Ayn Rand, the new John Calvin

[Fritz]

The resurgence of interest in Rand's books, Atlas Shrugged in particular, gave me an idea. The central point, selfishness is a virtue, runs real close to the Calvanist creed "If you are in God's graces you will prosper, if not you won't". With Rand even atheists can claim selfishness is what's best for humanity!
As literature Rand's books really suck! I honestly would like to meet the person that could read John Galt's speaches in one sitting without going to sleep! Now to hear people rant on about the "majesty" and "perfection" of her books just blows me away! Of course it seems to be pretty easy to blow me away because I was shocked to find out that there was a significant number of libertarian free thinkers! I don't know why except I that I am under the impression that they are at odds with each other. True, Penn Gillette is probably the most famous atheist libertarians but I never bought his reasons for being one.
I don't want to go into his stuff right now but I thought I had to mention him. The majority of Rand's followers are not freethinkers! Ron Paul and his son "Rand", and I'll bet money I know where that name came from, are church goers. She was such a vocal atheist that it puzzles me that believers could ignore that part of her personality! Here's an article from the Nation on Rand: http://www.thenation.com/blog/ayn-rand-i-am-greatest

[Dardedar]

As literature Rand's books really suck! I honestly would like to meet the person that could read John Galt's speaches in one sitting without going to sleep!

DAR
My observation too Fritz. I tried to get through Atlas Shrugged to see what all the fuss was about but couldn't do it. Not even close.

I was shocked to find out that there was a significant number of libertarian free thinkers!

DAR
It is an interesting phenomenon.

Penn Gillette is probably the most famous atheist libertarians but I never bought his reasons for being one.

DAR
Penn is brilliant, but on politics he is, for some reason, rather crackers.

The majority of Rand's followers are not freethinkers!

DAR
Freethinking would certainly seem to be an effective defense against cult like behavior. But the human tendency to worship and adore can over ride it. You might enjoy this article by Michael Shermer who is very sympathetic to these positions (and a big fan of Rand) yet wrote this article admitting there were a cult.

The Unlikeliest Cult in History

D.