Howard Hood has come up with an excellent way to differentiate between Objectivists and those who (subconsciously) treat Objectivism as a quasi-religion or "cult." They are the "true believers" who think Ayn Rand was perfect in every way, and could not possibly make a mistake in any part of her philosophy or her life. I've been accused of that, unjustly, since there are at least two areas in which I disagree with her because she based her decision about them on "subjective" premises. Now I can refer such people to this essay which, while it might not contain all the things "true believers" believe, I think it contains most. Of course, I don't agree with everything Mr. Hood says either. But isn't that what being an individual is all about? -RAY THOMA$
If any of the following applies to you, you may be an Objectivist "True Believer," someone who approaches Objectivism as a religious disciple rather than as a rational independent thinker:
- You believe that everything Ayn Rand wrote, said, and did was rational and correct.
- You happen to agree with all of Rand's artistic preferences: her favorite writers and composers are also yours; you despise all of the writers and composers she disliked, etc.
- You don't allow yourself to entertain the possibility that anything Ayn Rand thought might be wrong.
- You believe that anyone who disagrees with Rand on any point or who considers Rand less than a perfect model of psychological health must be immoral and intellectually dishonest.
- You secretly believe that you are morally and intellectually superior to most other people because of your belief in Objectivism.
- You will avoid offending Leonard Peikoff and his associates at any cost because you couldn't bear to be excommunicated from the congregation of "True Believers."
- In any discussion of intellectual issues you never use your own words but resort to quoting or paraphrasing Rand, Peikoff, and their associates.
- You consider Nathaniel Branden, Barbara Branden, and anyone else excommunicated by Rand, Peikoff, or the Ayn Rand Institute to be worthless human beings unworthy of attention or respect.
- You equate rationality with Ayn Rand.
- You have already started composing a message to denounce me as immoral and perverted.
Howard Hood: Drakejake@aol.com
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