Comments | ein_suender: Ayn Rand

ein_suender

Ayn Rand

Feb 04, 2008 20:19

I am having a lot of trouble reading Ayn Rand. I have a feeling that her ideas might be true, and that's disturbing. Atheism, selfishness as a virtue, and anti-charity are all things which scare me but which seem fundamental to her way of life (called Objectivism ( Read more... )

Comments 3

charismasuicide February 5 2008, 02:05:17 UTC

I'm sure its very persuasive when she makes an argument for her beliefs. One would include only the compelling arguments and not rebute themselves. Thats all I can say, however, because I haven't touched on their works.

It reminded me, however, of two authors that have been on my "to get to" list, but I've yet to do so.

Soren Kierkergaard and Paul Tillich. Existentialism is not objectivism, but its pretty empty and selfish. Kierkergaard and Tillich synthesize Christianity into existentialism and the concept has always intrigued me.

You'd probably like Leo Tolstoy too (he was a prominent figure in Russian fiction, but he also wrote nonfiction). He was a pacifist, anarchist and a vegeterian, citing his Christian faith as inspiring all three idealisms. I know you're interested in socialism/communism. Anarchism is similar, it just lacks a centralized government.

Completely off topic, but I mentioned to my on again/off again girlfriend your want to be a nun and not a priest. She totally got it too. She didn't think it was weird at all ( ... )

ein_suender February 5 2008, 02:07:44 UTC

I want to be a nun! I want to be a nun! If I could drop college, forget about Ayn Rand, abandon the entire world and join a convent tonight, I would do it.

I've read Soeren Kierkegaard and Paul Tillich. Both are required reading for my degree I'm working on (Religious Studies), but since they're required I have to admit I've hated reading them. That seems to be how it works. If I have to read it, I hate it because it's a chore. lol...

charismasuicide February 5 2008, 03:13:29 UTC

Plus, y'know, wether Ayn Rand "make sense" or not is moot. Faith is about faith, not logic.

Which is the major impasse Blue and I have reached. I've went back and forth on the subject, but I've ultimately accepted that I want to be a Christian, but I'm not. I have faith that there is a higher relevance to life, but I can't make the leap of faith that Christianity is the truth. I also get hung up on science. I can take genesis as parable and incorporate things like evolution into it. I can't accept genesis as black and white fact like most Christians do ( ... )