In the 1970s when I was a social work student I learned the term “conspicuous consumption.” It was originally coined in 1899 by sociologist Thorstein Veblen to explain the spending of money on public displays of economic power, income and accumulated wealth.
Recently I read of another lawsuit — between a community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — over the steeple height of a proposed temple. Similar squabbles over lighting and footprint of a building have been frequent. The temples are essentially a private club for only the most “worthy” to perform their rituals. They do not shelter the homeless from frigid weather or provide bathrooms for basic hygiene. They do not open their doors for a community dinner for the lonely with limited means.
What would Jesus do? I suspect he would spend his time at St. Mark’s Cathedral and First United Methodist, giving comfort to the unsheltered.
Christine B. Helfrich, Millcreek
