The Religion of Work

How world religions have shaped our view of work

“Our desks were never meant to be our altars. To be a workist is to worship a god with firing power.” - Derek Thomson

In today's world, where professional achievement is often equated with personal worth, the idea that "we are what we do" has become ingrained in our cultural psyche. However, the deep-rooted connection between work, personal identity, and ethical duty is not a modern invention. In fact, it originates from the teachings of the world’s major religions. From Buddhism to Christianity, these spiritual traditions have shaped, and in many ways continue to influence, our understanding of hard work, discipline, and work as a calling.

Work in Ancient Civilizations: Status and Purpose

In ancient Greek and Roman societies, work was primarily associated with lower social status. Manual laborers and slaves were looked down upon, while the elite engaged in politics, philosophy, and art, which were seen as the pursuit of a higher life. Aristotle, however, acknowledged that work was central to a good life but argued that true fulfillment came from intellectual and moral virtues, not from labor alone. This early distinction between intellectual pursuits and manual work set the stage for future debates on the role of work in human identity.

Christianity: The Protestant Work Ethic & Capitalist Drive

When we explore work within the Christian faith, we see two different perspectives originating from Catholicism and Protestant teachings. In Catholicism, work primarily focuses on humility, service, and vocational roles. Work was considered part of God’s plan but not central to a person’s identity. It was a means to support a person's family, not a means of an individual’s identity.

The Catholic view of work varied greatly from that of the Protestant view. When discussing the intersection of religion and work no concept is more prominent in shaping modern ideas around work than the Protestant view of work.

Success as a Sign of Predestination

Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that follows the teachings of John Calvin (1509-1564), a French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. It is one of the major branches of Reformed Christianity and has significantly influenced various Protestant traditions, particularly in Europe and North America. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Calvinism is the concept of predestination, the idea that an individual has been chosen by God to be saved. According to Calvinism, humans cannot influence their salvation, and whether an individual is chosen is entirely up to God’s will.

Because humans can’t influence their salvation, Calvinists wanted a sign or some evidence of being among the saved (the elect). Success in worldly endeavours, mainly through hard work, discipline, and frugality, was interpreted as evidence of divine favour. Calvinism also emphasized work as a “calling” from God, and leading a disciplined, productive life became a moral duty. This idea of work as a “calling” with a higher purpose and meaning is a predominant and persistent idea in modern views of work and a common justification for overwork.

In the U.S., Calvinism strongly influenced the Puritans, who brought these beliefs with them when they settled in New England in the 17th century. This had a lasting impact on American culture, particularly in relation to work ethic and individualism.

The Protestant work ethic planted the idea of hard work as a sign of an individual’s virtue and a source of a person’s salvation. This led to the idea that professional success could signify divine favour or moral righteousness. This religious framework helped shift the view of work from a necessity to a moral imperative and source of personal identity.

In contrast to the Protestant work ethic, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism emphasize work as a righteous endeavour but discourage attaching one’s value or worth to their work.

Hinduism: Work as Duty (Dharma)

In Hinduism, the concept of dharma—duty and righteousness—frames work as a moral obligation. Their role in society shapes each individual’s dharma, and fulfilling it is key to maintaining cosmic order. The Hindu concept of Karma Yoga teaches that one should work diligently without attaching oneself to the outcomes of work. In Karma Yoga, the outcome of one’s work is considered a spiritual offering, and one’s work is supposed to be detached from the individual’s ego.

An expert from Bhagavad-Gita, a Hindu sacred scripture, states:

Whatever your action, food or worship, whatever the gift that you give to another,

Whatever you vow to the work of the spirit, lay these also as offerings before Me.

This detachment from outcomes also emphasizes and warns people of the risk of working for extrinsic recognition, reward, praise, and status. True satisfaction comes from the act of work itself, not from its rewards. Also, similar in nature to the Islamic concept of work, Hinduism encourages followers to “spiritualize” their entire lives instead of creating dichotomies between their spiritual and secular lives.

Hinduism’s emphasis on detaching from outcomes, rejecting extrinsic motivators, duty and selfless service counterbalances the Western focus on success as an identity marker. In a world consumed by the pursuit of achievement, Hindu teachings remind us that fulfillment can be found in work as a service to society, not just in its results.

Buddhism: Work as Mindfulness

Similar to Hinduism, work in Buddhism does not define one’s identity. Buddhist concepts around work are more about cultivating mindfulness and moral conduct and can contribute to an individual’s spiritual development. The Buddhist concept of the Right Livelihood encourages individuals to engage in compassionate activity and choose ethical work that does not harm. Buddhists strive to approach work with mindfulness, seeing it as a means of spiritual development rather than a path to material success. Buddhists are encouraged to assess how their work affects their spiritual development and question whether it hinders their spiritual practice.

The Buddhist emphasis on detachment from material success clearly critiques today’s workaholic culture. By focusing on mindful work, individuals can avoid the suffering that arises from the relentless pursuit of achievement. This perspective has influenced modern trends in mindful leadership and conscious capitalism, which aim to align business practices with personal well-being.

Islam: Work as Worship (Ibadah)

In Islam, work is also considered a spiritual practice closely tied to the concept of ibadah, or worship. Islamic teachings hold that honest labour is a form of worship when done with the right intentions.

The Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying,

“No one eats better food than that which they have earned through their hard work.”

Islam emphasizes the dignity of labour, no matter the type of work, and sees it as part of the broader responsibility toward family and society. Additionally, Islam strongly discourages laziness and idleness, encouraging believers to engage in productive work as part of their duty to God and their community.

Islamic teachings also stress the importance of ethical behaviour in business. Regarding one’s work, references are found across Islamic scripture and teachings that emphasize excellence in work, honesty and trustworthiness, advocacy for fairness and concern for others, demonstrating excellence of character, and honouring the limits of work transactions through sound contracts.

Similar to concepts of work within Hinduism, Islam emphasizes work as a form of worship and method of spiritual refinement without bifurcating between one’s secular livelihood and spiritual development.

Judaism: Work as Partnership with God

In Judaism, work is considered a necessity but not intrinsically good or part of Jewish spiritual development. Though Judaism has no commandment to work, the concept of resting, or Shabbat, is enshrined in the Ten Commandments. Shabbat begins on Friday at sunset and lasts until sunset on Saturday. No work is to be done on Shabbat, including what many would consider everyday tasks such as cooking and driving.

Judaism, like Hinduism and Buddhism, warns against the potential risks of overindulging in work and its outcomes and the pursuit of material gain at the expense of one’s religious duties and obligations. At the same time, Judaism emphasizes religious ethics in business, the importance of a strong work ethic, education, adaptability and resilience—all values and ideas that contribute to the pursuit of work and modern-day success.

In a time of rampant burnout and overwork, the Jewish tradition’s insistence on rest and reflection provides a necessary reminder that work should never consume one's entire identity.

The Modern Crisis of Overwork: A Religious Legacy?

As we grapple with issues of overwork, workaholism, and burnout in the 21st century, it's worth reflecting on how deeply these challenges are rooted in religious traditions. The Calvinist-driven Protestant work ethic, for example, played a pivotal role in cementing the idea that hard work defines personal virtue—a mindset that still permeates American culture today. Meanwhile, traditions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism offer alternative views prioritizing balance, ethical engagement, and intrinsic satisfaction over sheer productivity.

In an era where professional identity often overshadows other aspects of life, the teachings of these religious traditions can offer valuable insights. They challenge us to rethink the role of work, not as the sole measure of our worth, but as one part of a more meaningful and balanced life.

Whether we follow these spiritual traditions or not, their influence on how we approach work and identity remains undeniable. As we navigate the complexities of modern professional life, understanding the religious origins of our work habits may hold the key to breaking free from the cycle of overwork and rediscovering a healthier, more balanced approach to success.

Until next time, take care of yourself and those around you.

In Partnership,
Nabeela

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