Usury

23. Materialism.

The handling, the grabbing. It appears as if we have it all under control through the materialistic aspects of it all.

Does it matter?

“Be not anxious! Earthly possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking that they can provide security and freedom from anxiety. Yet all the time they are the very source of all anxiety.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The more control you want the less control you feel?

Yes, this is true. When you try to take too much control over a situation, often times you end up feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and out of control. This is because it becomes difficult to manage everything that is happening, and it can lead to feelings of anxiety or helplessness. (oa)

Does materialism help?

Materialism does not necessarily help in terms of gaining control over a situation. Although having certain material items can make life easier, they can also serve as a distraction that takes away from the focus needed to make progress towards gaining control. Therefore, while materialism can be helpful in some situations, it’s important to be mindful of how it can be a distraction from developing a sense of control. (oa)

AI Created: Artificial Intelligence talking about Usury.

Me: Does usury cause materialism?

ChatGPT (jan23):

Usury, or the practice of lending money at excessively high rates of interest, can contribute to materialism, which is the belief that material possessions and wealth are of great importance.

When people are burdened with high-interest loans, they may feel pressure to acquire material possessions and wealth in order to repay their debt and maintain their standard of living. This can lead to a focus on acquiring material possessions as a means of achieving social status and security.

Furthermore, the concentration of wealth among a small group of people can lead to a culture of materialism, as people may aspire to acquire the same level of wealth and possessions as the wealthy elite. This can lead to a focus on consumerism and the acquisition of material possessions as a means of achieving social status and success.

Additionally, usury can also contribute to the creation of a “throw-away society,” where certain things, such as houses, jobs, and relationships, are considered disposable and easily replaceable. This can lead to a focus on acquiring new material possessions rather than valuing and maintaining existing possessions and relationships.

It’s important to note that usury alone doesn’t cause materialism, it’s a combination of factors such as the economic system, social values, and cultural norms that can contribute to it.

Buy the AI a drink (in holofuel) 

NFT

Extra:

  • Consumerism
  • Possessions
  • Wealth
  • Luxury
  • Hedonism
  • Greed
  • Shopping
  • Status
  • Brand-name items
  • Brand loyalty
  • Consumer trends
  • Material wealth

Wikipedia:

Affiliate:

Books:

  1. “The High Price of Materialism” by Tim Kasser (2002)
  2. “Affluenza: How Overconsumption is Killing Us – and How to Fight Back” by John de Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor (2005)
  3. “The Theory of the Leisure Class” by Thorstein Veblen (1899)

Documentaries:

  1. “The True Cost” directed by Andrew Morgan (2015)
  2. “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things” directed by Matt D’Avella (2015)
  3. “The Story of Stuff” directed by Louis Fox (2007)

Movies:

  1. “The Wolf of Wall Street” directed by Martin Scorsese (2013)
  2. “American Psycho” directed by Mary Harron (2000)
  3. “The Great Gatsby” directed by Baz Luhrmann (2013)

Series:

  1. “Mad Men” created by Matthew Weiner (2007-2015)
  2. “Billions” created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin (2016-present)
  3. “Succession” created by Jesse Armstrong (2018-present)

Songs:

  1. “Material Girl” by Madonna
  2. “Shoplifters of the World Unite” by The Smiths
  3. “Money” by Pink Floyd

Artworks:

  1. “Campbell’s Soup Cans” by Andy Warhol (1962)
  2. “Balloon Dog” by Jeff Koons (1994-2000)
  3. “For the Love of God” by Damien Hirst (2007)

Podcasts:

  1. “The Minimalists Podcast” by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
  2. “The Dave Ramsey Show” by Dave Ramsey
  3. “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel

Purpose: to see at todays knowledge

Would you agree…

#Usury #UsuryC #UC022 #UC023 #UC024

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