CRITICIZING MATERIALISM: FOR GOOD OR BAD REASONS? Well, you know, criticizing ma

CRITICIZING MATERIALISM: FOR GOOD OR BAD REASONS?

Well, you know, criticizing materialism as a substitute for the familial (reproduction) is logical. For the social, likely. For the religious and supernatural, nonsense. In fact, there is a high correlation between social rejection and religiosity for precisely those reasons. So when I hear people want ‘traditionalism’ hear they are socially incompetent and want a way to enter the dream state in public – the ultimate selfishness – spiritual masturbation. They are generating demand for a bad. When I hear people talk about loneliness, loss of the civil society, or being unfulfilled by material goods, I hear that they long for social participation, or the safety of family and clan, then they are demonstrating demand for a ‘good’. Participatory sport, participatory debate, participatory theatre, participatory sacrifice (donation to the commons) and personal commune with the gods, with emphasis on ritual assist in social trust and bonding.