Christianity And Consumerism Essay
Chris Noble
May 5, 2014
Christ Church & Culture
Disciplined Essay - Materialism & Consumerism "Christ alone can free man from what enslaves him to evil and selfishness: from the frantic search for material possessions, from the thirst for power and control over others and over things, from the illusion of easy success, from the frenzy of consumerism and hedonism which ultimately destroy the human being." This quote was from a homily delivered by Pope John Paul II which dealt with the topic of consumerism and materialism. The age in which we live puts a great emphasis on the possession of goods and of living with excess. What way can Christianity, or more specifically Catholicism, change the worlds view when it comes to the possession of items and goods? Catholicism can show that, in moderation, consumerism is not an inherent evil, as long as we do not let our material possessions consume us to the point that they become our God. Is Consumerism harmful? Many Catholic scholars would argue the point that it is harmful to the human person, not allowing one to live to the higher demands of love, rather, …show more content…
living to the pull of material goods and desires. Let there be no question, that the human person must posses material goods that are basic to life such as ; food, shelter, clothing, water. However, one must ask the question, when does one possess too much? Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote that, “man’s apparently infinite desire for riches is disordered and wholly different from our infinite desire for God. The more we possess God, the more we know and love him; while the more we possess riches, the more we despise what we have and seek other things because when we possess them we realize their insufficiency.” Aquinas argues that we must not become obsessed with our desires. The only fulfilling love that we can have is love in our God, the more we love our belongings or material goods the more that we long for more. Our God has an infinite love for us, where our possessions are only that, and can never love us back as much as we may want them to. “According to Catholic teaching, it is not the desire for material prosperity itself that is wrong but rather the desire for having more in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.” The more that we want, the more dissatisfaction we experience because we can never experience enough. Think of it this way, when one eats an ice cream cone, it is not a bad thing. However, if one constantly indulges in ice cream over and over again, they are overindulging and eventually will become heavier in weight and will never be satisfied with the amount of ice cream consumed. Ice cream does not make people fat, it’s when people overindulge and eat too much ice cream that makes them fat. The same can be said for material goods. Material goods are not an evil by themselves, it’s when people put an emphasis on them in order to be happy that their goods consume their life. According to the New Oxford English Dictionary, materialism is defined as, “a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.” Many of us may know of friends or family who are wealthy in terms of monetary value or the possessions of goods, but are not happy. How can one have so much but at the same time be so unhappy with their lives? People, at times, allow their material goods to become their God, trying to fill the emptiness in their lives with cars, jewelry, houses and other goods. Catholicism shows us that these goods are made of human hands and no matter how much we consume or posses, enough will never be enough. God’s love for us, for creation, is endless, boundless and fulfilling. When we put our faith, trust and hope in God we rely less on what material possessions we have and more on the gifts that He has bestowed upon us. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). This excerpt from Matthew again reaffirms the idea that what man or woman have accumulated on this earth does not matter in the eyes of God. Instead of worrying about how much one has, doing works of charity, love and stewardship can reap much greater returns for ones self than 10 exotic cars ever could. If one places their goods as their treasure, their heart and soul will be placed well within the emptiness of their possessions. Rather, if one puts their heart and soul into creating relationships with others, and using the gifts God has given to them for the betterment of man kind, than the joy and happiness they experience will be ever lasting. The challenge for many of us is to place our trust in God’s word, and in what Jesus has told us in the scripture. Should one place their inheritance, all they have created on this earth, in God or in the accumulation of their wealth? When one can take their main focus and concern of of oneself and direct it toward their brothers and sisters in Christ, it is easier to see that the goods and wealth we have created can be used more effectively for the betterment of others. The saying let go and let God is very appropriate in this matter. When one can take a step back and approach life and everything in it as a blessing and gift from our heavenly father, it’s easier to focus on our relationship with God than our accumulation of wealth. This is the challenge that Christianity and Catholicism puts before us; can we ignore the greed of our society in order to answer to a higher calling? Consumerism gives people of this world the idea or notion that their happiness can be bought for a price. How many of us have ever bought an item and been excited and happy for the first week or two being able to use said item, but then realize that over time it loses it’s luster? Hope, one of our theological virtues, is crippled by consumerism. We understand hope as, “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ 's promises.” One of the basic tenants of hope is of not having, and if one believes that they have hope or fulfillment within their possessions and goods, hope cannot exist within their hearts. Catholicism, through it’s teaching and those of the scriptures, shows us that happiness does not have a price and cannot be bought. One would argue that with the accumulation of goods and materials to excess, one becomes distant from the love of God and the hope of being reunited in His heavenly kingdom. Catholicism can show that, in moderation, consumerism is not an inherent evil, as long as we do not let our material possessions consume us to the point that they become our God.
The realization is that we live in a capitalist society, and no matter how hard we try, people of our society will accumulate wealth and goods. However, we as Catholics can change how they view their wealth and materials, and how they are used. If one is able to use their time, talents or especially in our case, treasure for the betterment of those around them , this is materialism and consumerism in it’s least harmful sense. We, as people of God, must step back and look at our lives and how we are using what God has given us. When one can give selflessly of all they have earned or accumulated, then and only then, are they able to escape the emptiness of their own
possessions.
Works Cited
Abela, Andrew V. "Is Consumerism Harmful?." Acton Institute for the study of religion and liberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Consumerism, Materialism, Pride and the Theological Virtues-The Dark Night of the Soul, Part 39." Etheldredasplace: Traditional Catholic Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Does Matter Matter?: Consumerism and Materialism, Oh My! ." Average "Catholic" Joe. N.p., 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Materialism & Consumerism - Proper 13." North Carolina Council of Churches. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"What 's Wrong With the World? ." Belief Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
May 5, 2014
Christ Church & Culture
Disciplined Essay - Materialism & Consumerism "Christ alone can free man from what enslaves him to evil and selfishness: from the frantic search for material possessions, from the thirst for power and control over others and over things, from the illusion of easy success, from the frenzy of consumerism and hedonism which ultimately destroy the human being." This quote was from a homily delivered by Pope John Paul II which dealt with the topic of consumerism and materialism. The age in which we live puts a great emphasis on the possession of goods and of living with excess. What way can Christianity, or more specifically Catholicism, change the worlds view when it comes to the possession of items and goods? Catholicism can show that, in moderation, consumerism is not an inherent evil, as long as we do not let our material possessions consume us to the point that they become our God. Is Consumerism harmful? Many Catholic scholars would argue the point that it is harmful to the human person, not allowing one to live to the higher demands of love, rather, …show more content…
living to the pull of material goods and desires. Let there be no question, that the human person must posses material goods that are basic to life such as ; food, shelter, clothing, water. However, one must ask the question, when does one possess too much? Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote that, “man’s apparently infinite desire for riches is disordered and wholly different from our infinite desire for God. The more we possess God, the more we know and love him; while the more we possess riches, the more we despise what we have and seek other things because when we possess them we realize their insufficiency.” Aquinas argues that we must not become obsessed with our desires. The only fulfilling love that we can have is love in our God, the more we love our belongings or material goods the more that we long for more. Our God has an infinite love for us, where our possessions are only that, and can never love us back as much as we may want them to. “According to Catholic teaching, it is not the desire for material prosperity itself that is wrong but rather the desire for having more in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.” The more that we want, the more dissatisfaction we experience because we can never experience enough. Think of it this way, when one eats an ice cream cone, it is not a bad thing. However, if one constantly indulges in ice cream over and over again, they are overindulging and eventually will become heavier in weight and will never be satisfied with the amount of ice cream consumed. Ice cream does not make people fat, it’s when people overindulge and eat too much ice cream that makes them fat. The same can be said for material goods. Material goods are not an evil by themselves, it’s when people put an emphasis on them in order to be happy that their goods consume their life. According to the New Oxford English Dictionary, materialism is defined as, “a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.” Many of us may know of friends or family who are wealthy in terms of monetary value or the possessions of goods, but are not happy. How can one have so much but at the same time be so unhappy with their lives? People, at times, allow their material goods to become their God, trying to fill the emptiness in their lives with cars, jewelry, houses and other goods. Catholicism shows us that these goods are made of human hands and no matter how much we consume or posses, enough will never be enough. God’s love for us, for creation, is endless, boundless and fulfilling. When we put our faith, trust and hope in God we rely less on what material possessions we have and more on the gifts that He has bestowed upon us. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). This excerpt from Matthew again reaffirms the idea that what man or woman have accumulated on this earth does not matter in the eyes of God. Instead of worrying about how much one has, doing works of charity, love and stewardship can reap much greater returns for ones self than 10 exotic cars ever could. If one places their goods as their treasure, their heart and soul will be placed well within the emptiness of their possessions. Rather, if one puts their heart and soul into creating relationships with others, and using the gifts God has given to them for the betterment of man kind, than the joy and happiness they experience will be ever lasting. The challenge for many of us is to place our trust in God’s word, and in what Jesus has told us in the scripture. Should one place their inheritance, all they have created on this earth, in God or in the accumulation of their wealth? When one can take their main focus and concern of of oneself and direct it toward their brothers and sisters in Christ, it is easier to see that the goods and wealth we have created can be used more effectively for the betterment of others. The saying let go and let God is very appropriate in this matter. When one can take a step back and approach life and everything in it as a blessing and gift from our heavenly father, it’s easier to focus on our relationship with God than our accumulation of wealth. This is the challenge that Christianity and Catholicism puts before us; can we ignore the greed of our society in order to answer to a higher calling? Consumerism gives people of this world the idea or notion that their happiness can be bought for a price. How many of us have ever bought an item and been excited and happy for the first week or two being able to use said item, but then realize that over time it loses it’s luster? Hope, one of our theological virtues, is crippled by consumerism. We understand hope as, “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ 's promises.” One of the basic tenants of hope is of not having, and if one believes that they have hope or fulfillment within their possessions and goods, hope cannot exist within their hearts. Catholicism, through it’s teaching and those of the scriptures, shows us that happiness does not have a price and cannot be bought. One would argue that with the accumulation of goods and materials to excess, one becomes distant from the love of God and the hope of being reunited in His heavenly kingdom. Catholicism can show that, in moderation, consumerism is not an inherent evil, as long as we do not let our material possessions consume us to the point that they become our God.
The realization is that we live in a capitalist society, and no matter how hard we try, people of our society will accumulate wealth and goods. However, we as Catholics can change how they view their wealth and materials, and how they are used. If one is able to use their time, talents or especially in our case, treasure for the betterment of those around them , this is materialism and consumerism in it’s least harmful sense. We, as people of God, must step back and look at our lives and how we are using what God has given us. When one can give selflessly of all they have earned or accumulated, then and only then, are they able to escape the emptiness of their own
possessions.
Works Cited
Abela, Andrew V. "Is Consumerism Harmful?." Acton Institute for the study of religion and liberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Consumerism, Materialism, Pride and the Theological Virtues-The Dark Night of the Soul, Part 39." Etheldredasplace: Traditional Catholic Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Does Matter Matter?: Consumerism and Materialism, Oh My! ." Average "Catholic" Joe. N.p., 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 5 May 2014.
"Materialism & Consumerism - Proper 13." North Carolina Council of Churches. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.
"What 's Wrong With the World? ." Belief Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.