Consumerism: A Pseudo-Religion (UN Climate Change Conference)

Is consumerism more than just an economic pattern — could it actually function as a kind of pseudo-religion in modern society? At the 2017 Climate Summit in Marrakesh, Stewart Scott, founder and director of the United Planet Faith and Science Initiative, explores this provocative idea, examining how consumer culture has come to mimic many of the psychological and social functions traditionally fulfilled by religion — offering identity, meaning, and a sense of belonging through acquisition and material status. Scott argues that this pseudo-religious devotion to consumerism carries real harm, both environmentally and spiritually, as it displaces genuine values of community, purpose, and stewardship with an endless pursuit of material accumulation. Delivered at a UN Climate Summit, his remarks add a thought-provoking psychological and philosophical dimension to the broader conversation about consumerism’s role in driving environmental damage. Viewers interested in additional perspectives from the summit can also check out a related video on population growth and climate change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gDF9WP1oIo