Ayn Rands followers and Christian rightists often find themselves on the same side of issues these days. The Tea Party, with its stress on robust capitalism and righteous liberty, has been a rallying point for both groups. Still, the philosophical disharmony between Christianity and objectivism (Ayn Rands philosophy) has commonly presented problems for anyone seeking to straddle the two worldviews. Just ask Rep. Paul Ryan. Ryan, a conservative Catholic, made no bones about his love for Rands signature novel, Atlas Shrugged, when he began his political career. The novels portrayal of heroic entrepreneurs fighting an evil government fits perfectly with Ryans ideal of conservatism. But a few years ago, the congressman began to feel pushback from traditional Christians who werent so keen on Rands theological views. How, they asked, could Ryan condone an atheist who dismissed religionists as ignorant and deluded? The upshot: Ryan began parsing his words in a hurry. Judging from recent trends, however, the icy divide over the God issue shows clear signs of melt. Gradual movement toward accommodation is coming not just from Christians wishing to co-opt Rands capitalistic ethic, but from Randians seeking to expand their fan base.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:44:41 +0000
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