Consumerist manipulation in Religion
Said by Yusuf Al-Khabbaz in this brief extract of his article that this unique concept of consumerism affects Muslims in majorly two ways,
“There are two different types of consumerism. One is associated with shopping and advertising, the other with consuming in general, which can include consuming ideas, thoughts, behaviors and lifestyles. So on one level a consumer society is one that likes to shop a lot, but on another level a consumer society is a derivative society, one that has no sense of itself other than what it consumes; this applies to knowledge, education, technology and many other things. Muslim societies at one time were highly productive, but in the past centuries they have become highly derivative;
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Now situations like these do nothing but push them towards the wrong side or force them to make do with what they have. But a fair chunk of people try and look for more easy inflow of money. Since religion and the trade revolving around many of the religious traditions provides many such opportunities, which are profitable and easy ways of earning money. Since inflation continuously gets on their nerves the only way they have to circumvent around it to increase the prices of the trade they are in. Since these religious trades have monopolies being goods and services related to a particular religion the consumers have no other option but to buy. These particular tactic does not only serve to solve the inflation, the greedy suppliers know that they hold the decisive capacity they use this authority of theirs to gather as much profit as they can from this under this cover of religious goods. This problem has also been highlighted by Khuwaja Amer in “To spend or not to spend: Consumerism culture fuelling plastic …show more content…
And since balance is essential for progress, this way of influencing is definitely counterproductive. Religion is undoubtedly the most purest forms of practice, and if consumerism influences people in such a way which transforms them into using religion as a way to fulfil their own selfish needs. The error in this system is in dire need of correction. The correction that has to be implemented in order to restore balance is to find out the holes in the existing system and close them so that these negatives effects may tone down making way for the positive progress we are achieving by this system. So trying to encourage people to spend money only when it is required and create awareness about an ethical approach towards our economical practices may have a very significant change on our
This powerful text, “When Religion Becomes Lethal: The Explosive Mix of Politics and Religion in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam” is the centerpiece for understanding the truth behind centuries of spiritual history and politics between three different denominations. Dr. Charles Kimball focuses solely on identifying the negatives within politics and religion as a whole, and how unconstructive the two can actually be. Kimball gave a huge amount of historical insight on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and how each of the religions came about. He also discusses their different relationships and different viewpoints that they have for one another. Lastly, Kimball uses his years of experience to offer a new and much broader way to think about
Introduction: In the text by Eboo Patel “Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation,” Patel focuses on living in a diverse faction full of religious prejudice in a world full of materialistic outlooks. At the same time he intertwines his personal experiences and provides a remarkable account in which he says that growing up in America as a Muslim led him to discover the importance of cultural pluralism, the acceptance of all religions, and his huge account that all Muslims aren’t extremists. He believes in ethnocentrism; religions should be able to coexist without feeling that one religion is superior than the other. In a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong, Patel thinks the meaning of pluralism is that the differences
Joshua Shavel Consumer Nation 10/5/17 How Consumerism Changed America America is often described as a nation of consumers. This description usually has a negative tone, implying that Americans are materialistic, and in comparison to the majority of other countries, this is true. Many people accuse Americans of having a level of consumption that is actually wasteful in a lot of ways. Finding the difference between “needs” and “wants” is difficult in a consumer nation, where options are almost limitless. Consumerism can also bring about positive change, though, and this is especially true in the United States.
Mark Spitz states that “he was crestfallen when he ate at another location for the first time” and he recognized the “same stuff on the wall” (189). This moment is crucial because it emphasizes how even the most precious and sentimental aspects of our life are a result of consumer culture. Many aspects cleverly crafted to appear as a one-of-a-kind product or experience actually result in a slightly customizable template. Similarly, Sorensen explains consumerism as “the capacity to realize and replicate itself by borrowing against the guaranteed promise of the future as the site of more of the same and of endlessness of reproduction without difference” (562-3). Whitehead further supports this idea by illuminating the reproduction of a one-of-a-kind
The attitudes of Christianity and Islam towards merchants and trade are different from one another in the beginning stages, but as time progress each moderate their earlier views. In the beginning Christians found it unfit to be a rich merchant, while Islam’s judgment on trade was acceptable as long as they were honest and the trading was just. As time went by over a couple hundred years, the followers if each belief changed their views on trade, though it was acceptable, merchants were expected to trade geniuses. In the beginning Christians found it unfit to be a rich merchant, while Islam’s judgment on trade was acceptable as long as they were honest and the trading was just.
William T Cavanaugh (2008), wrote Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire which is a philosophical book, which focus on four (4) economic life matters that addresses the consumer culture within society. These four economic life matters are free market, consumerism, globalization and economic scarcity. In order for this topic to be discussed on a theological point of view, the author draws the reader’s attention to human life, the ends of life in God. The key question in every process is whether or not the transaction contributes to the flourishing of each person involved. In order to address these questions the author points to concrete examples of alternative economic practices in which Christians participate-: business, co-operatives, credit union, practices of consumption which marks the vision for Christian economic life.
I’m astounded by how different the views on consumerism are for people living in a developing country compared to a first world country like Canada. I only noticed how unacceptable my addiction to consumerism is when it was time to pack my luggage for the flight home and I wasn’t able to fit everything and thus I’m forced to leave nearly 70$ worth of goods behind. It was the first time where I legitimately felt unintelligent with what I was spending my money on and my relatives to this day create no shortage of teasing about it.
The concept of consumerism was first brought to my awareness in First Year Writing. I admit, before this intro course, I was indeed ignorant of the negative impacts that consumption had on society. FYS opened my mind to the dangers of over-consumption, and more importantly, helped me see beyond what meets the eye. Take for example, Disney, a seemingly innocent corporation, a company’s whose name is practically synonymous with the notion of childhood innocence. Upon initial judgement, one would assume that Disney is merely harmless family entertainment.
Therefore, Consumerism has variety of meanings, it can be defend as protecting consumer interests, advertising, sales promotion decency, and the quality of the products. Also, it can be defended as consumer rights protection. Consumerism affects poverty because it causes some to consume more than they need, forces limits on choice, and influences
1. Psychology of Religion Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud 's understanding of the psychology of religion comes from a place not without disdain. This might be somewhat understandable given he lived not too long removed from a time in which any statements that were deemed to be blasphemous could lead to very serious consequences for the author. He touches on this very point and even lists arguments against his coming out so vociferously against even the potential veracity of religion; however, he quickly attempts to demolish these arguments so as to make his real point (Freud, 2018, pp. 179,188). Put quite concisely, Freud explains that the idea of God is nothing short of an illusion – even a form of neurosis.
Commentary Essay on Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today The American people are focusing more on materialistic items, people are shopping for pleasure more than necessity. This article comments on how people are shopping to release stress or to gain pleasure. Even though the article was written in 1984, it is still pertinent to modern time. In Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today by Phyllis Rose, varied sentence length, different point of views, and anaphora are utilized to prove that society is becoming consumed in materialism.
Very few books in the history of economic thought still render an accurate portrayal of society today. Written 115 years ago, Thorstein Veblen’s The Theory of the Social Class (1899) describes a materialistic society obsessed with reputation and social status, echoing a portrayal of the modern capitalistic consumer culture that defines us today. As Roger Mason (1998), professor of consumer theory states: “Consuming for status has, in fact, become a defining element of the new consumer societies” (p.vii). In his treatise, Veblen’s discusses such a society, in order to portray the ‘leisure class’, the 19th century society that characterized the upper class that formed as a consequence of the Second Industrial Revolution. Such a society uses the consumption of goods and leisure as means of climbing up the social ladder.
As I was praying, I saw this web that had cocooned Terry. I shifted my prayer to this web asking God what it was. I was given the word Deception (sound familiar?) Deception of what all I do not know, and honestly it is not important. All I know is that it has been wrapped so tightly that he CANNOT see or hear.
In 21st century America, it is important to understand these aspects of commodity fetishism that creates the problem of distorted consumerist practices that have become common in the marketplace. Sociologically, the “magical” process of abstracting the value of a product is critical to understanding why many Americans blindly follow a consumerist culture in this form of capitalist economy. Commodity fetishism describes many of the key problems with the valuation of products that trick Americans into over-consuming in a Marxist
Inflation is an increase in general price levels and has undesirable impacts on households and firms which means the government is justified to use policies to maintain price