The Modern GOP Has More In Common With Ayn Rand Than Jesus

Quick Summary:

• While ostensibly rooted in Christian conservatism, the GOP’s ideological underpinnings are more similar to the teachings of Ayn Rand’s, than to those of Jesus. Rand, who considered selfishness a virtue, believed altruism was morally wrong.
• The GOP’s philosophy reveals a tension between Christian conservatism and elements of Objectivism, Social Darwinism, and even LaVeyan Satanism.
• The party’s economic policies resonate with Ayn Rand’s laissez-faire principles but conflict with their professed Christian values.
• A noticeable bias towards the rich aligns the GOP with the symbol of Mammon, marking a deviation from Christian teachings on wealth and greed.
• The GOP’s stance on lax gun control laws, despite escalating child gun fatalities, is suggestive of Moloch worship, once notorious for child sacrifice.
• The party’s response to healthcare, social safety nets, and the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a ‘survival of the fittest’ mindset and extreme individualism, contradicting Christian teachings of community support and compassion.

The Shadow of Ayn Rand: Objectivism and the GOP

Ayn Rand, the Russian-American writer, and philosopher, championed the philosophy of Objectivism, a philosophy that prioritized laissez-faire capitalism and individual rights over collective good. Her teachings echo in the GOP’s economic and social policies, emphasizing the pursuit of self-interest and the importance of personal freedom. Rand’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that individual rights should not be compromised for societal benefit. As she states in “The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism,” “The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.”

However, the striking alignment between the GOP’s policies and Objectivism raises crucial questions, given the party’s claim to uphold Christian conservatism. The core tenets of Christianity endorse collective responsibility and altruism, which are at odds with the principles of unregulated capitalism and radical individualism that Rand advocated. As reported by the Atlas Society, Rand herself recognized this dichotomy, asserting, “If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men have to reject.”

Echoes of Mammon: Wealth and the GOP

Mammon, an ancient Canaanite deity, symbolized wealth and greed, and his presence looms large in the GOP’s economic policies. The party’s approach to fiscal matters consistently favors the rich, at times resulting in a growing wealth gap. The biblical verse Matthew 6:24 elucidates, “You cannot serve both God and Mammon,” a concept that seems lost on the GOP given their endorsement of wealth accumulation and prosperity.

Catherine Rampell of The Washington Post critically noted Donald Trump’s primary motivation as “greed, and greed alone.” This narrative, prevalent among many in the GOP, challenges the party’s commitment to Christian principles of equitable wealth distribution and charity. By prioritizing wealth over welfare, the GOP risks aligning itself more with the worship of Mammon than with the teachings of Christ.

The Moloch Connection: GOP and Gun Control

The GOP’s persistence in defending lax gun control laws is especially unsettling in light of the alarming increase in child gun fatalities in recent years. According to a study by Pew Research Center, gun-related deaths among children and teens rose by 50% in just two years. This grim statistic is a stark reminder of the human cost of the GOP’s unyielding stance on gun rights, a position fueled by substantial NRA contributions, as revealed in a report by The Hill.

The party’s dogged support for gun rights, despite the tragic loss of young lives, bears an uncomfortable resemblance to the worship of Moloch, an ancient deity associated with child sacrifice. This perceived indifference to the sanctity of life starkly contradicts the Christian ethos, which upholds the inviolability of human life.

Echoes of Social Darwinism and LaVeyan Satanism

The GOP’s approach to healthcare, social safety nets, and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests elements of Social Darwinism and LaVeyan Satanism. Both philosophies emphasize ‘survival of the fittest’ and individualism. Amanda Marcotte of Salon fittingly remarks, “Right-wing ‘individualism’ is just selfish garbage.”

This apparent prioritization of individual survival over collective welfare diverges from Christian teachings on compassion and community support. By opposing measures aimed at promoting collective welfare, the GOP may inadvertently align themselves with philosophies that place self-interest above the common good.

Further Reading:

• “Ayn Rand.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Read more here
• “The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism.” The Atlas Society. Read more here
• “What drives Donald Trump? Greed, and greed alone.” The Washington Post. Read more here
• “NRA contributions underscore grip in GOP.” The Hill. Read more here
• “Gun deaths among U.S. children and teens rose 50% in two years.” Pew Research Center. Read more here
• “The pandemic exposes the truth: Right-wing ‘individualism’ is just selfish garbage.” Salon. Read more here