The Religion of Consumption and Christian Neighbor Love

<p>Loyola University Chicago</p><p>THE RELIGION OF CONSUMPTION AND CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR LOVE</p><p>Consumerism is a word frequently used in various disciplines to express the variety of attitudes, motivations, and practices found among the middle and upper classes. It drives the global economy and influences individuals' socio-psychological perceptions. Some have gone so far as to call consumerism a religion, yet they have not substantiated this claim. This dissertation offers a framework that accounts for consumerism as a religion both as a person's ultimate concern and as a structuralized belief system. As such, it prescribes moral values that shape how people respond to the world around them, particularly with regard to notions of person, society, and the environment. Comparing these same categories to Christian neighbor love, I argue that the two ethics are in opposition to one another.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Porter, Christopher

• Christianity
• consumerism
• consumption
• ecology
• religion
• Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/731

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ecommons.luc.edu:luc_diss-1730