Is it possible to be a follower of Ayn Rand and not be an atheist?
Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 10 months ago to Philosophy
I think it is.
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Previous comments...
While I agree with Zenphamy that if you really buy into the logical basis for Ayn's philosophy, it is impossible to simultaneously buy into mysticism. However, there are clearly shades of Libertarianism that embody much of Ayn's philosophy that are not completely contradicted by an unfounded belief.
I suppose the fine line is set by the definition of "follower", perhaps a poor choice of words.
Atheists make only two basic mistakes: 1. They confuse God and religion (God is a mind...not a man-made product) and 2. They confuse the product of this mind with the product derived from the product of a mind (the creative process of eventually making beings like yourself over a period of time that only a timeless being can think through).
Other than that, Ayn Rand has it right. It would shock me if she wasn't at the right hand of Jesus.
Also: Order doesn't automatically come out of chaos. It takes thought and effort to organize existence into workable order...otherwise my house would dust itself. (I wish!)
I still hold out hope.
Is anything absolute? If you say, "yes" then you are working in concrete concepts. In fact, I would venture to say that AR would say that man's ability to rationally determine his own destiny as the highest value in life (not my belief, but hers) is concrete in her mind and absolute.
I realize you may not have meant this this way and you likely believe in absolutes such as Jesus exists; however, stating a release from thinking in concretes is dangerous and can be misleading to those less thoughtful.
After being introduced to Ayn's thoughts, I realized that a vast intelligence might be telling stories and parables so that I would use my mind to see past the surface words and into the patterns of life.
Basically, I learned to "chew" on thoughts and words...and for that I am eternally grateful.
My first encounter with a real teaching pastor was a lady who explained that the layout of the Temple in Jerusalem was a layout of a human being on the search for self. Not everyone makes it into the "Holy of Holies".
That began my inner transformation. Ayn Rand improved upon that.
Nevertheless, not sure what the lady teaching you meant by her interpretation of the Temple. The Temple was designed to be a tangible teaching device for what the Christian spiritual life would be like after the Messiah had come and that Church began.
Even though I agree that men are anointed to be leaders and teachers, once in awhile you find a Deborah. Female leaders/teacher's are few and far between...(incidentally Hillary ISN'T one) they occasionally appear....and YES the pattern of the Temple is also about entering into union with God through Jesus.
Glad we see eye to eye on this...most current evangelicals consider this doctrine of biblical leadership outdated and erroneously attribute it to the Apostle Paul somehow being a misogynist.
Existence exists, and it is called God. ;-)
What does it mean to say "space is space," or a "monkey is a monkey." It is circular and is an excuse not to deal with what does exist and the ramifications thereof.
Is existence alive? Can existence live? Can it be measured?
None of these have meaning without God, who has revealed Himself generally and specifically, to give insight as to who He is, his character, and His intent for His creation.
Man cannot ascribe meaning to these things in an absolute manner without knowledge of something that cannot change, else, man's ascription is subjective and can change day to day, which means meaning is meaningless beyond the current state of his thinking.
Unless you know everything (which would make you god and then you could not refute his existence), you cannot say God is not there and the cause of all creation.
Atheists cannot answer fundamental questions because that have fallacious premises.
If God never communicated with man through His Word, then we would be absent any specific meaning to life.
Purpose has to be defined, else you have no reason to resolve right and wrong for even thinking or killing the person next to you or giving them a glass of water?
This all goes back to what actually exists, not whether existence exists.
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist that one...)
What surprises me - is that a thread can lay dormant for days, then be brought back... um... dead for 3 days and revived... hmmm... That sounds like a recurring theme from... somewhere... --giggling again--
A correct concept is offered in the traditional Bible - New Testament - Book of John - Chapter 1 - Verse 1: "In the beginning . . . "
Translation: It's kind of like the way the Federal Reserve makes 'money'; something out of nothing, a concept that when appropriately employed, energizes an immense economy.
Here's a link to a picture with another concept of God - http://planet-hughes.net/images/Space-in...
Personally, I wouldn't waste time listening to Deniers or Doubters.
Grow up;
No longer seek the god you want or need.
Seek the 'God' that is.
'You shall know the 'truth' & the Truth will give you all the 'Fruit of the Spirit' which are Love, Peace, Joy, Goodness, Faithfulness, Kindness, Gentleness, Patience & Self-control.