Who ever said it was. Certainly Ayn Rand never did. She would never have said such a thing, because it is meaningless.
Neither are you nor I the center of "our" universe, because, of course, it's not really about you or me.
What is "it"? What's not really about you or me? Are you here contradicting your Christian doctrine that it is for "you and me" that the Savior died? What does this mean?
Also, the standards and best goals we would hope people live by are not brought by self-interest.
Really. So, what you are saying is that standards and best goals are bad for us. That if we do the very best there is to do, if we follow the highest possibile standards of morality and good, it will be worse for us than if we do not quite follow them.
Since you are a Christian, is not the very best thing you could do for yourself be to believe and have your sins remitted so that you might spend eternity in heaven? What could be more selfish than that. If being selfish is wrong, every Christian should denounce their Savior immediately in unselfish sacrifice and doom themselves to eternal separation from God.
Interestingly, it just so happens that actual values (highest standards) are about what is in my ultimate interest
You may think it is just "interesting," like a curiosity, but it is actually an obvious fact, because any other view is absurd.
"What shall if profit a (capitalist) if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"
Now, see, if you knew your Bible a little better, you would never have used this passage for your argument. The Bible does not teach altruism, even though every theologian and every organized church does.
For your edification, the "soul" one ought to be careful not to loose, not matter what else is gained, do you know what it is? It is one's SELF, that one must never sacrifice to anything else, even the whole world, even their children, their family, their neighbors, or their "group."
The following are two Scriptural recordings of the same event, compare:
Mat. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
You can have it your way, but the Bible makes it clear, the most important thing to you or me, is you and me, and whatever else we should gain, if we loose ourselves, we have lost everything that matters.
Hank
And you got your theological degree in a Cracker Jack box? ;)
Matthew 16
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 19
[21] Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mark 8
[34] And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luke 9
[23] And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. – Matthew 22:37-40
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. – Revelation 4:11
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. – John 5:30
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. – Matthew 26:39
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: - John 17:20-22
For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, [which] thou shalt not know. – Isaiah 47:10-11
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. – Matthew 23:12
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. – James 4:6
These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. – Proverbs 6:16-19
In three words, "So what?" and "No." Just because Ayn Rand for pity sake (or any other "naturalist, positivist," etc.) didn't believe in anything outside of her personal opinions based upon the arrogant assumption that what is outside her comprehension does not matter to her, it doesn't mean this bears upon me nor my criticism of her castration of human perception. I may and do criticize her fallacies not only based upon her own contradictions, but by comparing it to the accurate understanding which she denied.
You can have it your way, but the Bible makes it clear, the most important thing to you or me, is you and me, and whatever else we should gain, if we loose ourselves, we have lost everything that matters.
I'm at work but have read quickly through this strand in the thread.
Great Scriptures, HK and A-M. Fair, objective interpretation, A-G. I'd also add a fuller context of the quote I gave, in two of the three references to it. It clearly shows that Chirst (ergo, truth) teaches us that a highest objective of doing what is in the interest of what we may gain throughout the course of our earthly life, is futile. I find myself bolding what Jesus said he was to suffer, because it all starts with him, when it comes to man and our earthly life (just as it all culminates in front of him). It's not about you, except in subjection to the Creator/Savior/Judge, in his loving eyes. As such and even then, it is all based upon on Him, always, even for those who concoct systematic fallacies which would obviate him. (BTW, I've left the "h" uncapitalized this time; Jesus being God who became the Son of Man, to serve even through his death and onward as the first who made himself least to anyone willing to be gathered up in love.) Every heartbeat now depends upon God's intentional sustenance, as well as all of eternity.
(Mark 8:31-38) - He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
(Luke 9:22-27) - And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.< For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
I could also add Paul's statement that he would be willing to suffer Hell, if it could mean his Jewish brothers' and sisters' salvation.
In trying to define Christianity by what is refered to as objectivism, one neither gains Christ, nor objectivity.
Of course, Hank, among other things, this position (feint?) you have taken would deny our need for grace, as Scriptures taught. That very concept refers to our utter dependency upon something greater than our reason (God's surpassing and intentional love).