The use of money causes a civilization to decline. That this is true is shown by the way the troubles of Western civilization began with the invention of money. While real money (gold and silver) is bad enough, imitation money (paper money) is a horror. The decline of Western civilization exactly parallels the increasing use of money -- both real money and worthless paper money -- as a substitute for things of intrinsic value.
The statement 'Eastern cultures have used money, and Eastern civilizations have not declined' could contribute most to a refutation of the argument.