GOP Must Choose: Ayn Rand or Jesus
May 27, 2011By: Eric Sapp
I recently wrote on why Democrats and progressives need to take some time studying Ayn Rand to fully understand the political significance of all the GOP leaders lining up to praise her. The GOP has a huge problem if their conservative religious base finds out what Rand really believed and how influential she is within senior GOP circles. Amy Sullivan published a piece in TIME last week highlighting this disconnect and American Values Network’s (AVN) memo on it. There is a great piece in the Louisville Courier-Journal. Rev. Jen Butler at Faith in Public Life (FPL) did a piece last week pointing out the problem Rep. Paul Ryan has trying to reconcile Catholic social teaching and Rand. And FPL affiliate, Faithful America, just put up a Rand vs. Bible website.
But perhaps the most damning of all was the statement put out by Conservative Christian icon, Chuck Colson. Chuck Colson is one of the lions of the Christian right and the head of Prison Fellowship, which, all politics aside, is the best thing coming from the Christian right and a powerful ministry to a segment of society even progressives often ignore. But Colson condemned the strong support of Rand in Republican and conservative circles and urged his followers not only to stay away from the new film of Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged, but to “stay away from anyone who intends to watch the film.” Colson goes on to say Rand and her followers were precisely the types of “cranks” and “crypto-cultists” that his friend Bill Buckley had fought to purge from conservative ranks. He says the “real problem with Rand is the world view her novels and other writings sought to inculcate in her readers… it’s hard to imagine a world view more antithetical to Christianity.”
So what is Colson talking about? A week before his statement, American Values Network released a damning memo with a large number of Rand quotes where she says she is out to destroy the Church and Judeo-Christian morality. She argued that people had to choose between following her teachings or those of Christianity and other religious traditions. Rand said religion was “evil,” called the message of John 3:16 “monstrous,” argued that the weak are beyond love and undeserving of it, that loving your neighbor was immoral and impossible and that she was out to undermine the idea that charity was a moral duty and virtue.
She must have been a real joy at cocktail parties, huh? And that is just a sampling.
So what was the GOP response to this attack on Judeo-Christian and family values, not to mention on Christ himself?
“Ayn Rand, you’ve got to love Ayn Rand. She’s great.” — Glenn Beck
“Rand more than anyone else did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism, the morality of individualism… It’s that kind of thinking, that kind of writing that is sorely needed right now.” — Author of the GOP Budget, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
“I am a fan of Ayn Rand, and I’ve read all her novels.” — Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)
“The brilliant writer and novelist, Ayn Rand.”– Rush Limbaugh
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Atlas Shrugged is his “foundational book.” [click here to read more quotes and find citations].
And despite Colson’s warnings, FOX spent weeks promoting Rand’s new movie and encouraging viewers to go see it… advice most every member of the GOP leadership took to heart!
Hard to reconcile leaders of “God’s Own Party” praising someone who is about as anti Christ as one can get, huh? That is exactly what we thought, and so AVN created a video highlighting exactly that contrast.
You really need to watch the video. Trust me…it’s damning. Tweet it. Like it. Blog it. And spread the word.
This is issue could be a game-changer. It uncovers the heartless GOP and Tea Party wolves who’ve been parading around in sheep’s clothing among the Christian flock, leading them astray. Christians, especially conservative ones, know what to look out for. We need to expose it.
Reposted from the Huffington Post.
AT LAST! I have been tearing my shirt with frustration at the self-assumed religious righteousness that stomps all over the concepts Christ taught. Even non-Christians often feel the basic precepts of Christ’s teachings make for a moral society. I agree Rand makes a powerful case in her writings, but THEY ARE FICTION. I am thrilled at your efforts, and now that I have found you, you will be the first religious organization I have found worth supporting financially in a long time.
THANK YOU.
Ayn Rand has long been the intellectual darling of many both on the secular right but also the religious right, and that’s curious given Rand’s writing is widely credited with having inspired Anton LaVey, founder of the Church Of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible. Cited in the rather staid academic work Contemporary Religious Satanism: A Critical Anthology, Anton LaVey is quoted as having admitted that his religion was “just Ayn Rand’s philosophy with ceremony and ritual added.”
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/4/9476/33834
Yeah, you and Chuck Colson — felon, criminal, bigot, and Nixon henchman. What a perfect couple.
You do a great imitation of the Christian Right — except you’re the Christianist Left. A more disgusting ad has never been made — Paul Ryan, the ATHEIST. Wow. Worthy of Jerry Falwell — or Chuck Colson.
The philosopher Francis Schaeffer highlighted that sometimes Christians are co-belligerents with those they disagree with. Pro-life social workers work with pro-choice social workers to advocate for children’s rights. Sometimes the cause is so great, and the consternation so large that those who oppose each other work together. The references to Ayn Rand doesn’t reveal heartlessness – it reveals passion to stop statism.
@ Jim Whittle.
“philosopher Francis Schaeffer”? I think you need to read some of the writing by his son, Frank. Francis was one of the main architects of the Religious Right in the US.
The problem with the “religious” fawning over Rand is that the core of her argument is selfishness and greed. Her philosophy is based on them, the antithesis of any religious message, especially one centered on sacrifice, love, and caring for others regardless of their condition or status.
Clearly you only take what you want from what these people say about Ayn Rand. The common ground is a mistrust of big government. Christian Prinicipals and Randian principles can co-exist because as a Christian, I can accept the fact that Randian’s can deny Christ. Christ says many people will deny Him and not hear His call. He also told the Tax collector and soldier to be honest and trustworthy in what they do, he didn’t demand they quit doing what they are doing to follow Him.
Randian philosophy, boiled down is that if you act in your self-interest then you will do things to enrich your life. If you do bad things and get caught then it isn’t in ultimately in your best interest. You’ve harmed others and yourself; however, if it is a competition and you can defeat your competitors and you do it honorably then you should keep the fruits of your labor.
The intersect between Christianity and Objectivism is INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
While Objectivists do not believe in doing things out of Alturistism, and Alturism for Alturism’s sake is cynical, Alturism because you believe in creating a better society for all is acceptable and as a Christian, it is what we as INDIVIDUALS are called to do. We are not called to vote for higher taxes so that the Government can dole out a pittance to the poor. People that pursue wealth for wealth’s sake will reap it in the next world. Let them keep it here, let those of us working to further the Kingdom,keep it and give it as the Spirit is directing, to local community and Church so the results are direct and the impact is felt. Otherwise, we’re enabling the Leviathan that is the Federal bureaucracy and creating undue burdens on our localities.
It really does not matter what one’s religious view are to me..what does matter however is that people walk the way they talk and that my friends is something I personaly do not see much of. I like Ann Rand personally and do not understand much about Jesus Christ other than he certainly is the most famous man (post mortem) on the planet and has been for years upon years upon years. His teachings seem fine by me but have been so watered down through time that it is almost ridiculous and what people (some) do in the name of “religion” is preposterous. “Principles befor personalities” is my creedo and the ability to agree to diagree peacefully and in harmony.
Shame
The Republican Party of Jesus Christ is now the Republican Party of Pharisees
Shame Shame Shame
The corporate motto is “dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying”. Corporate money controlling our politics is the issue of our generation.
There is an action plan that could remove corporate money from politics at http://politicalfinancereform.org/
Namaste,
JP Sayles
“Individual Responsibility” is code for I’ve got mine, go get your’s on your own. The great conundrum with that whole line of thinking is that nobody on this planet Earth is able to rely solely on their “individual responsibility mantra” to get on in life . . . Nobody! We ALL are inextricably tied one to another, on Earth, whether we like it or not. We swim together or we drown together. When one get’s sick we all are subject to that sickness. There’s is no variation on that theme, Jeff. Ayn Rand did not get that nor do many right leaning Republicans, who babble on and on about Big Government redistributing the wealth and riches of the wealthiest and richest down to we lowly good for nothing peasants, working classes, elderly and mentally challenged. Ayn Rand was mentally ill, in my opinion. Republicans, especially those who choose to follow the teachings of Ayn Rand, may be, too.
Regretfully, The American Values Network fails to espouse what Jesus Christ truly taught…We Are all sinners damned to hell and without faith in Christ through His death on the the cross and His bodily resurrection–we cannot be saved.
We are commanded to preach the salvation through Christ and make disciples of every nation. We are not commanded to seek and utilize political power to makeover healthcare or, most importantly, subvert the role of the individual christian and the church in providing for our fellow man.
Government is commanded by God to maintain order and His laws in the Bible.
The American Values Network is lost and committed to an earthly kingdom of their own making…not Christ’s.
Remember, His Kingdom is not of this world. So don’t be fooled by these pretenders who attempt to subvert the Bible for their own gain. The Lord warned us their would be many false teachers seeking to lead many to oblivion.
Put Christ first in your life.
I’m no fan of Ayn Rand but, as a Christian, I also understand that Jesus came to reform the individual sinner, not government. I marvel at AVN’s selective application of scripture.
When can we expect to see the next video from AVN highlighting the reasons the DNC must disavow the heinous Margaret Sanger and her legacy of death? Something tells me “Margaret Sanger vs. Jesus” will never see the light of day.
AVN is obviously headed by kooks. Why don’t you try actually reading one of her books instead of toeing your liberal agenda line? Jesus not only taught love and compassion for your fellow man but also personal responsibility.
What if someone operated biblical principle, yet did not believe in God, would your organization be against them? If someone promotes a godly principle, they should be supported, but with an asterisk.
Capitalism is one of the most godly systems in the world. Capitalism allows the freedom of the risk taker, the investor, to reap the rewards or the loss, INDIVIDUALLY! Will God deal with us collectively later or individually? Individually, yes. All other political systems promote collectivism, the masses, instead of promoting individual liberty.
So, on that basis, I CAN HAVE AYN RAND AND GOD at the same time. “Man-made “religion” will always try to force people to make a choice. Why can’t we have both?
Not one of us has perfect knowledge. Some of what we believe is true and some is not true. To my understanding, Ayn Rand believed there is a difference between self interest and selfishness. She believed that those who believe they can achieve social justice by good intentions and through political power are wrong. No politician is righteous enough to take from one person, what he has earned, to give to another another person, what he has not earned.
I find it easy to accept some of what she believed as being true without rejecting everything she believed, just because she did not believe in God. I find it hard to accept as being true what those progressives who seek to bring the kingdom of God to earth by pursuing the vapors of social justice believe is true. If find it hard to accept because I believe in the reality of human sinfulness.
So as a Christian you have to shun the writings of all non-Christians? Wow, that makes no sense whatsoever. Just because someone can see the value in a pro-capitalist author they have to deride that person because they don’t have faith in God? Or more to the point the Christian God. What an awesome display of tolerance! I will follow you blindly! Because, after all, that’s what you really want – a group of people who don’t look behind your viewpoint and your misleading ads – just mindless sheep. Good luck with that.
I have many disagreements with Rand’s philosophy.
I have FAR FAR more with progressive “Christianity” and the “religious” left.
But in the end both deny Christ. One just seeks to use his words for their own power.
Decide for yourself which is worse.
The Objectivist (Randian) view of religion is twofold: one, it is evil, two, it is so stupid that it is embarrassing to have to argue against it.
Sapp’s claims about who Rand thought lovable are lies, pure and simple. Rand’s observation on love (I’m simplifying greatly) is that love is initiated by an attraction to the style of the other person. Rand’s evaluation of who deserves the love of a good person involves the moral properties of the object of love, as judged by the moral standards of Objectivism. While strength is regarded as good, weakness is not a disqualifying property (provided it is not moral weakness).
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”
Matthew 6:24
New International Version (NIV)
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
There is nothing even remotely “Christian” about capitalism. Or any other economic system. There is no “Christian” political system. True followers of Christ have no stake in this or any other political system.
The Bible does not teach “individualism.” If it did, Cain would have been justified in asking God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The entire Book of Acts would be a lie. The New Testament Church, as described in the Bible, is about as far from individualism as you can get.
I no longer have time for political parties left or right. For those who justify their political views as being based on Christian teaching, I have a warning — there will be a reckoning, and all of your equivocations will not save you in the day of judgement.
I’m no expert on Rand, but the little I have read – which includes “The Virtue of Selfishness” – makes it pretty obvious that what bugged Rand about both Judaism and Christianity is what Jesus said was “the whole ball of wax”, i.e.
1.” Love God with all your heart, etc. “and
2.” Love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
Now I DO consider myself an expert on Christianity, having devoted most of my 74 year life to it, and having earned a graduate degree in Theology and spent most of my adult life studying and promoting the teaching and example of Jesus.
As a liberal, I don’t one needs to believe EVERYTHING in the Bible to cbe considered a “Christian”, but,unlike some of her followers who think they can follow her and still be Christians, Ayn Rand knew very well how contrary to the CENTRAL teaching of Judeo-Christianity her doctrine was. And was honest enough to proclaim “on the roof tops” that her “objectivism” was meant to destroy and replace those two CORE TENETS of Judaism, Christianity, and any other faith that embraced them.
It’s hilarious to watch lefties whose fundamental belief system denies even the real existence of species in favor of “populations”, and who continually scoff at the childish supernaturalist presuppositions of the Jewish and Christian religions, scrambling to present believers with a pseudo dilemma.
See conservatives, it’s like this: if you are not politically self-sacrificing toward others who are just like you except that they are not, and whose interests are the same as yours except that they are not, the God who isn’t won’t like it, and you won’t get into that heaven that doesn’t really exist.
How I got to this Blog is sheer and unadulterated happenstance!
I am a Trued Believer in Christian Fundamentalism even though I believe in GOD, GODDESS, and Their Sons and Daughters who are Gods and Goddesses in their own Dimension of Space and also I believe in Manliness and Womanhood. Thusly said, I shall attempt a Visceral Explanation as to Why I believe the Way I Do.
My Passing Days of rooting here and digging over there for bits and pieces of information did enthrall My Heartfelt Soul! I don’t remember exactly when but it may have been 10 or 15 years ago that I ran across a website by a Robert Oldershaw regarding “Fractal Cosmology” which is a newly formed Science regarding Universes within Universes ad Infinitum. I, for the intentions which will become clearer, will only tell you about Two Dimensions of Fractal Cosmologic Relativity.
1. Our Celestial Universe and 2. All Life Form’s Cellular Based Universes we simply call cells.
If GOD does have a Real Body, then assuredly this Universe we find ourselves being a part of is it! And as to His Sons and daughters, the Gods and Goddesses, they are all alive living deeply within all Life Form’s Cellular sized Universes. If this is a Truism then what does it mean for Manliness and Womanhood as we are but Vessels of Containment for the welfare of the Gods and Goddesses?
Where will we when we die or cease to function within the Framed Workings of the Celestial; pour out one’s soul to? As Beings of Humane Omnivores eating away all manner of Otherly Life, will we be judged for this Consuming Altruism or will we cease to exist and nevermore Be?
I do not believe GOD or the Gods that infill us are imbecilic enough to just cast our souls into a furnace without Judgment befalling us! I do Wholeheartedly Believe that when we die, we are cast inwardly into the Cavernous depths of Inner Space wherein we do reach the throngs of The Gods and Goddesses who reside therein the Celled Universes and there be adjudicated in our worthiness and rewarded due our endowed and befitting capabilities before we died and came down from the Celestial imbruing of generations Lost in the Infirmities of Mentally Being Grown.
For is it not written that a Day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is but a Day?
To GOD, the Universe only a day or two has past but we have lived thousands or even millions of years upon this Celestial embankment and thousands perhaps millions or even billions of years have passed within the Framed Works of Our Life Form’s Cellular Universes.
“Yes, I am a Sinner and I do and will continue to Ask of GOD Almighty to forgive me of My Sinfulness. I make no Claim on what I write about for without the Guidance of the Unknown by me God who does nourish my mindset Ways I am lost in the Word!”
I shall close this writing with a Prayer.
Our Fathers who Art within the heavens of Heaven; Hallowed be Their Names. Their Kingdoms Come and Their Wills be done Upon this Earth as is within their heavens. Give to Our Thoughts our daily Bread and Forgive us Our Sins as we forgive those who sinned against us and lead all naught into Temptation, but Deliver us all from Evil for GOD is the Power and the Glory Forever and Ever, Amen.
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nice job. My dad is a rand fan and a conservative, but in the fiscal sense not the social sense(he is an atheist). I have grown tired of the two party option that lumps whole groups together even when they have conflicting values and objectives. I knew that Christians didn’t have to vote republican, and here is the proof.
This whole argument is flawed. Jesus didn’t fight anyone. He surrendered. And what’s worse, he tried to make self sacrifice a virtue by saying he did it to cleanse us of our sins. Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.
This article astounds me with its ignorance.
Apparently at some point in his life, Eric Sapp concluded that you must agree with 100% of what someone preaches, or reject 100% of it altogether.
I’m curious to know if Sapp is one of those post-modern types who agrees with what Jesus taught about loving your neighbor and what not, but rejects all that “son of God” stuff … and if he indeed feels this way, why doesn’t he allow us the same freedom to embrace the part of Randian philosophy that resonates and leave out the rest?
I suspect it’s because liberals hold conservatives to a set of standards that they have no intention on maintaining themselves.
“She argued that people had to choose between following her teachings or those of Christianity and other religious traditions” Obviously you missed this part Chris- Sapp is merely using a controversial statement from the writer, not proclaiming it himself. The only one on this page that sounds ignorant is you. This aside, I recently had to read this novel… I do not consider myself of either party. I have liberal politcal views but conservative economical views. I can see that Ayn was the same way. At its core, this book is about individuals who go against the crowd, individuals bold enough to speak their minds, do their own thing, and seek their own happiness. In trying to do so, these bold individuals face a heck of a lot of peer pressure. In fact, pretty much everyone in the whole world disapproves of these people, who are trying to make better lives for themselves by embracing things like liberty and self-esteem. The character Eddie is faced with the hardest struggle of them all…his views are conservative but he is honest, and has issues with those who do not seem to struggle with maintaining integrity. Ayn came from the S.U. where she was forced to live in communism. It is no surprise that she embraced capitalism once exposed to the freedoms it held. ***Side note: Ayn’s proclaimation to choose her over Jesus was merely in reflection of how most Christians believe. Most of the teachings in the Bible conclude you MUST choose or God will have nothing to do with you. Her comment was merely a sarcastic mockery of those extremists who believe such nonsense. Obviously there are some on this wall today…
I assume this would work with dropbox without the iTunes issue as long as I am logged in to dropboox.
The video is shockingly demagogic and bigoted! Explicitly you attack Rand, but implicitly you condemn all atheists. Remember the Atwater ad about Willie Horton, where Dukakis was the target but implicitly, through shadowy black-and-white images, African-Americans were the target?. Your visual message similarly is that atheists are evil and immoral. It is offensive, insulting and reprehensible. I guess our society has a long way to travel, in terms of consciousness-raising, where atheists are concerned. Shame.
CHRISTIANS FOR DEMOCRATS
August 24, 2012
On August 6, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry called for a day of prayer and fasting. He called it ‘The Response.” “Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. Perry adds that “There is hope for America… and we will find it on our knees.” So Perry and the others prayed. How did God answer those prayers? Within in a few weeks Texas started to burn. Texas experienced the worst fires in Texas history. What is God trying to tell us? Take a look at Luke 6:42. … You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. And then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye” What Republicans do not tell you is when they give you a tax break, they allow big business to raise prices so much that you pay back the taxes two or three fold to big business. Have you bought gas for your car lately? You put your last tax break dollar into your gas tank and now you are broke. Try calling up the oil company and tell them hey you got my last dollar, can you help me out with my health care? Health care? Why do the think big business is fighting the new health care system? Greed, it cuts into their profits.
It seems like to me that God answered “The Response prayers by trying to send the message using fire, as fires have broken out in many other red states. For example, the states that vote Republican each election, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and California. This year also started out with major tornadoes that hit the Midwest by surprise. The shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin. Are you seeing how God answered Perry’s prayers? I think that God sent the final message when lightning struck the George Bush Park in Houston. Need more convincing? Look at Tampa, the host of the Republican convention. Is there not a hurricane threatening that convention?
So, why would God be so angry at the Republicans? Take a look at Matthew 25 :40. “The King will answer them, ‘Most assuredly I tell you. Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Is God worried that we keep cutting programs that help our brothers and sisters? Is this not caused by greed? Since the years of Reaganomics, our middle class has disappeared while millionaires have become billionaires. As a Christian we must start taking care of each other. We need to open our hearts and share our blessing with each other. We must start loving each other as brothers and sisters. Does God not like the Republican Party because of how his people are treated? Remember what the Bible says about the rich man passing through the eye of the needle? Please think about this when you are casting your votes in November. Matthew 25:45, “Then he will answer to them, saying, ‘Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
Deuteronomy 15:11 – For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
America can be great again! For just three dollars, you can make a difference. Make two copies of this letter. Find the Democrat U. S. Senator in your state and add three dollars and mail this letter to him or her and tell them you want a more caring and sharing nation.
Find your Democrat U. S. House of Representatives Candidate and send him or her a copy of this letter. Add three dollars and tell them that you want a more caring and sharing nation.