In modern society, the establishment of power based on money is closely linked to moral decay and exploitation, radically changing the nature of social relationships.

Money’s Reign: Moral Decay and Exploitation in Modern Society

In modern society, the establishment of power based on money is closely linked to moral decay and exploitation, radically changing the nature of social relationships. Money ceases to be merely a medium of exchange and transforms into a universal master, influencing all spheres of life—from state politics to private morality. This leads to the replacement of traditional moral benchmarks and principles with the pursuit of material gain, and human relationships with the objectification of the individual.

On one hand, as noted in one source, money becomes the dominant force, permeating every aspect of life: “Money is the master of the statesman and the businessman. It is the master of the judge and the ordinary citizen. It is the master of the state and the school. It is the master of the public and the private. And it is the master of righteousness even more profoundly than it was the master of lawlessness… This universal corruption of the modern world does not arise from frailty but, on the contrary, from the rigidity—the very rigidity—of money” (source: link txt). This emphasizes that the prioritization of money as the highest value simultaneously deepens forms of immorality and distorts the concepts of good and evil, directly signaling moral decay.

On the other hand, exploitation manifests as the transformation of a human being into an object, stripped of spiritual essence. This is apparent when discussing issues of labor and social life: “The exploitation of man by man, as well as the exploitation of man by the state, is the transformation of man into an object. Overcoming exploitation, however, is the unveiling of the ‘you’” (source: link txt, page: 131). This indicates that subjecting a person to material forces deprives them of the capacity for full communication and self-realization. Such an attitude creates relationships that value only the material aspect of existence while the spiritual and personal dimensions remain neglected.

Moreover, the formation of money-based power is accompanied by the creation of hidden, irresponsible financial structures that operate beyond any social control.

As stated: “Why does the Lord acknowledge Caesar’s power and hand over monetary authority to him?

… the modern power of money is anonymous, clandestine, and irresponsible … it originally recognizes no higher authority except itself. Thus, replacing Caesar’s power with financial power leads to the emergence of a global financial oligarchy, which undermines state institutions and the societal fabric” (source: link txt, page: 336). This blatant irresponsibility of those controlling financial flows contributes to the breakdown of social bonds, as state institutions are gradually forced to accommodate the interests of the material elite.

Thus, moral decay and exploitation in the process of establishing a power based on money manifest in the transformation of human relationships into an arena of economic interests. This results in the loss of genuine human communication, where the individual is seen not as a bearer of spiritual values but as a resource for extracting material gain. In the end, social relations turn into a system dominated by plutocracy, where morality and ethics yield to the pursuit of wealth and power.