Is materialism a good weapon against the Church?

Answer 1

If you equate the word "Materialism" with the word "wealth," fundamentalist churches, many of them, are preaching now that God does not want you to be poor, that He wants you to be rich. However in doing that, they are also preaching that if you give them (the evangelists) so much money per week or month, that what you give them will be multiplied for you, meaning that your wealth will increase. The only wealth that increases, however, is the wealth of the evangelists as they mulct (that is a good word, look it up) the poor.

The Protestant Reformation brought about some changes in the concept of wealth. Protestantism basically killed the Catholic rules agains USURY (making money) and that gave rise to the concept of Capitalism.

Martin Luther stated that one can be called into any profession, not just service to the church. Prior to him, a calling was to the church as a priest, brother, or nun, etc. Luther, therefore, changed the meaning of the German word "der Beruft," the call so that one can be called to be a plumber, carpenter, leather worker, blacksmith, etc.

Calvin developed that quite a bit by indicating that if one is actually operating within his calling, the fact that he was working in the calling that was really his would be made manifest by material goods. That would explain why such evangelists as Binny Hinn, Paul Crouse, and many others live in such sybaritic opulence (you are going to have to look up Sybaris and sybaritic also).

There are good materials to read on the subject of protestantism and wealth/materialism. I would suggest that you read Max Weber's THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM, a work that was confirmed later by Ernst Troeltsch in PROTESTANTISM AND PROGRESS.

Capitalism had been started long before Luther, but it was kept down and basically in the hands of a few people. The main stimulus was the acceptance of the number "0" (zero) which created the possibility of double entry book keeping, thus giving a merchant or businessman a way to determine profit and loss.

Materialism, therefore, cannot be used as a weapon against the church when it is now the church that supports it.

Look for information on the rise of capitalism and the Dutch tulip trade!

Answer 2

The church that embraces the notion for objectivity, objective reality, is scientific materialism, everything else is BS. Does this mean that the church is fully developed in its science? No. Self ownership and its inalienable right in that individualism is unknown to many church's, and the notion is incomprehensible in its extendability but not in its fully extended reality, its realization.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

Answer 3

Why should there be a weapon against anybody. If people finds fellowship in a church you should respect their wishes and let them be. Prayers and fellowship has never hurt anybody, so be at peace both with yourself and the world around you

Answer 4

most churches have adopted materialism as a good thing.

Answer 5

some churches and religions incorporate materialism and i see it as idolatry.

Answer 6

Yes because it is idolatry and idolatry is a SIN.

Answer 7

No.