The belief that work is an intrinsic good is a variation of the Protestant work ethic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic http://en.wikipedia.or

The belief that work is an intrinsic good is a variation of the Protestant work ethic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic). Even though only certain groups of Protestants (Quakers, Mennonites, etc.) believe in the original version of the ethic, that work is a route to religious salvation, weaker versions still persists in many places where Protestantism is or was common -- including much of North America. These weaker versions manifest as the idea that work is intrinsically good; or the reverse, that not working is intrinsically bad.