God's dream vs. American dream

God's dream vs. American dream

Introduction

In many countries, the religious sites are the main tourist attractions. Tourists flock to see things like the emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand. Muslims, Jews and Christians alike make pilgrimages to the Holy Land to see hundreds of places of religious significance. Burial sites like the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal have religious overtones. The new interest in Celtic spirituality is spawning tours of Irish monasteries. But what about America? What are the sites of religious significance that attract worshipers from all over the world? Certainly Disney World must rank up in the top five tourist locations in America where people can partake of American spirituality. Amusement is a key component of the American religious experience. But I'd like to focus for a moment on the Mall of America as one of our key American holy sites because it combines both the sacrament of amusement and the sacrament of shopping. Consumerism is a form of worship in our country and the mall is where we go to draw strength and fellowship with other "converts." The Mall of America employs a wardrobe therapist (a kind of high priestess) and boasts a chapel called the Chapel of Love where more than 4,000 couples from around the world have gotten married. And what center of spirituality would be complete without a seminary? The Mall of America hosts the National American University. "The first-ever college campus in a mall offering courses in 17 study areas." I would think their course offering in business ethics would be stellar because you could do so much research right there on "campus."

This paper is titled "God's Dream vs. the American Dream." I am focused on one aspect of the American dream: materialism. After a brief survey I will compare this materialism with God's plan for anyone who would come after him.

But before I get started I need to acknowledge that there are parts of the American dream that are good. Truth is often more complex than either the anti-American contingent or the "rah-rah USA" proponents would have us believe(Johnson 2006).

Accumulation

The story is told of an American businessman at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village. A little boat with just one fisherman docked at the pier. Inside the boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican fisherman replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, help out a little at my church. Then, each evening I stroll into the village where I sip wine and play guitar with my ...