Why is materialism considered such an evil thing?

Question

From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialism
:
"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. Science uses a working assumption, sometimes known as methodological naturalism, that observable events in nature are explained only by natural causes without assuming the existence or non-existence of the supernatural."

I am a materialist. I find that people automatically assume that I place all of my love into the objects that I own which is not at all true. My love goes to my family.. Materialism seems to spur a frenzy amongst a lot of people, can you explain why this is so?

Mizzy,

That would seem like a good point. But I am not caught up in possessions. I have a inexpensive car, I rent a small house. The only things of somewhat value are my computers. The rest of my love of materialism comes from observing our world, its inhabitants, and spending time with my family.

Answer 1

Most dictionaries will say something like;
1: a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters.
2: (philosophy) the philosophical theory that matter is the only reality.

#1 isn't that good, and it's also what people in general think that materialism means.

Answer 2

Old idea. For the human race it's, been there, done that. Check out the First Russian Revolution of 1917 and the bloodbath that came of that. Same thing happened when dialectical materialists took over in China and Cambodia, among other places.
People need spirituality to form a basis for ethical behavior.

Answer 3

many feel the more things a person has the richer one is. however this is really not the case as many situations arise which can cause one to lose material goods such as robbery, a flood, bad money management, moving, fire, etc. besides when one dies these material goods can't be taken to the next plane of existence in their present form. the accumulation of material goods doesn't make one wealthy as true wealth belongs elsewhere such as family and friends.

Answer 4

It is not bad in every philosophy. Wicca works off the priniple that we are here to experience the world as it is. And that we can grow spiritually by being present in our day to day life. As well as gain pleasure from attaining material goals. We see the spiritual and the material as overlying one another not seperate or one better than the other but both nessacery to each other and to humanity.

Answer 5

Before you call yourself a materialist, please note that Webster's definition of materialism does include: ... a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things. The beginning of your question quoted "philosophy", which is definitely an "intellectual" subject. I hope you see the contradiction in terms. Not a criticism, just a point to ponder.

Answer 6

Because as Christinas, we are not supposed to be bothered iwht hte things of thise world. Like how much money wehave or how good we look, how many pants we have or how mnay sneakers we have or how cna we buy that new ceelphone. God doesn't like that. He wants us to be concerned with Him and how to be more Holy in life nad to follow his rules. It can often lead to the person getting so greedy ands tuck up on money that htey can't get out of it and satrt stealing and doing things just to get money so tey cna get more things and get the latest fashion clothes and always be on point with fahsion.

Answer 7

It denies the existence of God. The Bible says that you cannot love mammon and God at the same time. The pull of the flesh is strong because we live in the material world and we are slaves to our physical senses. To be given over to materialism is to say that you seek your salvation in things and mortal beings, rather than in the immortal God. It says that you can save yourself, which is not true. How can a sinner save himself from sin? How can a sinner save another sinner? Neither one is possible. Only the sinless Jesus Christ can save a sinner and we are all born sinners and slaves to this world.

Answer 8

The "problem" with materialism can be found in the fact that it "holds that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter". This excludes the existence of God, who is spirit, not matter.

As long as you continue to love your family and love others, you are fine. In fact, your eternal destiny may be a very pleasant one.

"What glorious hope!" Mauriac writes. "There are all those who will discover that their neighbor is Jesus himself, although they belong to the mass of those who do not know Christ or who have forgotten Him. And nevertheless they will find themselves well loved. It is impossible for any one of those who has real charity in his heart not to serve Christ. Even some of those who think they hate Him, have consecrated their lives to Him; for Jesus is disguised and masked in the midst of men, hidden among the poor, among the sick, among prisoners, among strangers. Many who serve Him officially have never known who He was, and many who do not even know His name, will hear on the last day the words that open to them the gates of joy. O Those children were I, and I those working men. I wept on the hospital bed. I was that murderer in his cell whom you consoled.' "

Answer 9

one who falls in materialism gets blind by it, or should i say get addicted to it, and he cares abt nothing else other than the material thing, and thats NOT a good way to live our life, as our soul dies coz we don't give attention to its needs, and fall so much in materialism without being spiritual a little. Peace to All.

Answer 10

I am less concerned with the idea of your materialism than I am with the idea that you should reserve your love for your family.

What have the rest of us done to make ourselves undeserving of your love and concern.

Become the change that you would like to see in the world.

Think about it.

love and blessings
don