That's interesting, I have to confess I am not an expert in the cultural background of the idea of the Protestant ethic. As you describe it, it's not something I agree with to be honest with you. I don't think any good can come from work done just for it's own sake, and I don't think that's what God wants from us.
In the natural world we see a perfect balance in all things. All nature asks of us is just to play our part in a system of mutual exchange and benefit, where basically everything is in place for us. In humans' natural habitat, tropical forests, all our needs are provided for without the need to do any work besides simply foraging.
Almost all the work humanity has been engaged in throughout its history has, in my mind, been largely destructive or, at best, unnecessary. We could very easily live a kind of "Garden of Eden" existence and I think everyone would be happier for it. It definitely beats what we're doing to the planet now.
I think that's the real difference then between the Protestant Ethic and the kind of "Do-nothing" philosophy of, for example, Masanobu Fukuoka, and eastern philosophy in general. There's an assumption that things are perfect already, and we get closer to God not by doing more, but actually by doing less, and letting what's already there shine.
Well said. Masanobu Fukuoka sounds like a someone I need to know more about thanks for introducing.
Masanobu Fukuoka was one of the pioneers of what later became Permaculture. I really recommend you watch this video too. It's about a Permaculture project in the middle of the desert in Jordan.