God

The nature of religion and "god". Self-delusion as the defining element in deity belief.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• god
• religion
• mysticism
• supernaturalism
• truth
• reality
• reason
• rationality
• logic
• science
• libertarianism
• Objectivism
• classical liberalism
• delusion
• illusion
• deception
• lie
• falsehood
• Ayn Rand

[PureLiberalRadio]

@freesk8 Yes, it's against their self-interest (to the extent they're actually good), and yes, we have to be both rational and enjoyable.

But I think Randroids are highly corrupt personally, and largely evil, deep down inside. I've had a HUGE amount of experience with them, and this is my best judgment.

But here's the hard, unflinching truth: AYN RAND mostly or completely created Randroidism. Not Peikoff or ARI. These two are very harmful to the world -- but they didn't initiate the cultism.

[PureLiberalRadio]

@freesk8 In my view, MOST of the problem is they're brain-dead Randroids and black-souled cultists.

[freesk8]

@PureLiberalRadio I just don't understand their attitude. It's as if they are afraid that if the public rejected a well-done version, they would somehow be defeated, so they blame the producers for any lack of success. Or perhaps they are just such blind cult followers of Rand that, as you suggested, no one but Rand could have succeeded. I just don't know. But I think it is against their own self-interest to be so hyper-critical. We have to be both rational and enjoyable to be around.

[PureLiberalRadio]

@freesk8 Why did they hate it? Admittedly the movie version didn't have *near* the scintillating genius of the original novel. But it would have taken another Ayn Rand to adapt it at that level! Would you describe those who hated it as Randroids, or else wildly over-expectant?

I'm also curious about how and why you theorize Objectivists so often fall into the trap of hypocrisy, and how we can all avoid this?

[freesk8]

@PureLiberalRadio I agree with your assessment, and I loved it, and a few of my Randian friends did as well, but about half of them really hated it. I can't understand why. I think they are being hypercritical; a trap we Randians sometimes fall in to. I hear that sales of the book are up, and that is the most important thing. I watched it twice, and bought many more tickets than I used! :)

[PureLiberalRadio]

@freesk8 I saw 'Atlas Shrugged' about a week ago -- and now have to try to get back to the cinema *quick*, to catch it a second time before it disappears. Should be sheer pleasure. Altho' I don't find this version of the novel to be brilliant or great, I thought it was generally well-done, exciting, interesting, intriguing, and fun.

What did you and your friends think?

[freesk8]

@PureLiberalRadio I saw Atlas last night in my home state of WA.

Wonderful! I hear some of the theaters had sell-outs. Mine was about 80% full for an 8PM showing.

[PureLiberalRadio]

@freesk8 Thanks for all the compliments! I'm curious where in the US someone as brilliant as yourself lives? ;-)

I'm looking forward to the Atlas Shrugged movie this week-end! My current YouTube channel (with more recent videos) is /PureLiberalFire.

[freesk8]

@PureLiberalFire I agree with everything you just wrote. Thank you for being an out-of-the-closet atheist. That takes guts these days. And like being gay in the 80's, we need to come "out" if we are to become accepted. Atheists are more discriminated in today's culture in the US that are blacks or gays. We need to learn from the history of their movements.

[PureLiberalFire]

@freesk8 I tend to think many people don't really believe what they believe in -- if that makes any sense. But I don't mean to underestimate the power of self-deception, which is the foundation of religion, in my view. All of us, unfortunately, are quite skilled and experienced at lying to ourselves.

Around 600 BC -- when reason, and soon after, religion were invented -- the Greeks noted: "Poets tell many lies." This meant intellectuals. I think they were mostly talking about early religion.