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Feb 20, 2024

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1 Personal Perspective on Materialism and Religion Michael Vaughn Department of Philosophy, Houston Community College PHIL 1304 Dr. Onwunali January 20. 2024

2 Personal Perspective on Materialism and Religion As in any western society, it is evident most people are materialistic about the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, or the homes they buy to accommodate their families. Furthermore, as humans, we buy the necessary items needed for basic survival to fulfil the needs of our physical bodies. From a philosophical and religious viewpoint, the word materialism takes on a whole different meaning and is at the forefront of many debates among scholars, and the like. By definition, materialists are those who believe in the idea that there is only a physical presence in the world (Egan, 2020) which goes against the many religious doctrines around the world. One could ask the question whether this is the practice of only atheists but setting the conflictual nature of religion and materialism aside, there is the ability for both to be compatible by taking a different perspective. Atheism holds the belief that a spiritual world may not exist, and death is the final end to life’s journey to where we cease as humans. The American Atheists (2024) website points out atheism should not be confused with being a religion or be viewed as a negative perspective of a sinner who is unconvinced of a Higher Power. Simply put, atheists want evidence or physical proof of the deities or Gods that are worshipped by millions around the globe. Atheists should not be confused with materialists, but a psychological state of mind until convinced their thought or “belief in no Gods or Gods” (Rauser, 2020, n. p.) is wrong. Along the same lines, Buddhism does not hold a God at the center of this religion (Fisher & Luyster, 1991) , and they do not practice materialism. Our metaphysical thoughts on the Creation of the Universe and how we should behave spiritually differ vastly among the religious dogmas; furthermore, they should all be taken as different approaches as a possible explanation without judgment against those who have an opposite opinion to ours.

3 The many Books of the various religions containing the Word of a Supreme Being or Prophet are instrumental in contributing to a belief system in a person’s culture. It gives you the sense of being a member of your community, a moral code, daily routine, your social life, and what to wear to avoid being labeled as irrational beings. Perhaps the Books were written by early philosophers who wanted to explain how mankind came into existence to put the fear of the unknown to rest. Although it is not a religion, materialism could be another approach to answering the question of Creation without having an affiliation with a religious doctrine. Materialism has a valid way of explaining reality in the sense of what is true and false, just like the religious doctrines before us. However, intolerance is at the forefront of the religion and materialism debate; nevertheless, it keeps with the notion of religious dominance with their followers believing that human suffering can be negated by being a collective part of their religious order. Believing in materialism does not mean a person is not spiritually sound, as it is inferenced by the various scholars and philosophers. Our moral code may dictate we do not engage in criminal acts or have a lack of regard for others. Religion and materialism may be opposites in philosophy, but this does not mean materialists are without spiritual ideas to govern their everyday life. Conversely, there is a balance between materialism and spirituality where most people seek out peace and harmony and still have or long for the human experience of buying a dream home for their family. So, if spirituality and materialism are incompatible constructs, how can one explain Senior Pastor Joel Osteen’s popular Lakewood Church, yet he lives in a River Oaks mansion and is reported to be extremely wealthy from the money he has made from his many books on spirituality and inspiration. Does this mean Pastor Osteen is a materialist who is hiding under the cloak of Christianity? The answer is no—Pastor Osteen

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