The author of "Sapiens", Yuval Noah Harari, is an Israeli historian and he has written a very good book. In the last section of the book, he discusses the influences of religion on humans. He defines religion broadly and includes liberalism, conservatism, communism and capitalism as religion. He writes of shopping as a religion:
The new ethic promises paradise on condition that the rich remain greedy and spend their time making more money, and that the masses give free rein to their cravings and passions – and buy more and more. This is the first religion in history whose followers actually do what they are asked to do. How, though, do we know that we'll really get paradise in return? We've seen it on television.
Harari, Yuval Noah (2015-02-10). Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (p. 349). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Many discussions of American culture are similarly hard on our materialism. But I think that may be too simplistic. What do you want? Art, humanity, good manners, joy, achievement, warm communication, sensitive thought? Well, listen up, Mr. H., shopping brings those very things into our lives.
I have watched the shopping that is going on around me. Art in many forms is purchased, much of the time it is original pottery, jewelry, clothing. Good books, both fiction and stimulating, mind-expanding non-fiction are acquired hourly. Here in the US and all over, much of the shopping involves electronics and communication. Just look at what is done with the purchased goods: messages of love and friendship between family members and friends fly around the globe. Investments are made, trips are planned and photos and videos from travel are exchanged.
No doubt whatsoever, cheap toys, low-nutrition foods, unused electronics, recreational and degrading drugs, murder weapons and criminal services are also purchased by shoppers of one sort or another. People can waste themselves and their funds in many ways, before and after giving away their money. But it is a disservice to ourselves to automatically label all commercial exchange as evil or frivolous.
