I take the only desire one can really permit oneself. Freedom…to ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.
Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead
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I take the only desire one can really permit oneself. Freedom…to ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.
Ayn Rand
The Fountainhead
Pax Plena 
5 responses to “Thought for the Day”
That is exactly why Ayn Rand\’s objectivism is largely incompatible with Christianity.
True. But her view of freedom is a small part of the incongruity. The fact that she is an atheist is much more glaring.All that said, I\’m not sure she\’s on to something. There\’s something to be said for free agency but her definition of freedom is problematic because we can\’t reach a point of desirelessness. We need people and relationships to function. On the other hand, if one were able to reduce desire, lower expectations as it were, and lower dependency on people and things, then it would be much easier to lay claim to being free from worldly constraint which is compatible with ChristianityAnother point is that her later conclusion of the matter is that man\’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress. This gives some clue as to her ultimate end, which I think is completely compatible with Christianity.
I agree with Thomas – it\’s incompatible with Christianity – what does the Bible speak to more than our dependency on God. We are nothing WITHOUT Him.
Right. I agree with Thomas also- but only in part. I think her point about not being dependent on people and things is good. People always let you down. I also agree with her that a lot of what drives society and human accomplishment is ego. We\’re always searching for something better. I think both of these are compatible with Christianity taken in isolation. But I would hasten to add my agreement with you that we SHOULD depend only on God. This is where Rand would part company with me because she was an atheist.
I challenge you to someday reach a different point that this \”I think her point about not being dependent on people and things is good. People always let you down. \”Not until you start letting anyone else in, will you ever personally contribute to someone else\’s life. God did not teach to hold your guard up towards others, but to love them, and be kind to your neighbor – to treat them as you would like to be treated – to have respect for them. And if all you\’re thinking about is how cruel people are – enough to not depend on them – you are degrading a precious relationship that God has intended for his people.