Ayn Rand Really, Really Hated C.S. Lewis

First Things ^ | March 27, 2013 | Matthew Schmitz

[JerseyanExile]

Ayn Rand was no fan of C.S. Lewis. She called the famous apologist an “abysmal bastard,” a “monstrosity,” a “cheap, awful, miserable, touchy, social-meta­physical mediocrity,” a “pickpocket of concepts,” and a “God-damn, beaten mystic.” (I suspect Lewis would have particularly relished the last of these.)

These insults and more can be found in her marginal notes on a copy of Lewis’ Abolition of Man, as printed in Ayn Rand’s Marginalia: Her critical comments on the writings of over 20 authors, edited by Robert Mayhew. Excerpts appear below, with Lewis’ writing (complete with Rand’s highlighting and underlining) on the left and Rand’s notes on the right.

[Menehune56]

Ayn Rand was a very intriguing author and philosopher but she was vehemently anti-religion and pro-abortion. And she despised Ronald Reagan for not sharing her views.

[Bryanw92]

Ayn Rand was right about the world...up to a point. But CS Lewis found the ultimate truth. Ayn Rand died in denial.

I’ve read most of their books, and Rand makes a good case for refuting Progressivism but her dream world is a harsh place of misery for most. That’s why her books refute progressives so easily. Because they envision the same world of misery, only with different masters and slaves.

[Fzob]

Is anyone surprised?

For my 2 cents Rand can’t hold a candle to Lewis.

[plain talk]

Well Ayn Rand was an atheist which kind of explains her hatred of him.

[faithhopecharity]

Ayn Rand had some useful insights into politics, government, etc.
She definitely made a contribution.

Faith or theology did not seem to be her strong fields, however...

[donna]

Ayn Rand thought she was god.

[SoFloFreeper]

*very* interesting...

There was a time when I was quite enamored with Ayn. Indeed her life story is an amazing one....but I also began to note her philosophical disdain _for_ the metaphysical and for the supernatural.

I also learned how men I respect like William F Buckley were not particularly fond of her “philosophy”. Additionally, I was disappointed to learn of her other moral failings...she seemed in them to be a supremely selfish (and not selfish in a morally good sense) person...her breaking of trust with her spouse, for instance, was not an ideal behavior.

Her interviews, available on youtube (some even near the end of her life, like on the Phil Donahue show) were interesting and showed someone who seemed to be supremely interested in the world empirically and politically but not spiritually...which made me sad. Her loneliness was evident.

My conclusion after internalizing all of this leads me to think Ayn Rand was quite right in her conclusion that capitalism was the best economic system, but her dismissal of the spiritual, religious sphere of life was woefully wrong.

My guess is her hatred for C.S. Lewis might have stemmed from the fact that they both seem to have come from the same fountain—an atheistic one—but Lewis was drawn out of that mindset, and she may have been angry about his conversion.

[saganite]

Atlas Shrugged reads more like prophecy these days than a novel. It’s all coming true.

[Hardraade]

Rand wouldn’t like Lewis, or Tolkien, or any non-atheist. Greed-fundamentalist, which still covers a lot of ground.

[BipolarBob]

Ayn Rand thought she was god.

A reasonable idea from her perspective. She didn't believe in an afterlife and therefore she was to be the best she could be, please herself foremost and concentrate on what was best for her. This is an empty hollow philosophy as far as world interaction. I find it unlikely that many people could find happiness in that construct or find/receive/give love.

[exnavy]

I am certain Mr. Lewis got it right.

[dps.inspect]

CS knew God, even during his atheist bent, his world view tended more toward a God created universe than not. It takes a LOT of effort to deny God, especially when gifted with such intellect... Ayn WOULD not give God His due, she willed not, and her life story is one, more of futility than fertility.

[reasonisfaith]

It occurs to me, there are no signs that her atheist views are coming true.

[saganite]

You apparently haven’t read Atlas Shrugged and have no idea what the plot entails.

[Telepathic Intruder]

When judging people, you had better be correct. It’s better to just judge actions rather than people. Regardless, I’ve read basically nothing from either of them.

[Alex Murphy]

Ayn Rand was no fan of C.S. Lewis. She called the famous apologist an “abysmal bastard,” a “monstrosity,” a “cheap, awful, miserable, touchy, social-meta­physical mediocrity,” a “pickpocket of concepts,” and a “God-damn, beaten mystic.” (I suspect Lewis would have particularly relished the last of these.) These insults and more can be found in her marginal notes on a copy of Lewis’ Abolition of Man, as printed in Ayn Rand’s Marginalia: Her critical comments on the writings of over 20 authors, edited by Robert Mayhew.

Ping for later

[ansel12]

Ayn Rand had some useful insights into politics, government, etc.
She definitely made a contribution.

Yep, I read her works as a teen and never saw it as anything more than some thought provoking nuts and bolts fiction that I could learn from in regards to that you mention, it never occurred to me to look into who she was as a person or to pay any attention to her in regards to God and faith.

[freedomfiter2]

I’m not much of a C.S. Lewis fan either but Rand would have disliked any real Christian.