Comparison: Consumerism and Christianity

This holiday season will you be standing in line for Black Friday deals? Black Friday is

often viewed as the epitome of consumerism, but it is actually an example of an extreme, not the

typical every day sort of consumerism. In all actuality there are many aspects of consumerism,

some beneficial and some harmful to the populace. As humans were created to consume,

consumerism and Christianity are compatible, but only in so far as consumerism does not

become a fully materialistic pursuit. This is clearly demonstrated largely by biblical standards as

will be discussed further on. However, in order to understand how the ideologies of

consumerism and Christianity are compatible, one must first understand consumerism.

Consumerism can be difficult to define as there are a number of forms that this

worldview can manifest itself as. Such forms range from the economical to the self-serving, from

innovation to reductionism, and so on. Some are more beneficial to the world at large while

others focus entirely on the individual alone. Although each aspect of consumerism may seem as

different as north and south from one another, all of them share a common basis. Consumerism,

at its very core, is the consumption of goods or other substances by an individual (Campbell,

One of consumerism’s most popular and well known faces is that of the consumer

advocate. Protecting the consumer is one of the most important aspects of consumerism. Since

the purchasing of goods necessary and otherwise, consumers have had to be mindful of

misdirection by producers and companies in such forms as misleading information and the

creation of products using substances that can be unhealthy; for example products made or

decorated usin...

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...keep from falling prey to a worldview that stems from

irresponsibility, materialism, and reduction.

Works Cited

Bingham, D. Jeffrey. Pocket History of the Church. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,

2002. Print.

Campbell, Colin. “What Is Wrong With Consumerism? An Assessment Of Some Common

Criticisms.” Anuario Filosofico 43.2 (2010): 279-296. Academic Search Complete. Web.

28 Oct. 2013.

McConnell, Siobhan. “Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - What

Constitutes A Commercial Practice?.” Journal Of Criminal Law. 77.5 (2013): 365-370.

Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Nov. 2013.

The New International Version Student Bible. Revised ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.

Print.

Wilkens, Steve, and Mark L. Sanford. Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape

Our Lives. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2009. Print.