Rational Objectivist afraid to turn to the Bible?

Question

I was not raised in a religious family, but discovered spirituality on my own, studying various faiths along the way. Around the age of 20, I studied objectivism (Ayn Rand), and tended to follow the more 'rational' thought process. My two best friends are also objectivists, and view anyone with religious faith as weak. As of late, I have been thinking more and more about God, and faith, and have been reading the Bible (I've even considered being Baptised). But for some reason, there is this sinking feeling in my heart when I think about giving my life to Jesus Christ. I'm not sure why, because I am spiritual, and I do talk to God. But when it comes to being devout and putting all of my faith in the Lord, I recoil. If I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, will my Objectivist thoughts cause turmoil? Has anyone else experienced this? Any thoughts?

Answer 1

O: God wants you to be objective in your quest, in response to your calling, into a relationship with Him. God didn't create a bunch of brain-dead robots to worship Him. Faith is a "gift" or "fruit" of the Holy Spirit, and promotes a "sound mind" ! Look at it this way. My advice for you is to let go and let God supply you with direction. What you are experiencing, is very normal ! Retain your objectivity in your quest for a relationship with Him [Jesus]. Your new-founded relationship with Jesus Christ, will give your objectivity more clarity. Good luck to you !!!

Answer 2

Hey! :) I'm an Objectivist, so maybe you'd be interested in my thoughts? Well, here goes:

No one can tell you what's right or wrong, here. You've got to figure that out for yourself. In my opinion, there's nothing to be afraid of with the Bible, or thinking about God, or whatnot. In fact, I think it's cool to consider all of the major options in life, and probably more than a few times. Personally, I've read the Bible, the Koran, the Book of Mormon and the Baghavad-Gita.

Now, I don't think that Objectivism works very well with religion... and, specifically, Christianity poses some big problems. Objectivism is all about self-reliance and such, and Christianity is all about submitting to God's will, etc. There are many disagreements. If you "accept Christ," yes, I think that your Objectivist thoughts will "cause turmoil." For sure.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it? I mean... I've always figured that, if God exists, then he'd rather me be a critical thinking individual who believes in and loves him because it's the right thing to do, rather than someone who simply accepts on other's say-so or my gut-feeling. If God exists, then certainly reason is one of his ultimate creations, and I figure I'd be spiteing God if I were to ignore my rational capacity.

Of course, I don't believe that God *does* exist, but that's neither here nor there. It's not important here what I believe--it's important what *you* believe, and if you want to come to an honest answer, I say: read, think, discuss, consider... and don't be afraid of either your spiritual side/inclinations or your questioning/Objectivist side. Listen to both sides of yourself, and keep thinking/reading/etc.ing until you're happy with some sort of resolution. Don't rush yourself--it might take a long time. And, most importantly, don't let anyone else--including your Objectivist best friends--tell you what you're supposed to be, think or feel.

Well, good luck. These are heavy matters and it's not an easy thing to be brave enough to consider things that our friends or family don't agree with. Try to be strong, and remember that if you keep on following reason and reality, the rest will sort itself out in the end.

Answer 3

That is very very normal. Let me give you an example of something similar to what you maybe experiencing. An evolutionist scientist began to consider oneday the idea of intelligent design. Imagine his discomfort at possibly considering his own beliefs may well be "tainted".

He was a scientist teacher, high up and admitted that he destroyed many Christian beliefs in his science class by dispelling the idea of creation and he was so good at what he did, he had more than a few students in tears.

This teacher, has now become a creation scientist. He came to this belief after no longer being able to deny what he was seeing in his scientific work. Wanting badly to grip to his evolutionary beliefs, what continued to scream out "intelligent design" under his microscope and other studies was beginning to push him into an area to where either he would have to start doubting his preconceived ideas and cling to the evolutionary theory, or he would have to take onboard the possibility of a designer.

Do you know, it took this man 2-3 years to get to take God onboard properly and finally leave evolution behind? He admitted it does not happen over night and for him it was a painful and slow process.

His name is Gary Parker. And this guy, as kind and friendly as he is, is a force to be reckoned with in any evolutionary argument. Why? because he was one of them and one of the best and knows all the side stepping they do (as he had done) and knows how to argue from both sides.

I don't tell you to disbelieve in evolution, as that is everybody's chocie to consider either way. But it is very hard for a person to attempt to take Christ onboard, when they also have onboard views that are contrary to His.

If you feel that your views are somehow such a contrast to the idea of Christ, then you will also have to consider how much of a realist Christ Himself was. It is hard to reconcile your ideas that have been set inside you for so long, and at the sametime attempt to take onboard something that may require you to rethink a few things.

Christ is there for all people and will accept you, even with all your objectivist thoughts and even if they do cause some turmoil. You are on a journey and the very fact you are considering Christ and somehow taking him onboard, no matter how difficult it is, says a lot for you! But be warned, you will suffer some ridicule from others, as taking Christ onboard, is not such a popular thing these days to those who decide their way is logical and His way is airy fairy (on the contrary, sadly they coudln't be more mistaken).

Don't give up, pray! Pray for answers and share your objectivist thoughts with God and believe me, you will get answers and things will be made clear to you as time goes on.

God bless you and fight the good fight ;)

Answer 4

I would suggest very strongly that you read the bible critically and do some searching for historical criticism. After reading it and thinking it over you can decide if it makes any sense. Try to include the apocrypha if you can. Be very aware of when it is describing the same event twice, like the creation of Adam. The conflicts are not from bad interpretations, everybody has been very careful about that.
I also suggest looking at the atheist sites to see if they make sense. Some of the sites are not real easy to find. Here is a small article by a critic on Exodus, his research is testable and his conclusions seem valid. He was writing seriously.
http://www.bibleorigins.net/ExodusProblems.html
Once you read it you will understand my drift. For a quick but incomplete look at the bible there is no better site than this one,
http://www.thebricktestament.com/
And if you don't have a bible handy they are all over the place in search-able and parallel forms. Here are two. I prefer biblegateway.
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://bibleresources.bible.com/index.php

It is also good to have a healthy dose of skepticism when hearing about people who convert from a Christian teaching job to becoming a Christian travelling lecturer:
http://www.christiananswers.net/dinosaurs/bio-parker.html
http://www.theistic-evolution.com/parkerdebate.html
Dr. Parker is very careful of his media exposure.

Answer 5

The big question people have when coming to Christ is 'what will I have to give up to become a Christian'?. You can't become a Christian and hang on to sin of any kind, Moral, social, intellectual or religious or volitional. You are into a false religion where your mind is your god and you will have to give that up if you decide to make Christ Lord in your life. I know people who wouldn't give up their worldly music to become a Christian. The Bible speaks of how difficult it is to give up riches and that many will not be saved because they could not let go of money. And other things like that. It is something you really need to wrestle with and not proceed until you are willing to put everything on the line and give your whole life to Christ. It can't be done any other way.
It seems that God is drawing you, I would suggest that you pray to God and ask Him to give you wisdom here, and begin to read the Bible on a regular basis and see what happens. God bless you, hope this is a little help.

Answer 6

Don't make too many assumptions at this point. There are many theological models in Christianity. Your conversion does not necessarily need to be radical and life-shattering; it could slow and gradual. I recommend finding an Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek, preferably populated with ethnic Greeks), keep an open mind, hold on to what you currently believe to be true, and add or subtract doctrines when you are ready. As to whether or not Christianity is compatible with Objectivism, I would say that you should venture into Existentialism, study Sartre, read Kafka and Dostoevsky, and work from that direction. Orthodox Christianity allows plenty of room for ideas that are conventionally considered 'heretical' or even 'anti-Christian.'

That is just my opinion.

Answer 7

Give your life to Jesus Christ. It is the best decision you'll ever make.

I myself have some friends (well, ex-friends, by their decision) who are opposed to my belief in the Lord. They criticize me, spread rumors about me, spit at my feet when I walk by, and one even threw a punch at me to try to start a fight. But that never gets to me. No matter what they do, their words don't hurt, their spit misses, and they never make a connection when they punch. Yes, the fact that your friends don't accept your beliefs will hurt. You may even be upset at them. But in time, and as your relationship with Christ grows, you will feel pity on them rather than anger, because you will realize that they don't know the Lord. And that is a shame.

Any time you have Objectivist feelings or thoughts, just read your Bible. It will remind you of God's promises that He made to you, promises that will never be broken. If you dismiss those thoughts as soon as they appear, they will not cause turmoil. Every Christian has skeptical thoughts at some point in their walk with the Lord. But when I doubt God, I just have to doubt my doubts. God knows what is best. God will always be there for you. And you can always call on Him.

If one day you are with your Objectivist friends, and they start trying to pull you away from God, you can just whisper to yourself, or even think in your head "Away from me Satan, in Jesus' name!" If you concentrate on that phrase, you will not be tempted any more. The devil flees at the name of the Lord.

Trust me, once you place all your faith in the Lord, He will reveal Himself to you in countless ways. Ways you've never even thought of. God is always the best security. Always.

Answer 8

That is because you are under the impression that God will take all the fun from your life. You are wrong. Whatever He takes away He replaces with something better. Be at peace. God does too want you to be happy and the only joy you ever have will come from Him.

Answer 9

Christianity just isnt the "in" thing these days,unfortunately. People who practice and follow are demoralized and belittled.

Jesus is trying to become more of a part of your life, it seems to be working. At first i worried what my friends would think, but i asked for the strength to not worry about it.

If i were you i would pray for guidance on the issue, ask that he lead you in the right direction.

Answer 10

I totally don't know what your objectivism teaches and its faith.

but my suggestion it this, you better accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour as there is no other way to heave except through Jesus Christ.

dont ever wait for any of your second thoughts because when this situation came to st.Paul he said in the bible that "he never counsel with his flesh and bood" but obayed to follow what he found true.

your flesh and blood will never allow you to take up a dicision as it carries Adam's nature to rebel agains God and the knowledge of one true God.

Please Accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and save your soul.