Materialism (atheistic materialism), is the chief assumption that the modern systems of culture, society and bureaucracy are built upon; mainly because on the surface it seems to work. But it is also materialism that has given genesis to the woes of existential angst, alienation, and other forms of modern maladies that didn’t exist in the old world. The old world was more interconnected with natural community, cohesive civilizations, and was centered around beliefs that brought a natural warmth to the soul.
But yet, the old world seemed deeply limited, and many might characterize it as walking around with a flashlight in the dark. There are countless examples of discoveries which altered the way our ancestors viewed the world and the advent of the scientific method has greatly improved our health, the organization of societies, understanding of ourselves, as well as many other advancements which are too numerous to mention. We have smart phones, high speed rails, and surgery with laser precision.
Unfortunately, materialism has a problem. The basic assumptions it is built upon concerning the ultimate nature of reality, is, in the last analysis, wrong. Life and soul is it a transcendental quality and materialism denies this.
However, for the power structures of society to turn away from materialism and integrate a spiritual acknowledgment into the core of its institutions, languages of industry, intellectual ivory towers, and lofty goals, seems unthinkable. If the guards of materialism were to step down, would the charlatans take over? Would society decent into religious madness?
Many people are thinking about this today, and there is no easy answer. Yet in the end we must acknowledge – truth is the only way.