The Long-term Effect of Protestant Ethics on Reading

Abstract The Weberian thesis on the effect of Protestantism on individual behaviour has been repeatedly used to discuss its effects on literacy and reading. While the culturalist view of Protestantism’s role is debated, evidence shows lasting effects on literacy in both Protestant and Catholic regions. Rather than viewing this as a purely cultural effect, this article adopts a multi-causal perspective, highlighting how Protestantism interacted with state structures and educational institutions to sustain these outcomes across time, even amid secularisation. Using historical and contemporary data from various European countries, the study traces a consistent connection between Protestant values and the development of reading practices. It argues that standard comparative studies often overlook these long-term institutional and cultural dynamics. Therefore, the article calls for a historical frame-sociological approach to better understand how religious traditions, state formation, and educational systems have shaped and maintained differences in cultural behaviors such as reading across Europe.