Abstract
Although not central to Max Weber's sociology of religion, the theme of compromise is nonetheless present. In fact, the question of compromise runs through all his reflections on relationships between religions, cultural traditions, magic and world. From Weber's perspective, compromise is at the heart of the passage from virtuoso religiosities to mass religiosities; the second being—under certain conditions—the destiny of the first in the long run. Weber analyses compromise in terms of feedback of the production of virtuosos, following the masses' reception of this production. Social stratification, the constitution of laity in organizational terms and their effects on religious production play important roles. The compromises appearing in the transformations of virtuoso religiosities into mass religiosities are tied to interpretations of the world and the means of salvation. In this perspective, compromise appears to be virtuoso religiosities' path to self-perpetuation.