Ayn Rand As Atheist

Recently a leftist group attacked Ayn Rand for her atheism (something the right typically does). But Rand's positive philosophy of evidence-based reason and this-world values deserves a closer look -- as does her strong defense of the separation of church and state. Ari Armstrong delivered this talk August 27 at Skepticamp in Colorado Springs.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ayn Rand
• atheism
• skepticism

[fab006]

Yeah... I know this has been pointed out before, but I'm not sure they're attacking her for being Atheist as much as appealing to the Conservatives to reject her. Of course, that is part of the typical modus operandi of the American left, seeing ideas not as a force for good but as a weapon against anybody whenever convenient. So they're actually being a lot more nasty and a lot less consistent (pretty much explicitly so) than you give them credit.

[MrAdvancedAtheist]

I get the impression that the left has started to attack Rand because she created an alternative humanism which has become competitive with its version. Rand sounds nutty and confused in a lot of ways, but she still makes relatively more sense than the abyss of abnegation offered by progressives. She says we shouldn't feel guilty for existing, for wanting to develop our potentials, for wanting material things, for wanting to become financially successful through honest means, etc.

[grantsinmypants2]

The Left isnt attacking The Rights embrace of Rand because its irreligious; theyre doing so because its hypocritical. All it is is a short-term strategy meant to discredit The Right as stupid (perhaps their favorite smear). Of course, this does amount to The Left's advocacy of some kind of mysticism-based politics (shouldnt they be happy that The Right is - allegedly - becoming more reasonable?), but that isnt whats motivating it. Its simple pragmatism; not "the rise of The Religious Left."

[Wallyrus]

In spirit, Ayn Rand's brand of capitalism was actually a liberal idea because in the eyes of the government every individual would be equal and deeply important to the strength of the economy. People would have *real* motivation because their financial wealth would be directly tied to what they know, and not who they know.