Materialism

[Dr. Shane]

"Materialism can refer either to the simple preoccupation with the material world, as opposed to intellectual or spiritual concepts, or to the theory that physical matter is all there is. This theory is far more than a simple focus on material possessions. It states that everything in the universe is matter, without any true spiritual or intellectual existence. Materialism can also refer to a doctrine that material success and progress are the highest values in life. This doctrine appears to be prevalent in western society today." allaboutphilosophy.org

"In philosophy, materialism is that form of physicalism which holds that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter; that fundamentally, all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions; that matter is the only substance... It is incompatible with Islam, Hinduism, some schools of Buddhism and almost all forms of Christianity (including Thomism). Theologian-philosopher Alvin Plantinga criticises it, and Theologian-philosopher Keith Ward suggests that materialism is rare amongst contemporary UK philosophers: 'Looking around my philosopher colleagues in Britain, virtually all of whom I know at least from their published work, I would say that very few of them are materialists.'" Wikipedia

Materialism is perhaps the most widespread false religion today. It is not organized, has no churches or priests yet infiltrates almost every other religion in existence.

Few people will admit to being materialists - especially when they understand the depths of the philosophical world view. One can hardly believe in a supernatural god and also believe that "the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter." In fact, one cannot be a believer and a pure materialist. However that is not to say that materialism cannot influence the believer into living a hybrid form of his or her religion mixed with materialism.

Many believers that live in western nations are filthy rich compared to their brothers and sisters living in developing countries. Many of us (myself included) drive cars that cost more than what we need to spend, live in homes that are more than what we need, and spend much leisure time in shopping malls buying things we don't need. While we contribute 10% to 20% of our income to charity, compared to the money we spend on unneeded luxury, it seems materialism is the only explanation for the discrepancy.

I do not want to make it seem as though materialism is limited to developed nations. It is not. In my mission work in Mexico and Central America, I see materialism there too, just to a lesser degree as they have less money.

There is so much our organized church and ministries can do to help humanity and carry the soul-saving gospel to the world if it had more money. I think materialism is the enemy's greatest tool in hindering this work. If we spend our money on fancy cars, big houses with big utility bills, fine clothing (and lots of it), and making bankers rich with interest, we are going to have that much less money to contribute to helping printing houses publish magazines and books, TV studios produce quality programs, poor kids go to Christian schools and summer camps, medicial missionaries to treat the elderly and poor or missionaries to build churches, schools and orphanages.

In examining my own life and my family's priorities, I see that materialism's influence on us is certainly disturbing. We have made plans to decrease our cost of living even as our incomes show promise of increasing. I would like to see how little we could actually get by on. Yet we always have the enemy tempting us to buy something we really don't need.

[DrWhoCompanion]

Excellent post. Enjoyed reading it very much!

[GodsOath]

Well the other thing is that we were taught that we can have anything we want as long as we work hard for it. (Forgetting about the Lord) I also have seen a certain Christian culture who are waiting for their blessings(material goods) from the Lord. Another thing is we are surrounded by subliminal messages telling us we will be happier with cars, houses, alcohols and the children are being taught they can have anything they want. I don't understand how can children have buying powers when the parents are the ones making the money. We are teaching our children they can have anything and they are getting worse then our current last 3 generations.

[Dr. Shane]

I find myself buy lots of "stuff". The VeggieTales movie "Madam Blueberry" addresses the issue on a kid's level that I think will make most honest adults uncomfortable. Speaking for myself, I could manage my money better than I do and as a result help the ministry more than I do.

[miahnie]

Well the other thing is that we were taught that we can have anything we want as long as we work hard for it. (Forgetting about the Lord) I also have seen a certain Christian culture who are waiting for their blessings(material goods) from the Lord. Another thing is we are surrounded by subliminal messages telling us we will be happier with cars, houses, alcohols and the children are being taught they can have anything they want. I don't understand how can children have buying powers when the parents are the ones making the money. We are teaching our children they can have anything and they are getting worse then our current last 3 generations.

i agree on this one. commercials/advertisements everywhere.

regarding children, i believe teaching them how to manage their allowance is a good start. And allowance should be at a point where a child will learn to save up and budget, not be an excessive "shopper"

[Dr. Shane]

We give our children one dollar per week for each age they are old.

[miahnie]

Does that mean that a 7 year old receives 7 dollars per week?

I know how much a dollar is when converted to peso. But what I do not know is the cost of kids' stuff in the US, like candies and toys and food, so I can't really say a dollar per week for each age they are old would be enough or not or too much. I guess it's difficult to compare between cultures.

[Stan]

:) 7 dollars is about 312 P I pesos...

[Amelia]

Personally I think many kids get too much for nothing; and contributes to the problems of drugs, theift and crime. But since some of these kids are the children of kids who also had things handed to them, they don't know any better/different.

As for the cost of kid stuff? Well I don't think that's the point here. The point is do kids really need to buy stuff to eat every day? Do they really need whatever they covet, when they see it? Isn't a regular warm coat just as good as one that is "Brand" name; that supposedly makes you an awesome dude cause it shows off your worth and wealth?

Lots of kids demand their parents buy them $100 tennis shoes with some sports persons name on them, only to have those shoes stolen by other kids who feel they need them more and don't have them.

[miahnie]

yes, I know how much 7 dollars is to PI pesos, but I don't know whether the price for kid's stuff in the US is comparable to PI.

But 312 pesos for a 7 year old for a week?!!? That's way too much for me!

But I can't say for sure it's too much in the US, though.

[miahnie]

True. I agree.

I'm just saying that allowance, when enough will teach children how to budget wisely, but too much, will allow them to realize/learn about materialism.

:)

[Amelia]

Hi Miahnie,

Lets talk about fast food. Here, a budget minded teen can get an average burger, fries and soft drink for around $5 most places. That's the low end. High end can be as high as $10 depending on how much they eat to fill the growing endless stomach. Times that by every lunch 5 days a week and whatever they do on the weekends.

Then there is the cell phone. Seems no teen can be seen without one. Most parents can work a phone plan where they get the phone free and unlimited texting for a flat rate. But many teens want more than that so the costs will vary on a monthy basis. A family cell plan can run $200 a month with all the extras.

Music. An ipod runs about $79 to $300. Then there is the fee per song to download, usually around .99 cents per tune. There are ways to get free tunes too.

Coffee. Teens are now drinking coffee as a beverage of choice along with energy drinks. Average $4 per coffee and $2 per energy drink.

Internet. Cost of the computer and either dial up or cable. Lets say up to $500 for the computer and monthy fee of low/free to $80 month.

Clothes, it's hard to say. Some kids have a style that comes from making great finds at thrift shops. Others have a "brand" style. Thrift style could run in the dollars. "Brand" style in the hundreds of dollars.

Then there is hair and nails. Makeup and accessories. Todays kids are very very costly.

[miahnie]

Whooaa!! That's..I'm speechless.

That is way way different from my culture.

I don't want to comment anymore because there will be no more uniform basis between my opinion and everyone else's.

[Amelia]

You can still comment Miahnie. I would like to know how your culture experiences materialism. How do kids in your area spend their money?

[miahnie]

How about a Seventh-day Adventist school/college requiring absent fees to be paid if a student does not attend one of the meetings during a Week of Prayer? Should our schools be doing that? What's the logic behind that? Force indoctrination of non SDA-students or love of money?

[Amelia]

Are you kidding me? Do they also charge a fee if the student is sick and misses a class? Look at the cost of education these days! Where do they get off adding an absent fee? Sheesh.

[miahnie]

Hi Miahnie,

Lets talk about fast food. Here, a budget minded teen can get an average burger, fries and soft drink for around $5 most places. That's the low end. High end can be as high as $10 depending on how much they eat to fill the growing endless stomach. Times that by every lunch 5 days a week and whatever they do on the weekends.

Then there is the cell phone. Seems no teen can be seen without one. Most parents can work a phone plan where they get the phone free and unlimited texting for a flat rate. But many teens want more than that so the costs will vary on a monthy basis. A family cell plan can run $200 a month with all the extras.

Music. An ipod runs about $79 to $300. Then there is the fee per song to download, usually around .99 cents per tune. There are ways to get free tunes too.

Coffee. Teens are now drinking coffee as a beverage of choice along with energy drinks. Average $4 per coffee and $2 per energy drink.

Internet. Cost of the computer and either dial up or cable. Lets say up to $500 for the computer and monthy fee of low/free to $80 month.

Clothes, it's hard to say. Some kids have a style that comes from making great finds at thrift shops. Others have a "brand" style. Thrift style could run in the dollars. "Brand" style in the hundreds of dollars.

Then there is hair and nails. Makeup and accessories. Todays kids are very very costly.

[miahnie]

Are you kidding me? Do they also charge a fee if the student is sick and misses a class? Look at the cost of education these days! Where do they get off adding an absent fee? Sheesh.

No, I am not kidding. And no, I don't think students are charged absentee fees for being sick and missing classes/school activities. But attendance to Week of Prayers is like that. If students don't attend Week of Prayers and or Weekly devotionals, they require fees!

And one college I know of requires fees for non-excused late takers for exams. A very inviting program to students who tend to cram on exams. So they'd rather pass the exam, pay for the extra time to study. Sounds very business-like to me. I mean, why would a student pass up an exam unless he is sick? An exam is an exam, no student with his right mind skips classes on exam days. But this program...it opens a new perspective to students, it would add more study time...and thus, money for the school!

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

I'm just saying that allowance, when enough will teach children how to budget wisely, but too much, will allow them to realize/learn about materialism.

The purpose of an allowance is to teach children how to use money. Poor children are as subject to materialism as are rich children. Not only do I live on the county line of the two poorest counties in the United States, I also live on the Texas/Mexico border so I am surrounded with more poverty than wealth. While poor people do feel more need for God, they are just as susceptible to materialism as their richer peers.

When I was a child, I saved my allowance to buy a Bible for a friend that did not have one. Children that see their parents' example of charitable spending will be much more likely to follow it. Children are to be taught not only to pay tithe, but to give offerings to causes they care about.