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Dictionary: ma·te·ri·al·ism n.
Philosophy.
1. The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.
2. The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life.
3. A great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.
From Brittanica:
the view that all facts (including facts about the human mind and will and the course of human history) are causally dependent upon physical processes, or even reducible to them.
If our security is in material things, is it any wonder that we get overwhelmed by our stuff?
From Britannica:
Capitalism is an "economic system, dominant in the Western world since the break-up of feudalism, in which most of the means of production are privately owned and production is guided and income distributed largely through the operation of markets."
It seems such a good thing, compared with COMMUNISM - yet China, for instance, has become super-capitalistic now. But their workers have next to no rights, are paid an absolute minimum of wages for survival, the low cost goods are sold to western nations, where they collapse local businesses. A global market means all the wealth will end up in a very few hands. Yet - for what? There is only so much money one person can use in a life-time.
Hernando de Soto’s book The Mystery of Capital shows that if private property in poor countries were freed up from statist ownership, this would provide 90 times more wealth than all the foreign aid to all Third World countries over the past three decades. [http://www.facebook.com/l/bccc3;creation.com/bomb-building-vs-the-biblical-foundation] buy Frantz L. Alcindor [http://www.quebecoislibre.org/031122-8.htm] points out that it is Biblical principals that set the laws in place that have for so long countered corruption, to give Western nations a means of creating wealth.
Looking at the scriptures and the definition, in the long term, even when practiced according to the law - which is getting rarer - capitalism must collapse in on itself. No income for the people in a nation means no taxes for governments, and we are looking at the kind of collapse that will bring poverty conditions like any Third World Nation, without the local family support that enables at least the means of basic survival.
This is a little "tongue in cheek" for now, pray God that's all it will be - the prediction is that then, after a few million people have died, we will all be offered "the mark" from a world government, which will mean we can be on welfare, and have to do what we are told. This "mark" will be a computer chip with all our details on, just as many dogs have now, and it will be read like a bar code, the same as any product you can buy in a shop. Check the next bar code you see, it has one number, then two groups of six numbers, all separated by two thin lines. By adding a third group of six numbers (666) there will be enough permutations to easily number the whole world. [Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Rev. 13:18]
We will be reduced to a number, like any other material goods, animals etc. and considered as such by "The powers that be".
There is a clear description of the power/wealth connection in the Old Testament where Moses was speaking to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordon. Note the bold type.
"Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest--when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end-- then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:10-20 (NKJV)
God says this is not true, that we are born with the natural bent to look after No.1. He offers Jesus as our Saviour, so we can be forgiven, helped and restored to friendship with him.
If you don't believe this, you cannot be forgiven, because you won't ask to be.
If you believe you are basically good, but find yourself doing wrong, you become afraid that you are faulty in your makeup - unlike others.
Quotes from the internet:
http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Humanistic-Psychology.asp
People are Basically Good
Humanistic Psychology gets its name from its belief in the basic goodness and respect of humankind. Its roots are based in existential psychology or the understanding and acceptance of one's own existence and responsibility. Two American psychologists, Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers paved the way for this new approach to understanding personality and improving the overall satisfaction of individuals.Wikipaedia
Secular humanists believe that each human being is worth something and has dignity. They think that people are happiest when they give something to society. They also believe that human beings can solve problems without help from god(s).And:Secular humanists are not religious, but they do have a belief system - man is his own god! Usually they are atheists.
Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal human qualities, particularly rationality, without resorting to the supernatural or alleged divine authority from religious texts.[1][2] It is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems.From: The British Humanist Association...Humanism can be considered as a process by which truth and morality is sought through human investigation; as such, views on morals can change when new knowledge and information is discovered. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on faith, the supernatural, or texts of allegedly divine origin. Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition, suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be parochial.[3]
...is the national charity supporting and representing people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. Our vision is of a world without religious privilege or discrimination. We promote Humanism, campaign for an open society and a secular state, and work with others of different beliefs for the common good.===========================Humanists...
...are atheists and agnostics who make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values. We take responsibility for our actions and base our ethics on the goals of human welfare, happiness and fulfilment. We seek to make the best of the one life we have by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves, individually and together.
I am quoting here from the following web site
http://www.jcn.com/manifestos.html
What is Humanism?
Changing the world, one mind at a time...We affirm a set of common principles that can serve as a basis for united action -- positive principles relevant to the present human condition. They are a design for a secular society on a planetary scale.
For these reasons, we submit this new Humanist Manifesto for the future of humankind; for us, it is a vision of hope, a direction for satisfying survival.
-- Religion --
Humanist Manifesto IIFIRST: In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an expression of genuine "spiritual" experience and aspiration.
We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. Any account of nature should pass the tests of scientific evidence; in our judgment, the dogmas and myths of traditional religions do not do so.... etc ============================================
© Copyright 1973 by the American Humanist Association
If you believe this, you will never be saved. You will never ask to be saved, or believe you need saving - this is a horror of humanism, to me, a believer.
The effort and failure to "be good" is also a horror to me - that it is expected of us, in this philosophy - yet is impossible. We could feel less than human, if we wanted to care this much, and I think, many of us do.
Even for the Christian, when our core belief is that we need God's forgiveness and strength, humanistic philosophy is so strong in our culture, that we mostly live as if we are expected to be good in our own strength and efforts, and feel condemned because we are not. Even books that have been written about "World Views" appear to be mostly about our failure in 'being good'.
Surely we are called to do good works, and that our "faith without works is dead" - but this is talking about our behaviours, in God's strength. It is about our 'acting' good, not our 'being' good - by our day-to-day faith.
It seems to be something we so easily, so naturally slip in to:
Galatians 2:1-5:26I do believe that at no time until now, has any other culture so incorporated the flesh (human nature), the world's systems, and the devil's machinations. Other world cultures are being drawn into this global culture, which will incorporate the worst of the West - both European and American, the military might of Russia, and the infiltration and aggression of militant Islam.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. ....[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
[3:1] O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been so evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?..... [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
We should be very afraid, very ready to cling tight to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in faith and truth and love, at this time like no other time.
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in as much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:21-24