religion and atlas shrugged?

Question

can there be a halfway between ayn rand's objectivism and being a devoutly religious person... is it possible to reconcile the two?

Answer 1

There are many religions, but if you consider Christianity, there is no reconciliation of the 2 philosophies.

A basic tenant of Christianity is selflessness. Atlas Shrugged is all about self interest. Self interest can make capitalism work, but selflessness is what builds character.

1 Cor. 13:3-5
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Answer 2

I read 'Atlas Shrugged' several years ago and, like you, found it to be more a philosophy, not a religion. I see the Bible as being contradictory enough to find some verse that would support objectivism.
However, I only read 3/4ths through and was unable to finish...from what I read, it seemed to imply that if a person was great at one thing, that meant they could exist on their own. The Bible was written for a group of people so I have my doubts that a philosophy that preaches a self-reliant philosophy would mesh well with a religion made for numerous people to follow.

Answer 3

‘Christ according to the faith, is the second person in the Trinity, the Father being the first and the holy Ghost the third. Each of these three persons is God. Christ is his own father and his own son. The Holy Ghost is neither father nor son, but both. The son was begotten by the father, but existed before he was begotten--just the same before as after. Christ is just as old as his father, and the father is just as young as his son. The Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father and Son, but was an equal to the Father and Son before he proceeded, that is to say before he existed, but he is of the same age as the other two. Nothing ever was, nothing ever can be more perfectly idiotic and absurd than the dogma of the Trinity.’

- Col. Robert G. Ingersoll


One god sends another down to earth. The god on earth prays to the god in heaven. The god in heaven is pleased with the god on earth. The god on earth says that the god in heaven is greater than he (the god on earth). The god on earth says he will later send a third god down to earth. The god in heaven forsakes the god on earth. The god on earth dies and goes to the god in heaven and sits by his side. That is polytheism for sure, one hundred percent. You can call it whatever you want, but it’s polytheism pure & simple.



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Answer 4

No,I don't think so. Religious beliefs and the personal relationship with the creator are subjective in nature.