Why is that people in the western world r so material minded than people in the east?

Answer 1

That's a stereotype my friend, Greed is a nature that encompasses all of mankind.

Answer 2

Ummm, which people in the west and which people in the east? There are puh-lenty of people in the east living incredibly luxurious lives, which contrast all the more with the poverty around them. And by poverty, I don't mean trouble paying the car note or buying an X-Box. This question reflects orientalist / "noble savage" concepts, and / or sour grapes.

Desire for material security is not the same as moral depravity, and both eastern and western religious traditions address the pitfalls of greed and excess. Would they do this for no reason?

I don't think poverty-stricken people anywhere would appreciate being rescued from the OPPORTUNITY to enjoy plentitude (like, if the "haves" decided that they were committing ethical imperialism by offering aid or charity to the "have nots", and luring them into the evils of materialism!).

Answer 3

We might be too consumed with consuming but one thing for sure is that the Western nations have excellent internal welfare systems for people who are poor and the western nations give an enormous amount of aid and charity to suffering and impoverished people throughout the entire world. I don't know how the Eastern countries, like India or China, would stack up in this department.

What other countries in history have been as generous with it's wealth as the huge western countries of today? In the past the rich countries did not share anything with others.

Yeah, we Americans are very focused on material wealth but we are also very generous with it because we actually also care about other people.

Answer 4

Don't make the mistake of thinking htat the grass is always greener on the other side. Everywhere you go, people are people. Some will be given to acts of kindness and self-sacrifice. And others will be given to acts of selfishness. Don't assume that one society as a whole is any better than another.

We live in a world of instant information exchange and instant gratification. Excitement and sensationalism makes for great television. When you put the two together, you constantly hear about the people who are selfish, or simply reasonable people performing selfish acts. Trust in the goodness of humanity. Most people are basically decent human beings and try to live (what I would call) acceptable lives. But every day we are bombarded by stories of the exceptions, rather than the rule. And since we live in a "Western" society, the majority of our news will be about western scoiety.

Pay attention to where your information comes from. And learn to filter out the sensationalism in your news from the "human interest" stories that they always try to end broadcasts on.

Answer 5

I would like to know that too. I'm from America and I don't care about material gains. What matters to me most is my baby brother, and God and my husband. I think it's because Americans feel that they need to show off to the rest of the world by bragging how much wealthier they are then other countries and because American economy centers around how much power and money you have so the big companies pay millions of dollars to go and market these products to potential consumers. I personally think it is sad that Western people care more about how rich they are then anything else in the world. I'm sure not all people in the West are like that but the general majority is.

Answer 6

Because in the western world we are taught to be materialistic - being poor or not having what everyone else has is seen as a "bad" charecteristic. Whereas in the eastern world everyone is taught that what matters most is on the inside.

Answer 7

This is the mark of the beast, and it is taking over the entire world. For Jesus said, " No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt 6:24

Answer 8

Because capitalism has spread more vastly in the western world than the east. East is getting materialistic too, as their capitals are rising there too.

Answer 9

What is wrong with material mindedness? We are also religious, patriotic, (some of us), and have many good qualities. How about you? Are you superior, not materialistic? Let's hear your story. Maybe we will try to live up to your hight standards. Good day to you

Answer 10

Our cultures are different, in the industrialized nations things and stuff are easier to obtain than they are in non-industrialized countries. When other countries become more industrialized and things and stuff are easier to obtain, then they too will be more material minded. It's human nature.

Answer 11

Which particular part of the East did you mean?