In Matthew Kelly’s book, Rediscovering Catholicism, we learn of three primary philosophies responsible for the downfall of past civilizations. Hedonism is one of those evils.
Simply defined, hedonism is the ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.
Let’s face it. We are surrounded with products that feed our hedonistic cravings and lend physical pleasure and comfort. We have cars that heat and cool our seats at a touch of a button. If the driver wishes it to be warmer than the passenger, well, no problem — there’s a button for that, too! If you can’t sleep because your spouse is snoring or if the crickets are chirping too loud, there are sound machines to drown out the irritating noises.
So, are creature comforts and yearning for the newest gadgets frowned upon by Christ? Will owning these items send us to the blazing pits of hell?
The simple answer is no. The deeper answer is that it is OK to enjoy modern-day pleasures, as long as we do not become so attached to them that they become what we worship. If these items become things we cannot live without then, in fact, we are tumbling towards hedonism ourselves.
While being a good steward doesn’t mean detaching ourselves from all our material possessions, we must remember to attach ourselves to Christ and seek comfort in the one who will never let us down.
