Max Weber is most famous as the originator of the idea of the "Protestant Work Ethic" and the relationship between religion and industrialization in Western economic history. Needless to say his Wikipedia page has a section on "Criticism." What was the response to his work when it first came out, especially from Catholics? And what are some of the major stances on his work today?
As a related question, am I wrong in thinking that Weber's definition of the minimal requirement for a state (monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a limited and defined area) is still pretty damn useful?