THE WILL TO BE OTHERWISE: NOTIONS OF MATERIALS AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG YOUNG SINGAPOREAN CATHOLICS

Abstract

In the context of a cosmopolitan Singapore, materialism is recognised as a core value impacting an individual’s consumption patterns. Previous studies have typically highlighted the influence of materialistic values on life satisfaction. Tied with neo-liberal attitudes in both political and social spheres, the common narrative relating to the pursuit of happiness in Singapore society is often in relation to materialistic ideals, specifically that of economic success and monetary wealth. As a result, conceptualisations of the self are largely dependent on one’s ability to achieve these markers of success, with the derivation of one’s life satisfaction through these means. Drawn from semi-structured interviews with 10 young Catholics, this thesis aims to better understand if Catholic youth subscribe to this same pursuit of happiness through attaining economic and material success. Through analysing their narratives of lived experiences as Catholics, this thesis locates their positionality who, despite being socialised into dominant societal norms, negotiate the difficult path between religious and secular aspects of life. By invoking a sense of Christian ethics and morality, this thesis also seeks to understand how young Catholics view material wealth, especially in distinguishing between material luxuries and necessities. This thesis illustrates that even in a society dominated by formal rationality coupled with the hegemony of pragmatism and neo-liberalist attitudes, substantive rationality does not disappear even as it is marginalised.