Why do people believe in Materialism/rationalism?

[Eric]

I believe that we are captured by materialism and rationalism due to the fact that we are finite beings supplied data about the environment around us by five senses that rely upon physical inputs. We all tend to think in terms of the external rather than the internal. This is what leads people into thinking that what they do is who they are. If they lose their job they are in panic and feel threatened as a person. For example: when many pro atheletes retire they are at a loss as to who they are. They used to be the all star end or forward or goalie but now who are they? They have no internal sense of self, it has all been external.

Yes, I agree that freedom is rather illusory in today's society. Children frequently believe that adults get to do what ever they want to. The pity is that too man adults believe that they actually do get to do what ever they want. Or to think what ever they want. You are correct that the mass media has reached a point where they can easily control what all of us believe, if we do not stop to do our own thinking instead. This plays out in politics, economics, foreign policy, domestic policy, education, and faith.

In order to properly choose between good and evil, one must be able to accurately identify both "good" and "evil" don't they? Who is teaching that to anyone these days? Christians attempt to, but they often shoot themselves in the foot, limiting their positive impact on society as a whole.