgeable through dialogue.
![“[In] the realm of science, ... what we have achieved will be obsolete in ten, twenty or fifty years. That is the fate, indeed, that is the very meaning of scientific work. ... Every scientific "fulfillment" raises new "questions" and cries out to be surpassed rendered obsolete. Everyone who wishes…” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cff/max-weber-8418_accounts_in-the-realm-of-science-what-we-have-ach_126812.jpg)
![“The summum bonum of this [Puritan] ethic is the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all enjoyment.” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c4/max-weber-8418_avoidance_the-summum-bonum-of-this-puritan-ethic-i_205628.jpg)
