Objectivism: The Uninspired Religion of "Reason"

M.D. Rawlings

Classical Liberal
May 26, 2011
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Heavenly Places
Michael David Rawlings
10/26/2012

Excerpt:

The Rands of this world wax poetic about the value of life and free will, about the joys and responsibilities thereof. They talk about liberty and the consequences of violating its terms. Then they inexplicably go on about the supposed coercion and irrationality of religion as rendered by Judeo-Christianity. But Judeo-Christianity isn't Comte's "Religion of Humanity." Nor is it anything like the other religions of this world that do make claims of transcendent origin.


While the Bible teaches that God is the undisputed proprietor of all that exists, the imposition of His will with regard to the common, everyday affairs of human life is not absolute, but conditional. Human societies are obliged to observe the imperatives of divine justice should they wish to live in relative peace and freedom, or they may disregard them and suffer the consequences, that is, live in terror, under the yoke of tyranny. Obviously, these are the extremes on either side of the spectrum in this imperfect world. The degree to which the body politic of any given society lives in accordance with the imperatives of divine justice is the degree to which it will enjoy life's blessings or suffer its maelstroms, respectively.


Only infants argue that a rational God would bestow free will on sentient creatures, but not weave a system of checks and balances into the fabric of creation against its misuses, as if the latter were not a loving and moral necessity. The God of the Bible does not demand that man serve Him as would a disposable bit of chattel; instead, He appeals to man's own best interests with love and mercy. God asks that man serve Him as would a beloved child that eagerly attends to its Father's call. In other words, we have chores to do and homework to complete. We are expected to grow and become something more all the time.

Prufrock's Lair: Objectivism: The Uninspired Religion of "Reason"



Prufrock's Lair: Objectivist Cult Member Says Composition Not Relevant to Science
 
I don't think you understand the difference between religion and philosophy.
 
I'm not sure what the issue is here? Objectivism is a self centered philosophy of egoism and narcissism. It fits perfectly into the 'robber baron' mentality of early 20th century America. It is contrary to most religions' concept of the 'golden rule' and contrary to liberalism's basic tenet of justice and fairness for all regardless of their circumstances. I found the quote below more Randian than democratic or even Christian. It is simply a modern 'I got mine' meme - now you get yours. Very un-Christian imo.

"Government redistribution of wealth is a form of initial force (or coercion) that subsidizes and, consequently, encourages the sort of behavior that leads to poverty and dependency. It's the stuff of legalized theft exacted against the assets of individuals who aren't responsible for the circumstances, choices or failures of the recipients. In other words, beyond the general defense of the nation and the preservation of liberty and private property, including the necessary provisions and administrations thereof: it's immoral for the state to deprive a person of any portion of the fruits of his labor for the sake of persons who didn't earn them." from OP link

After reading the above can one explain 'the Sermon on the Mount?' It would seem Jesus acted like a benevolent government feeding those people. Why weren't they prepared one has to wonder. I guess it all started long ago, dependence on a benevolent God just spiraled out of control. ;)

http://www.usmessageboard.com/gener...ult-of-selfishness-on-the-american-right.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/economy/50564-libertarianism-in-a-nutshell-ii.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/writing/50820-atlas-panted.html

"[Ayn Rand] has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who dislike the 'welfare' state, who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts [...] Ayn Rand’s 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic." Gore Vidal
 
I'm not sure what the issue is here? Objectivism is a self centered philosophy of egoism and narcissism. It fits perfectly into the 'robber baron' mentality of early 20th century America. It is contrary to most religions' concept of the 'golden rule' and contrary to liberalism's basic tenet of justice and fairness for all regardless of their circumstances. I found the quote below more Randian than democratic or even Christian. It is simply a modern 'I got mine' meme - now you get yours. Very un-Christian imo.

"Government redistribution of wealth is a form of initial force (or coercion) that subsidizes and, consequently, encourages the sort of behavior that leads to poverty and dependency. It's the stuff of legalized theft exacted against the assets of individuals who aren't responsible for the circumstances, choices or failures of the recipients. In other words, beyond the general defense of the nation and the preservation of liberty and private property, including the necessary provisions and administrations thereof: it's immoral for the state to deprive a person of any portion of the fruits of his labor for the sake of persons who didn't earn them." from OP link

After reading the above can one explain 'the Sermon on the Mount?' It would seem Jesus acted like a benevolent government feeding those people. Why weren't they prepared one has to wonder. I guess it all started long ago, dependence on a benevolent God just spiraled out of control. ;)

http://www.usmessageboard.com/gener...ult-of-selfishness-on-the-american-right.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/economy/50564-libertarianism-in-a-nutshell-ii.html
http://www.usmessageboard.com/writing/50820-atlas-panted.html

"[Ayn Rand] has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who dislike the 'welfare' state, who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts [...] Ayn Rand’s 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic." Gore Vidal

You seem to be a bit confused: beneficence that is voluntary and that which is compelled by the state are not the same thing at all. Inevitably, the latter is just a bunch a self-righteous ninnies pretending to know better than the rest of us, ninnies who impose their morality on others as they steal from others. Such collectivist, statist claptrap has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity whatsoever.

Vidal is such a ninny. He's every bit as foolish as Rand. They both worship "Self".

In any event, the issue here is Objectivism, not libertarianism or socialism proper.
 
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You seem to be a bit confused: beneficence that is voluntary and that which is compelled by the state are not the same thing at all. Inevitably, the latter is just a bunch a self-righteous ninnies pretending to know better than the rest of us, ninnies who impose their morality on others as they steal from others. Such collectivist, statist claptrap has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity whatsoever.

Vidal is such a ninny. He's every bit as foolish as Rand. They both worship "Self".

In any event, the issue here is Objectivism, not libertarianism or socialism proper.

I am rarely confused, unless shopping with my wife counts.... In our modern society the idea that the government is the bad guy is so entrenched in the minds of people who live in a society in which it is government that provides the very underpinnings of all freedoms, that you have to wonder at the paradox. It is the structure of the society that comes with certain impositions some people find burdensome. Taxes to build infrastructure are an example. Objectivism - which considers itself a philosophy? - centers itself in the individual and acts as if the individual alone is all that matters. It is a self centered concept which fails in the real world. Ayn Rand found herself on medicare late in life. One wonders why she found that necessary? Would she have changed her whole view? As far as the worship of 'self' I fail to see how your criticism of government, as if you and those similarly inclined can cure all, is any different from Rand or Vidal as you note. The demonization of government has many facets, but the idea that without it nirvana would pop up of its own freewill is hilarious. Think about that for a moment. Lots below too.

"The words of Paul in the 13th chapter of Romans are perhaps the most extensive teaching in the New Testament about the role and purposes of government. Paul says those purposes are twofold: to restrain evil by punishing evildoers and to serve peace and orderly conduct by rewarding good behavior. Civil authority is designed to be "God's servant for your good" (13:4). Today we might say "the common good" is to be the focus and goal of government.

So the purpose of government, according to Paul, is to protect and promote. Protect from the evil and promote the good, and we are even instructed to pay taxes for those purposes. So to disparage government per se — to see government as the central problem in society — is simply not a biblical position." Caring for the Poor is Government's Biblical Role - Jim Wallis | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners

"In general, government should provide the legal scaffolding that allows people to try to collectively but voluntarily solve their problems. Only in extraordinary circumstances, where there is no other choice, should the state supplant private decision-making. Ultimately, a political system based on liberty will enhance man’s ability to provide for his family and others in need in his community, exercise dominion in transforming God’s creation, and enjoy the many gifts of God.

Of course, freedom is not enough. As Pope John Paul II explained, a market economy will work only “within a strong juridical framework which places [capitalism] at the service of human freedom in its totality and which sees it as a particular aspect of that freedom, the core of which is ethical and religious.” Government can provide the juridical framework, but the Church must provide the ethical and religious core. Without that core, a free society will still be better than an unfree society, but it will be neither good nor godly." Biblical Foundations of Limited Government | Acton Institute


"The United States until now has had an extremely unequal distribution of income as compared with other capitalist countries, and even more inequality with regard to property. The American Catholic bishops have pointed out that this is morally intolerable. But the reforms we advocate here do not involve simply a better distribution of income, making the poor richer. We advocate, as the bishops do, a great increase in the participation of everyone in the vitality of a healthy economy. True, this participation would enable us to rebuild the institutions of the underclass, not just allow individuals to escape it; but most important, it would mean a richer public life, making a satisfactory life for all of us, including the high achievers, dependent less on our own success and more on a healthy society." Taming the Savage Market


Critiques of Rand: Criticisms of Objectivism

"In the Fall of 1970 I became a college freshman, and met other Objectivists for the first time. One introduced me to the Society for Individual Liberty (SIL), an anarcho-capitalist organization. They answered my puzzles (and also sold a much larger list of books.) Individual rights, as Rand presents them, logically imply anarchism. I was an anarchist by conviction for about six months, and one by sympathy for much longer. I was not convinced that anarchism was practical, but continued to believe in Rand's principle that there can be no conflict between the moral and the practical. Either we would find a way to make it practical, or we would find an error in the ethical logic. (I still believe, by the way, that natural rights theories, taken straight, imply anarchism; I consider this a refutation of natural rights theories.)" link in above site - http://world.std.com/~mhuben/hodges
 
Objectivism?

The XXth philosophy that one can find moral correctness in petri dish.

Not to be confused with mammonism --the antique religion that believes moral behavior is based on the number of peti dishes one owns
 

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