INTERROGATING THE CONCEPT OF “SUBTLE ATHEISM” AND THE DEIFICATION OF WEALTH IN MODERN CAPITALIST CULTURES
Gbenga Cornelius Fasiku 1 & Peter Anakobe Adinoyi 2
Department of Philosophy, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba 1
Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies, Federal University, Lokoja 2
Corresponding Email: peteradinnoyi@yahoo.co.uk 2
ORCID: 009-00903107-7661 1
Abstract
This paper examines the quiet rise of what can be called subtle atheism not the loud or defiant rejection of God, but an almost unnoticed disbelief that creeps into our society. It shows up not in words, but in habits and values that make God seem unnecessary in a world driven by modern capitalism. In many societies today, wealth has taken on a sacred glow. It is no longer just a means to live, but something closer to an object of worship, promising identity, security and even a sense of salvation. The paper argues that in our obsession with money, success and social status, we have effectively turned “gold” into a god. Economic achievement now often serves as the new moral compass, shaping what people see as good, meaningful and worthy of respect. Although churches, mosques and temples still stand, their moral influence is increasingly overshadowed by the market’s demands. Profit has become the measure of value and time itself has been reduced to a commodity. The paper reflects on how capitalist societies manage to speak the language of faith while living by the principles of materialism, celebrating spirituality on the surface but practicing disbelief in daily life. Adopting analytical method, the paper questions the so-called “neutrality” of capitalist systems, arguing that they carry their own moral and spiritual assumptions. In the end, the paper calls for a reconsideration of what truly matters inviting us to think about meaning, value, and human flourishing in ways that go beyond the narrow confines of money and market success.
Keywords: Subtle Atheism, Capitalism, Wealth Deification, Modern Secularism, Consumer Culture.
