Sacred Consumption

This book explores the quasi-religious nature of consumerism and how American Christianity interacts with consumerism. The author uses mixed methods to unpack the nexus between the Christian faith and consumption and how habitual discretionary consumption functions as a pseudo-faith in America.

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How does consumerism function as a quasi-religion in America and how does the Christian faith interact with the consumerist pseudo-faith? Answering these questions is the focus of Sacred Consumption: The Religions of Christianity and Consumerism in America. The author draws on both quantitative and qualitative data to explore how habitually consuming non-essentials is sacred in American culture, and how the Christian sacred interacts with such consumption. The history of American consumerism is unpacked, along with the creeds of consumerism. Christian creeds related to both consuming and financial giving are discussed, illuminating the ways that Christianity can fuel, resist, and passively ignore consumerism. The author’s emphasis throughout is to enumerate the underlying cultural ideology derived from both Christianity and consumerism that partially makes and shapes American consumers.