Table of Contents

List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction: “Something Else” is Sacred
Chapter One: A Brief History of American Consumerism: Late 1800s-2021
Chapter Two: The Disciples, Doctrines, and Detractors of American Consumerism
Chapter Three: Christian Economic Creeds and the Spirit of American Consumerism & Anti-Consumerism
Chapter Four: Sacrificial Financial Giving as a Means of Partially Resisting Consumerism
Conclusion: Shopping for Creeds: Why Ideological Shopping Carts Matter
Appendix
Bibliography
About the Author

About the Author

Peter Mundey is assistant professor of sociology at Savannah State University.

Reviews

For scholars of religion interested in how the sacred plays out in everyday life and for religious leaders concerned about the threat of consumerism to their faith communities’ financial well-being, here is a book filled with arresting information drawn from a national survey and in-depth interviews. Sacred Consumption offers information that confirms - and disconfirms - popular assumptions about consumerism.
*Robert Wuthnow, professor emeritus, Princeton University*

While the Bible reminds us that we cannot serve two masters, God and mammon, Mundey helps us see how everyday Americans actually make sense of both Christianity and consumerism. In avoiding simplistic answers and abstract theological debates, Mundey points us to the ways in which these questions affect our daily lives. Through rich descriptions and sharp analysis, Mundey is a trustworthy guide for both religious leaders and everyday individuals in helping us consider how we make sense of our economic lives.
*David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy*