아동의 소비주의에 대한 기독교윤리학적 연구

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the consumerism of children and its problem from the perspective of Christian ethics. Children are today significant consumers with particular concerns of their own as well as purchasing power. They spend big money and influence their parents on what to buy. The children's consumer behavior are characterized by their strong desires for demand, worship for top brand and acceptance of new things. However, unhealthy consumer behavior like this affects their physical, social, emotional and spiritual health. It causes many ethical problems like as following: increasing the aggressive behavior, distortion of gender role of men and woman, causing conflict between children and parents, a sense of incompatibility between the poor and the rich children, shopaholic and excessive materialism. The responsibility of church and Christian parents is focused on the critique of consumerism. Consumerism permeates our society and in many ways it is the religion, in that sense they find happiness in shopping and give loyalty to it. However, it is a pseudo-religion, because it can never meet their demands. Christian parenting is also educating children to conscious consumers who understand their rights and duties. Parents need to think about their own buying habits, because their own history of buying affects their approach to buying for their children. Children are unable critically comprehend televised advertising message, therefore, advertising targeting children should be restricted. For reducing their children's exposure to advertising, parents need to set limits on television.