mammonism
Definition
- Noun:
- The pursuit of wealth as the highest good: "mammonism" refers to an excessive devotion to material riches and the belief that accumulating money is the primary goal in life.
- The worship of money: It describes an attitude or ideology where money and material possessions are treated as objects of veneration, often at the expense of ethical or spiritual values.
Usage Examples
- (His extreme devotion to wealth made him prioritize money over relationships.)
- (The book condemns the widespread worship of money during that era.)
Advanced Usage
- "the spirit of mammonism": an allusion to the biblical term "Mammon" (wealth personified), used to describe a cultural or personal obsession with financial gain.
- The corporation's culture was marked by the spirit of mammonism, valuing profit above all else. (The company's ethos prioritized money over ethics.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mammon (n): a term for wealth regarded as an evil influence or false god; often used in religious contexts.
- He worshipped mammon, ignoring the needs of the poor. (He idolized money, neglecting charity.)
- Mammonist (n): a person who practices mammonism; one who is devoted to wealth.
- She was a dedicated mammonist, measuring success solely by bank balances. (She was obsessed with accumulating money.)
Synonyms
- Avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
- Materialism: a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
- Acquisitiveness: strong desire to acquire and possess things, especially money.
Related Idioms
- Mammon of unrighteousness: a biblical phrase (Luke 16:9) referring to wealth used for dishonest or worldly purposes.
- He used his fortune as mammon of unrighteousness, bribing officials for favors. (He employed money corruptly.)
Cultural Note
The term "mammonism" derives from "Mammon," a word of Aramaic origin meaning "wealth" or "riches," which appears in the New Testament. In medieval Christian tradition, Mammon was often personified as a demon of greed. The suffix "-ism" turns it into a doctrine or system of belief, emphasizing its ideological nature.