The cons of a Catholic

Why are we so obsessed with material objects? Why must we have the latest IPAD or the newest state of the art coffee machine? Why do we pay hundreds of dollars for one single piece of clothing?

In this modern era, the individual has been turned into a consumer of goods. Where to 'keep up with the Jones' one must constantly be up-to-date with all the "mod- cons". Why then should we be surprised that religion iconography as a fashion trends has become so popular?  Carrette and King discuss this concept by claiming that, "the ideologies of consumerism and business enterprise are now infiltrating more and more aspects of our lives" and that the result, "of this shift has been an erasure of the wider social and ethical concerns associated with religious traditions" (Pp.61, 2012). The religious tradition  of rosary beads becoming a fashion statement  is then one such example of religious consumerism. That one might be seen wearing a pair of Converse high tops , Levi jeans, a Ralph Loren polo shirt, with rosary beads prominent against the chest. Goes against the ideology behind the use of rosary beads for prayer. But in this consumerist society, what is left untouched my mass marketing and trends? What is left of the sacred image? The sacred tools of worship?

Carrette and King  make the  most poignant of statements, for they assert that, " the subordination and exploitation of religious themes and motifs. promote an individualist or corporate oriented pursuit of profit for its own sakes," (Pp. 62, 2012). The idea then of wearing rosary beads for no other reason than adornment  becomes trite. Why do individuals wear religious  iconography as fashion if they do not identify with the religious denomination they profess  so boldly. Those who were a cross on a gold chain, do so, you would think so as to proclaim their faith and to be reminded of their religious identity throughout their day. If not for religious devotion why then proclaim falsely that you adhere to a religious faith? Has consumerism reached such an extent so as to devoid all religious iconography of a more sacred meaning? Will we stop at nothing to blend in with crowd? Keep up with the Jones? and make as much money as possible regardless of religious traditions and the ideas of the sacred?

References:

Carrette J. and R. King. 2102. Spirituality and the Re-branding of Religion. In Lynch G. and J. Mitchell with A. Strhan. Eds., Religion, Media and Culture: A Reader. 59-70. London and New York: Routledge.