[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Whether it’s religion trying to control our spirit or government trying to control our lives—they take so much of the nectar from each life. It’s like a gun to your head, and you have to bargain constantly for permission to live and expand and find self-fulfillment."

This is the one thing I do not like about Ayn Rand is her outright hatred towards religion. I personally believe it comes from her childhood where the Church in Russia was a willing co-conspirator along with the Romanovs in the oppression of the people.

What this gentleman should realize is the difference between religion and government in this society is that people choose to go to a church. They are forced to do things by the government. Should a follower of Ayn Rand not rejoice in someone's free choice and exercising it for religion?

[Joe 6-pack]

"Should a follower of Ayn Rand not rejoice in someone's free choice and exercising it for religion?"

Curiously, for many followers of Rand, Objectivism is their religion.

[cizinec]

I’m a libertarian who is not fond of Ayn Rand. I couldn’t figure out where I fit. Then my Kids read the whole “Little House” series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am a Laura and Almonzo Wilder libertarian and not an atheist Russian nut job.

That is to say I am a freedom loving traditional American.

I believe it was in the “Long Winter” book that there was a discussion about how everyone worked together, built roads, hired a teacher and took care of police and fire. Then the territory sent out a tax man for property taxes and all of a sudden people were Republicans and Democrats, no one worked together and politics took over. A lot of folks moved to Oregon once this happened.

All of this happened and was written long before Ayn Rand. Oh yeah, and they were religious, loved their country and still believed in personal freedom/responsibility.

[libstripper]

This is the one thing I do not like about Ayn Rand is her outright hatred towards religion. I personally believe it comes from her childhood where the Church in Russia was a willing co-conspirator along with the Romanovs in the oppression of the people.

There's even a bit more to it than what you state. Ayn Rand is her pen name; she actuallly came from a Jewish family with a clearly Jewish name. The Czarist government and the Orthodox Church were deeply anti-semetic and often promoted pogroms. Just go see "Fiddler on the Roof." Hence, she had very good reasons not to like organized Christianity, especially the Russian Orthodox version.

[allmendream]

“I personally believe it comes from her childhood where the Church in Russia was a willing co-conspirator along with the Romanovs in the oppression of the people.” OTH

What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient allies.
— James Madison, June 20, 1785

[higgmeister]

I personally believe it comes from her childhood where the Church in Russia was a willing co-conspirator along with the Romanovs in the oppression of the people.

What? She was raised Jewish.