Christian right deifies an athiest — Ayn Rand
WASHINGTON — It was a cheap stunt captured on video camera, an ambush meant to embarrass a prominent Congressman, but it managed, nevertheless, to highlight an interesting subtext in the narrative of the religious right: Many of its members are enthralled by libertarian novelist Ayn Rand, a self-proclaimed “radical atheist” who mocked Christians. How is it that she has become the hero of so many social conservatives?
Last week, just after House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan finished talking to an audience of religious conservatives here, he was confronted by Bible-wielding activist James Salt, who demanded that Ryan read the Gospel of Luke. Salt, who works for the left-leaning Catholics United, was protesting the budget cuts Ryan has proposed — cuts that will disproportionately affect the poor. Ryan rushed to a waiting vehicle rather than accept Salt’s proffered Bible.
Shortly after that, a small group of liberal clerics held a press conference to protest Ryan’s fiscal plans. “This budget has more to do with the teaching of Ayn Rand than the teachings of Jesus Christ,” the Rev. Jennifer Butler said.
Ryan has cited Rand as the “reason I got involved in public service.” He encourages his staffers to read Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged,” a paean to a stark and self-centered individualism. (Her other books include the title, “The Virtues of Selfishness.”)
Yet, he is also a practicing Catholic who has used his relationship with Archbishop Timothy Dolan, head of the U.S. Catholic Church, to defend himself against critics who contend his budget proposals are at odds with Christian teachings. He presents his religion as a profound influence in his political life.
And he isn’t the only figure on the religious right who has professed a devotion to Rand, who said she was “against God” and dismissed religious faith “as a sign of psychological weakness.” Former Fox News host Glenn Beck, who gathered thousands here last fall to turn America “back to God,” has frequently cited Rand as an inspiration. Her books are popular reading among many tea partiers, even though many among them are religious conservatives.
In truth, the 30-year marriage of religious and fiscal conservatives has always had deep fissures, contradictions, cognitive dissonance. Despite claiming the “small government” mantle,” many Christian conservatives actually support an invasive government that wields religion as a sword. They want a government that intrudes in the bedroom, that grants its imprimatur to heterosexual marriage, that gives preferential treatment to Christian practices in pluralistic public spaces.
According to polls, self-identified religious conservatives support Social Security and Medicare, mainstays of the welfare state. Their patriotism tends to a fervent nationalism that does not hesitate to wage war. And they have interpreted the Bible, ah, liberally, finding in it a disdain for taxes that is nowhere explicit in its pages.
But nothing is more surprising and more explicitly contradictory than their reverence for Rand, whose open contempt for Christianity ought to make her anathema among religious conservatives. It’s hard to imagine any prominent progressive saying similar things about religious faith without prompting a tsunami of complaint.
“A lot of people go through an Ayn Rand phase,” said Richard Land, who heads the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “Hopefully, they get over it.”
While praising Rand’s denunciations of “collectivism, socialism and Communism,” Land said “we certainly can’t take her uncritically. . . To acknowledge selfishness as an essential part of humanity is one thing, but to make it a virtue, is something else entirely. That’s counter to Judeo-Christian ethics.”
That didn’t seem to matter much to the religious conservatives gathered here last week under the banner of Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition. While they sprinkled their conference with religious leaders and Biblical references, they were assembled to celebrate and consolidate their political power in an effort to defeat President Barack Obama next year.
They have every right to do so — and to deify Ayn Rand if they choose. But, for heaven’s sake, don’t call that Christianity.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
332 comments Add your comment
sandiegodawg
June 9th, 2011
1:58 pm
Certainly promoting selfishness would be contradictory; however, just because we disagree on faith doesn’t mean we can’t agree in other areas of life such as being fiscally conservative
Hmmmmmmm
June 9th, 2011
1:58 pm
Have you even looked at the Book? Good Grief…deify, Ayn Rand…… Very Funny!
Harry Callahan
June 9th, 2011
1:59 pm
Herman Cain for President !
Bill
June 9th, 2011
2:01 pm
Some conservatives like both. We believe that charity comes from outside the government.
a reader
June 9th, 2011
2:03 pm
+1
itpdude
June 9th, 2011
2:04 pm
This is the best and most succinct column on cognitive dissonance between being a Christian and an Objectivist.
There is no way you can be both, yet these “Christians” (they probably are not believers, haven’t studied the Gospels, but may go to church for social reasons) cloak their greed and selfishness in the cross and their idolatrous hoisting of the US flag.
Want to know how far off the rails American Christianity has gone? Find a church that does not have a US flag in God’s House. US flags have become the rule rather than the exception in churches.
LydiasDad
June 9th, 2011
2:05 pm
With so many people out of work, I don’t understand how CT has a job. I’m sure an illegal could do it better.
ANTHONY
June 9th, 2011
2:06 pm
Christianity is a religion of self sacrifice and putting others ahead of ourselves. UNselfishness is a christian virtue.
a reader
June 9th, 2011
2:07 pm
but right wing political logic has always been sort of topsy-turvy contradictory anyway so this makes as much sense as any of the rest of it. rich people using fear and gut-ball issues to manipulate ignorant reactive voters just to protect their wealth and means of getting more wealth. so ayn rand grabbing social security and medicare when she needed it makes sense too.
Obvious
June 9th, 2011
2:08 pm
Conservative does not equal Christian, but it’s nice to see that Cynthia paints everyone with the same brush.
NAGA
June 9th, 2011
2:08 pm
Wow Cynthia just does not get it. How about the left-leaning Catholics who support abortion and breaking of laws (sheltering illegals)??? How about your buddy Eddie Long who still is in the pulpit who preaches about God but lives anything but a Godly life. How about the Jewish Democrat from New York who just got caught sexting??? How about Jimmy Carter and his support of abortion & terrorists???
etc.
etc.
Ms. CT only thinking that Christian Conservatives are bad. You need to hone up on your Bible knowledge. The Bible clearly states it is God who has the ultimate judgement. Ms. CT I would be very, very careful before you go judging people.
The Anti-Wooten
June 9th, 2011
2:10 pm
@Bill, nothing in any of the Randian philosophy has to do with charity. In fact, taken at face value they would be opposed to charity in any form.
joe
June 9th, 2011
2:11 pm
So are you saying people cannot be intelligent enough to set aside their religion and politics? Of course, one may influence another, but this isn’t a black & white wall…it is gray. I have both my christian influences and my political leanings, but they don”t parallel one another to a T. They are more S shaped as I favor some things about the christian philosophy while distancing myself on others.
Regardless, we must stop the entitlements and out of control spending else everyone will be poor as our currency will crash and our way of life ruined forever. We must get our house in order now before it is too late.
Purple People Eater
June 9th, 2011
2:14 pm
You should run for office Cyn. You are so smart. Everything you say is the Truth. They should give you a Pulitzer. Wow, just wow.
Rafe Hollister
June 9th, 2011
2:15 pm
Sin=thee, you had to study up for two or three days to come up with this BS.
I don’t dislike Barry personally just disagree with everyone of his policies, so in reverse, I like Rands policies just disagree with her religious beliefs. But as a liberal, you should never try to disparage a person based on their religious belief or non belief.
Regarding your Biblical reference to Luke, I believe that Luke was calling on individuals to help the poor and suffering. Each of us should support charities that help the poor. Luke doesn’t say anything about using the power of the government, to rob from Peter and then distribute the proceeds to Paul.
NAGA
June 9th, 2011
2:16 pm
CT – another clueless liberal who does not understand that SS & Medicare is NOT welfare. I paid into both and by God, I should be able to receive some (even though nowhere near what I paid in) in my retirement.
Voice Of Reason
June 9th, 2011
2:17 pm
So Cynthia I guess your going to use this same policy when it comes to Obama and Rev Wright….??? Seeing how he went to church there that means that he believes in EVERYTHING Rev. Wright said. I like how you bend things to benefit your point of view…typical hypocritical response!
Purple People Eater
June 9th, 2011
2:17 pm
Don’t generalize groups of people Ms. Tucker. What would happen if you did that with black people?
a reader
June 9th, 2011
2:17 pm
“SS & Medicare is NOT welfare”
no. they are examples of what a smart government for the people by the people can do for a large continent full of people with tax revenue. either that or just f’ing gas em.
AtlantaDude
June 9th, 2011
2:20 pm
Self sacrifice may be a Christian virtue. But, demanding money from your peers (through government taxation) in order to support your pet cause, however worthy it may be, and then taking credit for the largesse is decidedly unChristian
Lefties often have this problem of confusing taxation with self-sacrifice. This would be mildly amusing if it weren’t driving the country into financial default.
NAGA
June 9th, 2011
2:21 pm
CT – another liberal who thinks that helping the “por” can only be done by the guidance of a government entity somewhere.
Also, CT, please read the Bible before trying to use it in your arguement. The Bible clearly states that Matthew was a despised tax collector before becoming a disciple. Please tell me where the Bible speaks favorably of any tax collector.
RGB
June 9th, 2011
2:21 pm
I went to “Rev.” Jennifer Butler’s web site and searched separately for the terms “Jesus” and “God” at each of the web site’s main headings: “About, Blog, Newsroom, Programs, and Give”. After all, any group that calls itself “Faith in Public Life” must have faith in something.
Turns out the group’s faith isn’t in the deity with whom most of us relate. Rather FIPL’s faith lies in government and in itself. But they still will accept your contribution online so you can “Help us reclaim faith for justice, compassion and the common good.”
I guess their faith is in redistributive government and Presbo would be their deity of choice.
Regarding Ayn Rand, I don’t know of anyone who “worships” her nor have I seen a house of worship bearing her name. That a person of faith might find value in a secular person’s writings is neither unusual nor sinful.
One more thing: Ayn Rand didn’t need Bill Ayers to write her books.
BRW
June 9th, 2011
2:22 pm
fiscally conservative in the GOP case = selfish greed. Just ask Ayn.
Thulsa Doom
June 9th, 2011
2:23 pm
many Christian conservatives actually support an invasive government that wields religion as a sword.- CT mindless drivel and hyperbole and an opinion of Cynthia’s based on what exactly? Just because you believe such nonsense doesn’t make it true.
Many of its members are enthralled by libertarian novelist Ayn Rand, a self-proclaimed “radical atheist” who mocked Christians. How is it that she has become the hero of so many social conservatives?- CT
How is it that libs are enthralled with Margaret Sanger who advocated eugenics and the weeding out of the weak among us and who gave lectures to the women’s auxiliary of the KKK.
“Atlas Shrugged,” a paean to a stark and self-centered individualism. (Her other books include the title, “The Virtues of Selfishness.”)- CT
Hmmm. Cynthia describes individualism as stark? That’s a scary thought. She must be a big fan of the “collective”. Also, funny how Cynthia cited this book and not the Fountainhead- a famous novel that is on many high school classics reading lists.
They want a government that intrudes in the bedroom,- CT
More gobbldeegook from the purveyor of nonsense. Does Cynthia’s mind really believe that conservatives really want their tax dollars going to go investigating what’s going on in people’s bedrooms. Good grief. And people take this nonsense seriously? You gotta be kidding?
Salt, who works for the left-leaning Catholics United, was protesting the budget cuts Ryan has proposed — cuts that will disproportionately affect the poor.- CT
Sorry Cynthia but conservatives believe in giving, giving freely and giving because we are compelled to give and help the poor by our faith. When the govt forcibly takes money from one group to give to another group via coercion it is not compassion nor charity. And it is driven by vote buying politicians- not because of the goodness of their hearts.
Obvious
June 9th, 2011
2:23 pm
Cynthia probably didn’t even read the book, and bases her opinion on heresay from fellow Lefties. It was over a 1000 pages and not found on the magazine rack at the supermarket.
John Daly
June 9th, 2011
2:27 pm
Ryan said Rand was why he got involved in politics, not religion. And Rand often worked with conservatives even as she did not believe in religion. The idea of personal freedom and responsibility did not originate with Rand.
Since Barry is a christian, does his war on Libya trouble you?
Sorry, I’m just tired of all your stupid c**p.
But Cynthia, feel freel to promote a religion that wants you to have to be clothed from head to toe, to walk behind a man, if you are allowed out of the house, and to be killed if you are raped. That’s what you might get in a pluralistic society.
Hazel
June 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
NAGA
June 9th, 2011
2:08 pm
” The Bible clearly states it is God who has the ultimate judgement. Ms. CT I would be very, very careful before you go judging people.”
NAGA
June 9th, 2011
2:16 pm
CT – another clueless liberal who does not understand that SS & Medicare is NOT welfare.
I guess that’s not judging.
Silent Majority
June 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
I believe in God and country, therefore I am proud my Methodist church displays the American flag.
Matt
June 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
Religion should not form socialistic principals whether Biblical or not; separation of Church and State is what separates us from every other historical empire in hisotry.
I actually agree you CT, when Christains try to regualate what they are not confortable with…..homosexuality, abortion, etc. but do not want any other governement intervention.
However, you are missing a crucial point about “Christian supported” programs like social security and medicare: Jesus Christ himself could support the plans but at the end of the day they are nonsustaining and they will result in failure. Not enough revenue to support entitlement spending.
Maybe then again maybe he can turn water into additional tax revenue.
Libertarian
June 9th, 2011
2:31 pm
I don’t know about all these “religious conservatives” you speak of but I myself enjoy Rand and agree with a lot of what she said. I do not want government intrusion in my bedroom/body/religion/etc. Then again, I don’t consider myself to be a hypocrite either.
Hypocrisy is everywhere, particularly in politics. For example, liberal Hollywood wants to raise taxes on everyone while at the same time flocking to states like Georgia to film movies because we give them tax credits! What a joke! Liberals like Al Gore fly around on private planes while telling everyone else to cut greenhouse gases. Liberal elites love public schools and the Department of Education and do not believe in school choice while they put their children through private schools and colleges. Liberals want freedom to marry whomever they wish and freedom to abort their unwanted babies but they do not want others to be free to buy a gun. Liberals are generally against the death penalty but a for abortion. Liberals make a national healthcare plan that is “so wonderful” and then give plan waivers to all of their buddies. I could go on and on…the current state of our political environment is sickening. These politicians are too busy lining their pockets and tweeting naked photos of themselves to actually govern with integrity and put our country back on the path to being great again. I think we are in big trouble.
Obvious
June 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
And I’m sure people will still be talking about CT’s column 54 years after it was published too.
jarvis
June 9th, 2011
2:33 pm
Poor people in good health wouldn’t be poor if they weren’t dumb and/or lazy.
Joel
June 9th, 2011
2:34 pm
I’m going to try this now. All liberals dont want religion in government, ergo…. all liberals hate god! That is me using CT logic.
Boring Article!!!
June 9th, 2011
2:35 pm
I couldn’t even get through it — not at all interesting!!!
RGB
June 9th, 2011
2:36 pm
“….separation of Church and State is what separates us from every other historical empire in [sic] hisotry.”
I don’t know where that nonsense came from. It is our belief in unalienable rights (those conferred upon us by God which cannot be taken away from man/government) that separates the U.S. from other countries.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
One more thing: America is a Republic, not an “empire”. At least not yet.
Get Real
June 9th, 2011
2:38 pm
ZZZZzzzzzzz
Robert
June 9th, 2011
2:42 pm
Tomorrow we will get the sequel to this well drafted op ed
“Should Dan Uggla be demoted for the Braves to win the pennant”
AlG
June 9th, 2011
2:45 pm
Gosh, Cynthia. You always condemn the right wingers for being totally intolerant, yet here they embrace good ideas from someone who doesn’t meet the test of full orthodoxy and you condemn that. If you look closely, the left is far less tolerant of diverse thought than the right. Adherence to the party line is a characteristic of leftists all across that sorry spectrum. On the right, we are actually allowed to accept or reject what others say without applying a litmus test for purity.
RGB
June 9th, 2011
2:46 pm
“Ryan rushed to a waiting vehicle rather than accept Salt’s proffered Bible.”
No thinking person would accept a package from a left wing lunatic such as Salt.
Also, I’ll bet Ryan already has multiple copies of The Bible. Further, I’ll bet he has read them–and also understand them.
Ryan should have “proffered” Mr. Salt a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Nothing like reading something new.
Kamchak
June 9th, 2011
2:46 pm
Many of its members are enthralled by libertarian novelist Ayn Rand, a self-proclaimed “radical atheist” who mocked Christians.
Not to mention that she was a narcissistic sociopathic meth-head.
Hmmmmmmm
June 9th, 2011
2:47 pm
LOL, Obvious……… Perfect statement… Anything over 100 pages is pushing it for CT…..
sideshowtom
June 9th, 2011
2:49 pm
Every time I read one of Cynthia’s mindless and irrational columns, I am amazed that someone actually pays her money to produce such dribble. I read plenty of columnists, whose positions I disagree with, but who can make rational and intelligent arguments for their conclusions.
Cynthia Tucker is an embarrassment to her race, her gender, and her profession. Perhaps that is why whoever keeps her writing for this fish wrapper does so, the joke is on her!
DHD
June 9th, 2011
2:52 pm
Must be a slow news day for Cynthia…..again.
I agree…..Herman Cain for President!!
Moderate Line
June 9th, 2011
2:54 pm
Nietzsche was against individualism and was an atheistic so should Christians emphasis individualism because Nietzsche believed in collectivism and was an atheist. Should liberals abandon collectivism because the NAZISM also embraced it? I am not much of a believer in Ayn Rand but these types of arguments show only an absence of a good argument.
Common Sense
June 9th, 2011
2:55 pm
Rand was an atheist. So what?
If it takes an atheist to convince folks that the force of government to coerce your behavior is what it takes, then I am all for it.
Now had Ryan said the teaching of Jesus Christ led him into politics, imagine the outcry on “church state”.
Where do you find your motivations to control the masses CT? To force your way upon them?
John W. Bales
June 9th, 2011
2:56 pm
@The Anti-Wooten who states “nothing in any of the Randian philosophy has to do with charity. In fact, taken at face value they would be opposed to charity in any form.”
As one who has lived according to the principles of Objectivism for almost 50 years, I can assure you that this is NOT true. The Judeo-Christian view is that charity is a major virtue, whereas the Objectivist view is that there is nothing wrong with charity, but it is not a major virtue. That is not the same as saying that charity is not a virtue. It’s just an optional virtue.
Furthermore, Objectivists believe that the only proper function of governments is the protection of individual rights. Charity is a prerogative of individuals, not governments.
hdhd
June 9th, 2011
2:58 pm
Just because you agree with the Pope it doesn’t make you Catholic. Nor agreeing with Billy Graham make you Baptist. You need to separate political thought from religion, but I guess for many (CT?) it is the same.
Moderate Line
June 9th, 2011
2:58 pm
I can’t believe anyone who claims to be tolerate would use such an argument that Christians can’t believe in individualism in form of Ayn Rand beliefs because she was an atheist. I would guess Christians should not believe in democracy because the Greeks invented it since at the time they were pagans.
Ron Paul
June 9th, 2011
2:58 pm
CT, What is your point?
GetReal, you nailed it. This is a friggin stretch of an article. Hopefully it generated the pageviews she needed to continue stirring the pot and distracting the people with their hands out from the real problems.
Kamchak
June 9th, 2011
2:59 pm
Awwwwwww—-poor wittle wibertatarian-poo.
Obviously can’t handle the fact that his heroine was a speed freak.