For Republicans, what’s plain awkward about Ayn Rand is that she was an atheist. Her views on religion had more in common with Karl Marx (“opiate of the masses”) than Billy Graham. Love of capitalism, individualism, industrialism aside, Rand thought this whole “God” thing was a moral crutch, and while Republicans like Paul Ryan and Ron Johnson may gladly approve of Rand’s framing of progress as a victory wrested from a vampiric welfare state, they’re a mite more reluctant when her religious preferences come under consideration.
One of the stranger attacks against Ryan in recent days comes from a liberal religious group, the American Values Network, which released a video linking Ryan to statements by the Russian-born novelist rejecting all faith. “I regard it as evil,” she says.
Ryan, on the other hand, is a devoted Catholic. He’s credited Rand’s thinking with inspiring him to join politics but has also slammed her atheism.
As is usually the case, any hint of the growing irrelevance of Rand is quickly batted down by a merry band of writers quick to argue that the severe, diminutive (5’2″) philosopher/writer/playwright/? is as important today as ever.
