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Is Objectivism a Religion?

Started by Bobby_Ouroborus, February 14, 2013, 05:38:30 PM

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Bobby_Ouroborus

Because it sure isn't a rational philosophy.

I think it is a religious cult, you can be disfellowshipped from it,it is dogmatic,  it has a cult figure that is virtually worshiped like some sort of Messiah and it has it own End-of-the-World revenge fantasy like some other religions we all know and love. Everytime I deal with a Randroid it is like dealing with any other cult member and what is ad, these people like most cult member have no realization that their movement is a cult.

So opinions...is it a bona fide (Latin for good faith) religion and what exactly distinguishes it from a religion if it isn't?

Plu

Can you include a short bit on what it actually is? It might help start the discussion.

Bobby_Ouroborus

Quote from: "Plu"Can you include a short bit on what it actually is? It might help start the discussion.

It is like a pseudo-Nietzschean philosophy for people who really do not understand Nietzsche and have self-esteem issues. Their beliefs include selifishness is the highest virture. Ayn Rand is always right, Objectivism is the only valid philosophy and it is okay to be rude and indignant at those who dare question Ayn Rand.

stromboli

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)

QuoteObjectivism is a philosophy created by Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905–1982). Objectivism's central tenets are that reality exists independent of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness (or rational self-interest), that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual rights embodied in laissez-faire capitalism, and that the role of art in human life is to transform humans' metaphysical ideas by selective reproduction of reality into a physical form—a work of art—that one can comprehend and to which one can respond emotionally.[citation needed]
Rand characterized Objectivism as "a philosophy for living on earth", grounded in reality, and aimed at defining human nature and the nature of the world in which we live.[1]
My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.
—Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged[2]
The name "Objectivism" derives from the idea that human knowledge and values are objective: they exist and are determined by the nature of reality, to be discovered by one's mind, and are not created by the thoughts one has.[3] Rand stated that she chose the name because her preferred term for a philosophy based on the primacy of existence—"existentialism"—had already been taken.[4]

Not going to bore you by referring you to Rand's tests, because they are overlong and bombastic to the max. Objectivism is the shit that Paul Ryan and others secretly practice while calling themselves Christians. Either way, Randian Bullshit.

I would call it a form of philosophy, not a religion; but that is debatable.

buttfinger

I completely agree with the OP, and smell an ex JW.

Hakurei Reimu

Ironically, there is very little objectivity in Objectivism.
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Thumpalumpacus

I think as practiced by some, it's a religious construct.  It need not be so.  Its economic premises are unrealistic; I write that as a neo-libertarian, myself (one who, while preferring the smallest practical government, understands that it is not 1813, but 2013).  But some of its claims are defensible.

I think imputing things like "self-esteem issues" or a misunderstanding of Nietzsche is a little silly, though.
<insert witty aphorism here>

bennyboy

It's almost exactly identical to the flavor of Satanism of Anton LaVey.  However, there's a difference-- whereas the "Satanism" is down-and-dirty Machiavellian, it requires no justification other than desire.  

Rand tries justify selfish action with self-judged superiority: great people are above regular scum; the social contract, being among peers, is irrelevant to those who don't need those peers.  It's very much religious, and necessarily so-- its justification requires the deification of the self.
Insanity is the only sensible response to the universe.  The sane are just making stuff up.

Valigarmander

Irrationality alone does not a religion make. Objectivism has no rituals, no mythology, no spiritual aspect, no explanation of the meaning or origin of life. It's a political philosophy. If being ridiculous or irrational is all it takes to make a religion, then believing in Bigfoot or liking romantic comedies are religions as well.

buttfinger

Quote from: "Valigarmander"Irrationality alone does not a religion make. Objectivism has no rituals, no mythology, no spiritual aspect, no explanation of the meaning or origin of life. It's a political philosophy. If being ridiculous or irrational is all it takes to make a religion, then believing in Bigfoot or liking romantic comedies are religions as well.
This has merit.  Perhaps "cult" would be a better term.

SGOS

Quote from: "Hakurei Reimu"Ironically, there is very little objectivity in Objectivism.
That's the way it always seemed to me.  I've pondered the reason for calling that philosophy "Objectivism."  It seems like a poor choice of words.  It sounds classy enough, but isn't accurately descriptive.

BarkAtTheMoon

Quote from: "Bobby_Ouroborus"
Quote from: "Plu"Can you include a short bit on what it actually is? It might help start the discussion.

It is like a pseudo-Nietzschean philosophy for people who really do not understand Nietzsche and have self-esteem issues. Their beliefs include selifishness is the highest virture. Ayn Rand is always right, Objectivism is the only valid philosophy and it is okay to be rude and indignant at those who dare question Ayn Rand.

In before the handful of regulars here who are Rand fans rudely and indignantly disagree with your critique of Ayn Rand.
"When you landed on the moon, that was the point when God should have come up and said hello. Because if you invent some creatures and you put them on the blue one and they make it to the grey one, then you fucking turn up and say, 'Well done.' It's just a polite thing to do." - Eddie Izzard

the_antithesis

Who's Anne Rand and why should we care?

Bobby_Ouroborus

Quote from: "Valigarmander"Irrationality alone does not a religion make. Objectivism has... no mythology

Here is where I disagree with you. Objectivism is a mythology, particularly a heroic mythology,it has sacred tomes, it has its saints and sinners with a Campellian struggle between the forces of good and evil. It even has a satanic figure (Kant) looming over the heroes quest for self-realization. So many aspects of this "philosophy" scream out a mythology including the revenge fantasy that is prevalent in many religions.

Bobby_Ouroborus

Quote from: "the_antithesis"Who's Anne Rand and why should we care?

Because this cult like other cults and religions has made inroads in our political landscape.