“Ayn surely would no longer consider man capable of setting high standards for his collective self, any more than a group of 6 year old children could govern their own school....probably less.”
That’s a good point, that she was making assumptions based on the Christian world she was living in.
She sounds more like a marxist, thinking the proletariat will do a Dandy job ruling itself. Although the greed of the “temporary” dictators takes over and they never leave.
I think it’s good for people to believe there is something greater than themselves. It creates humility, otherwise like you said Judy, arrogance takes over.
It’s pretty simple, when it comes right down to it. I was saying the other day that if every person on earth knew full well that their actions were observed, that they would answer to God, to that power that rules the earth, for whatever they do in life, wouldn’t the world be a completely different place? People used to be afraid of what God may think, and also afraid of being perceived as not being a very good “Christian”. It made for better living. Not fear, as there was always repentance and forgiveness available, but if everyone truly believed they would have to give an account, there’d be a lot more thought about our actions.
She had to be a marxist. If every individual is not ruled, in their hearts, by Almighty God, then they need man to rule them. Voila. Dictator. I think this goes way back to when the Israelites wanted a king. God didn’t want them to have one, but they insisted.
We need Godly governance, but we do NOT need a ruler, a dictator, if we all follow God. That is why the Judeo Christian west flourished.
When I read Ayn Rands books n works I read her authorized biography in addition to non official biographies.
She and her husband befriended a much younger couple and the younger husband was tutored by Ayn and became much more. Their affair was well known in their circle of followers and when they started they sat down with spouses and explained the were going to have an affair. Set up a Ayn/young guy get together for twice a week. Spouses gave their blessing It went on for many years. It only ended when Nathaniel Branden (cougar Ayn’s cub) started playing with a new younger woman, who would eventually become his 2nd wife. Any later reconciled with his first wife Barbara. Nathaniel’s wife Barbara ended up writing Ayns biography. Crazy enough for us?
From wiki
In 1954, Rand began an extramarital affair with Nathaniel Branden. The breakdown of Rand’s relationship with Nathaniel Branden in 1968 coincided with the closure of the Nathaniel Branden Institute and the expulsion of both Nathaniel and Barbara Branden from Rand’s circle.
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Here’s a quick overview
https://www.popmatters.com/ayn-rand-and-the-world-she-made-2496114416.html
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Also pix of the two couples and another article about Barbara the biographer
All are interesting reads