While you are a student at a school like the Alabama School of Math and Science, you tend to notice how hardworking young adults are as well. Almost everywhere you go in this country you see people who work hard and dedicate many hours of their time to their work. Some would call it obsession, while others choose to call this passion for what they do. North America differs from other countries in its views on work and leisure. Reading about the Protestant work ethic was very interesting because it actually explained some of the origins of this quasi-dependency on work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay I have been in the US since I was 6, but I grew up in a Ukrainian/Russian family, so they have been able to see both sides of the landscape. My parents are both hard working people but also love their free time. They believe that work is great and helps you have the things you need to survive, but free time is also very healthy since it is the time you need to learn about yourself and step out of your comfort zone to learn about the world that you surrounds. . Reading the article one might conclude that some Calvinists almost attribute free time to sin. Furthermore, Calvinists believed that your life was already predestined even before your conception and that there was no way to change your destiny. While I personally believe that God predicts you to a certain extent, I believe that you still have to make the right and/or wrong decisions to determine your end outcome in this life. Yes, I believe that God has a say in where you start in this world, whether it is a slave or a son of a rich heir, but you have a say in how far you can go. I liked how Barbara Goodrich explained the background of the Protestant work ethic and her vision for early America, but she also added these other facts. I particularly remember how he explained that the founding fathers of our country were Deists, not Christians. Even if they respected Christianity, the country was not founded on it and, therefore, people who claim that the United States is based on Christianity are simply historically wrong. Little facts like these really capture readers' attention and help them learn something new too. Another thing I didn't entirely agree with was the opinion that if you like your job, then it doesn't really work. I believe that for an individual to be happy he must do a job that he truly enjoys. Ultimately, he will work even harder since he doesn't see it as work. There were also examples of Calvinism in the modern world in the text. One was that people felt very passionate about a topic but didn't support it because they believed they should be working instead. It seems a little silly to me. We have all been given the gift of life to make a change and learn something new. If you are too scared to even support something you STRONGLY believe in, then can you really say that you are still truly passionate about the topic? Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get Custom Essay Overall, I enjoyed reading this article and learning something new. It is always interesting for me to hear other people's opinions about this world and life, even if they are not always what I personally agree with.