We live in a “democratic capitalism.” Ours is a representative democracy and a partially protected capitalism (public institutions protect/sustain capitalistic enterprises as deemed needed [e.g., large banks, some large corporations]). Rule of law is essential to the market environment (e.g., contracts, torts). These structures play large in our self-understanding and daily activities. The culture of these structures is overpowering our very way of thinking and acting; they are invading our lives beyond just economy. Entities not associated with economy are becoming monetarized. It behooves us to step back, as religious persons, and ponder what sort of civilization we live in…and whether that is a civilization of life (or not).
Scientific and technological advances in the 19th and 20th centuries transformed our society from sustenance-based to industrial product-based. The fear of starvation was virtually wiped out for the first time in history. What a success! But we did not see the trap: industry of this size needs an incredible consuming habit. This quadrant of the economy was developed through better wages, credit, and advertising. Now we are schooled to crave goods.
Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) identified both Statist/Marxist Communism and western capitalism, as we have it, as materialistic. This is no surprise regarding Marxism. Marx himself espouses materialism as a solution to the corrupt ideology of private ownership that has robbed workers of just remuneration. His analysis of ownership might have some merit, but his solution is as dehumanizing as anything.
On the other hand we might be surprised that Western capitalism would be charged with being materialist. Often the roots of capitalism are identified with Christianity (e.g. Protestant ethic theory); there is nothing atheist about this. But capitalism freed itself from this mooring and its material basis has invaded all aspects of the society so that producing and consuming are the essence of our attention and our energy. Consuming is not per se wrong, but society has ordained consuming as an addictive drive, and it is drastically changing us. From Pope John Paul’s perspective, western capitalism now worships at the altar of consumption. In short, we too are God-less materialists.
There are human costs to this lifestyle. Many flounder in needless debt. Most of us are busy to the point of constant distraction. We are always on the move, overweight with things and with food, enduring advertising blitzing and information overload, and convinced of our discontent that fuels buying-and-consuming. The spiral never slows down: work-shop-spend-pleasure-work (to pay for the spending)-shop, etc.. Spirituality has been relegated to shadows of unconsciousness. Appreciation of humanity is foggy! Now human beings, along with everything else at our fingertips, are virtually commodities. Sex is recreational (only). Self-worth is appearance (sex appeal), career (prestige) or wealth (prestige and autonomy). Even decisions about who lives or dies are ruled by the calculus of consumption or pleasure. In their ways, abortion, immigration, health insurance and the like, though legal matters, are human matters that now are reviewed in the crucible of autonomy and production (e.g., work, disposable income).
How do Catholics approach this civilization? While acknowledging many good things of this social system, we are not given to idealize it; we are children of the gospel of life. We shall find the commercialism and consumption to be excessive. So how do we resist the rat race quality of society? How do we remain human/e before production? October, Respect Life Month, is a time for us to consider our values and our lifestyle as a civilization of the gospel.
