KimberlyAnn wrote: They call themselves The Collective, ironically enough.
I know!! Hilarious.
Maybe Rand still get some play from self-styled "mavericks" like Camille Paglia (who I ironically share not only a birthday, but also a good friend, with). Either way, I think Objectivism's heyday is well over (no more cold war for one thing), but with the increasingly militaristic trend toward a permanent war state, well, maybe it can be revamped...
I don't think her heyday is over at all. She's still gobbled up on campuses, there are still far right conservatives that glob on to aspects that appeal to some-- her philosophy is seen in CATO and in many political think tanks. She is still very much making ripples with her works -- good or bad -- it's there.
KimberlyAnn wrote:Reading Atlas Shrugged doesn't make one a cultist, of course. Nor does agreeing with Randian philosophy.
However, there was and still exists a cult devoted to the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Rand was, in the very informed opinion of Michael Shermer, a cult leader, and her devoted followers members of a cult. They call themselves The Collective, ironically enough. Several authors have penned works criticizing the cult-like mentality of Ayn Rand followers.
Again, simply agreeing with Objectivist philosophy or reading Rand's works doesn't make one a cultist, but that doesn't mean there is no Randian cult. According to cult experts, there is.
KA
Yeah - I see what you saying here KA.
I guess I see a difference between something being a 'cult', and something having a 'cult following'. If we are really talking about some of the 'cultish-like behaviors' of some of the specific followers - or a specific group of followers - then that makes more sense to me than calling the concept itself a cult, and / or calling the 'leader' of it a 'cult leader'.
Donno - it's obvious there is a lot more for me to learn about this philosophy / movement. So I should continue to read up before commenting too much more perhaps. But those are my thoughts right now...
KimberlyAnn wrote:Reading Atlas Shrugged doesn't make one a cultist, of course. Nor does agreeing with Randian philosophy.
However, there was and still exists a cult devoted to the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Rand was, in the very informed opinion of Michael Shermer, a cult leader, and her devoted followers members of a cult. They call themselves The Collective, ironically enough. Several authors have penned works criticizing the cult-like mentality of Ayn Rand followers.
Again, simply agreeing with Objectivist philosophy or reading Rand's works doesn't make one a cultist, but that doesn't mean there is no Randian cult. According to cult experts, there is.
KA
Yeah - I see what you saying here KA. I guess I see a difference between something being a 'cult', and something having a 'cult following'. If we are really talking about some of the 'cultish-like behaviors' of some of the specific followers - or a specific group of followers - then that makes more sense to me than calling the concept itself a cult, and / or calling the 'leader' of it a 'cult leader'.
Donno - it's obvious there is a lot more for me to learn about this philosophy / movement. So I should continue to read up before commenting too much more perhaps. But those are my thoughts right now...
I see this as a correlation bias. Ayn Rand wrote some works, became popular, had a group of people that enjoyed her and her works -- so? She liked them praising her (who doesn't?) and she enjoyed the admiration. I think she was an egomaniac and she was quite a bitch, really. Yet, that makes not a cult.
When Rand had her affair (all spouses were aware) she went into a rage when she discovered that Branden had a liaison with another woman. A lot of the people that were in her circle departed after this -- this is NOT something usually seen in cults. This is actually the opposite. Think of failed prophecies for cult followers (for instance those that think a space ship is coming down and woops they averted the end of the world by praying and they are FORTIFIED in their belief that the new prophecy is true that they saved the world) and how they react by strengthening and fortifying their loyalty. The precise OPPOSITE occurred when Ayn Rand acted like a woman scorned.
What was remarkable about this is that she was just a woman -- maybe a control freak -- maybe a bitch -- but she flipped out, got emotional and people said, "whoa -- I'm outta here". They didn't rationalize her behavior -- they recognized it for what it was and departed.
RenegadeOfPhunk wrote:So Rand is accused of abusing 'power and sex' because she had an affair with one of her 'followers'? ..is that it?
Yes.
NOTE: I'm not saying that you believe it is a cult. I'm asking if this is why the accusation is made in the first place...? Is there more to it than that...? Is there some other stuff I'm missing?
I don't know. I just watned to mention that Shermer made the connection.
That's General Leo. He could be my friend if he weren't my enemy. eritis sicut dii I support NCMO
Are you guys forgetting the number of times the followers of Ayn Rand gather together in a room dressed in robes, then proceed to take turns paddling each others bums with a tennis racket, crying out, "thank you Ayn may I have another". While not technically qualifying as cult-like, still if you consider that in addition to toasting a portrait of George W. Bush with a glass of Seven-Up - well, I think that makes my case. I will continue to use this Cult reference in the future if you don't mind.
moksha wrote:Are you guys forgetting the number of times the followers of Ayn Rand gather together in a room dressed in robes, then proceed to take turns paddling each others bums with a tennis racket, crying out, "thank you Ayn may I have another". While not technically qualifying as cult-like, still if you consider that in addition to toasting a portrait of George W. Bush with a glass of Seven-Up - well, I think that makes my case. I will continue to use this Cult reference in the future if you don't mind.