amoy
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http://blog.english.caing.com/article/137/
Money Worship , Romanticism , Meterial Life , Self Actualization
This society has already worshiped money enough, and if romanticism is not properly promoted, there will be dollar signs in people's eyes
By Li Yinhe
Recently a survey of 24,000 people across 23 different countries named China as the country where money is most worshiped. If this survey is proven to be correct, then its findings are quite disheartening.
I believe that the main reason why Chinese worship money is their atheism. This is because the majority of Chinese people are atheists and therefore each of our life's goals can only occupy this one lifetime. People here say that, "a man dies the way a lamp goes out," and that there is nothing afterwards, neither heaven nor hell.
There are no souls nor reincarnation and so the meaning of life rests firmly in the present world. Everything that people have is only what this world possesses. Except for their material lives, people tend to ignore everything else, such as doing good deeds, trying to enter heaven, romance, happiness, and pursuing a spiritual life.
This in turn leads to the recent case of the woman who while on a popular dating show boasted without shame, "I would rather cry sitting in a BMW than smile while sitting on a bicycle". Female television, movie and sports stars all marry men with money.
The West isn't like this. In America, for example, the majority of the population believes in God and is expected to contribute money at church. Hollywood movies, whether popular or highbrow, all praise risking everything for true love. Titanic, where a beautiful girl would rather marry a poor young man whom she loves than a rich man, is a great example.
In reality the majority of marriages are between those of comparable socio-economic backgrounds. However, at the very least these marriages are celebrated as unions of love rather than money. Regardless of how the couples feel, they would say "I'd rather smile while sitting on a bicycle than cry sitting in a BMW."
This is not to say that they worship money less than Chinese do, but rather that they at least think that money worship is shameful and vulgar. Nobody is willing to reveal these contemptible parts of their hearts as the foolish girl described above did.
I know that a lot of people believe that this thoughtless girl's only fault was being too honest. They believe she was speaking the truth and because they believe, deep down, that she hasn't actually said anything vulgar or wrong. In fact they believe what she said is rooted in reality and is correct. They believe that those people who don't recognize this are being hypocritical.
The problem lies in this and I believe that the findings of the survey are correct in saying: China is possibly the most money worshiping country and that Chinese people are probably more likely to worship money than other groups.
What's so bad about money worship? My view is: money worship isn't very bad, but it isn't very good either. Money worship means being realistic, and people don't think of anything apart from money. They don't pursue anything apart from living well until death. As long as you don't hurt anyone, then it can't be that bad.
Also romanticism is not money worship and in this sort of life we search for beauty, love and happiness a spiritual life and higher pursuits. There are a large amount of statistics which prove that money and happiness don't have a direct relationship. Before one's most basic needs are resolved, money and happiness are positively correlated but once they are solved, the relationship disappears.
The higher pursuits described Maslow's Pyramid mainly refer to happiness through self-actualization. Some examples are a painter creating a great painting, an author writing a notable story, a scientist making a discovery or a housewife creating a delicious dish.
While I don't endorse the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television constant and hypersensitive orders and prohibitions, I do believe that in the case of these tasteless dating shows that discontinuing them is rooted in some degree of reason. This society has already worshiped money enough, and if romanticism is not properly promoted, there will be dollar signs in people's eyes.
The author is a research fellow, professor and tutor for doctoral candidates at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, graduated with a Ph. D. in Sociology from University of Pittsburgh
Money Worship , Romanticism , Meterial Life , Self Actualization
This society has already worshiped money enough, and if romanticism is not properly promoted, there will be dollar signs in people's eyes
By Li Yinhe
Recently a survey of 24,000 people across 23 different countries named China as the country where money is most worshiped. If this survey is proven to be correct, then its findings are quite disheartening.
I believe that the main reason why Chinese worship money is their atheism. This is because the majority of Chinese people are atheists and therefore each of our life's goals can only occupy this one lifetime. People here say that, "a man dies the way a lamp goes out," and that there is nothing afterwards, neither heaven nor hell.
There are no souls nor reincarnation and so the meaning of life rests firmly in the present world. Everything that people have is only what this world possesses. Except for their material lives, people tend to ignore everything else, such as doing good deeds, trying to enter heaven, romance, happiness, and pursuing a spiritual life.
This in turn leads to the recent case of the woman who while on a popular dating show boasted without shame, "I would rather cry sitting in a BMW than smile while sitting on a bicycle". Female television, movie and sports stars all marry men with money.
The West isn't like this. In America, for example, the majority of the population believes in God and is expected to contribute money at church. Hollywood movies, whether popular or highbrow, all praise risking everything for true love. Titanic, where a beautiful girl would rather marry a poor young man whom she loves than a rich man, is a great example.
In reality the majority of marriages are between those of comparable socio-economic backgrounds. However, at the very least these marriages are celebrated as unions of love rather than money. Regardless of how the couples feel, they would say "I'd rather smile while sitting on a bicycle than cry sitting in a BMW."
This is not to say that they worship money less than Chinese do, but rather that they at least think that money worship is shameful and vulgar. Nobody is willing to reveal these contemptible parts of their hearts as the foolish girl described above did.
I know that a lot of people believe that this thoughtless girl's only fault was being too honest. They believe she was speaking the truth and because they believe, deep down, that she hasn't actually said anything vulgar or wrong. In fact they believe what she said is rooted in reality and is correct. They believe that those people who don't recognize this are being hypocritical.
The problem lies in this and I believe that the findings of the survey are correct in saying: China is possibly the most money worshiping country and that Chinese people are probably more likely to worship money than other groups.
What's so bad about money worship? My view is: money worship isn't very bad, but it isn't very good either. Money worship means being realistic, and people don't think of anything apart from money. They don't pursue anything apart from living well until death. As long as you don't hurt anyone, then it can't be that bad.
Also romanticism is not money worship and in this sort of life we search for beauty, love and happiness a spiritual life and higher pursuits. There are a large amount of statistics which prove that money and happiness don't have a direct relationship. Before one's most basic needs are resolved, money and happiness are positively correlated but once they are solved, the relationship disappears.
The higher pursuits described Maslow's Pyramid mainly refer to happiness through self-actualization. Some examples are a painter creating a great painting, an author writing a notable story, a scientist making a discovery or a housewife creating a delicious dish.
While I don't endorse the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television constant and hypersensitive orders and prohibitions, I do believe that in the case of these tasteless dating shows that discontinuing them is rooted in some degree of reason. This society has already worshiped money enough, and if romanticism is not properly promoted, there will be dollar signs in people's eyes.
The author is a research fellow, professor and tutor for doctoral candidates at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, graduated with a Ph. D. in Sociology from University of Pittsburgh
