The GOP cult of Ayn Rand is both revealing and mystifying. On the one hand, Rand’s tough guy, every-man-for-himself posturing is a natural fit because it puts a philosophical gloss on the latent sociopathy so prevalent among the hard right. On the other, Rand exclaimed at every opportunity that she was a militant atheist who felt nothing but contempt for Christianity. Apparently, the ignorance of most fundamentalist “values voters” means that GOP candidates who enthuse over Rand at the same time they thump their Bibles never have to explain this stark contradiction. And I imagine a Democratic officeholder would have a harder time explaining why he named his offspring “Marx” than a GOP incumbent would in rationalizing naming his kid “Rand.”

Glenn Beck cited and pushed Ayn Rand’s work when his show was on FNC. Would I be correct in asserting that when you refer to “conservatives” not having a strong interest, you would be referring to moderate conservatives rather than right wing evangelicals?

Mark

Glenn Beck cited and pushed Ayn Rand’s work when his show was on FNC. Would I be correct in asserting that when you refer to “conservatives” not having a strong interest, you would be referring to moderate conservatives rather than right wing evangelicals?

Mark

And, for what it’s worth, I don’t believe that Ron Paul named his son after Ayn Rand.

The GOP cult of Ayn Rand is both revealing and mystifying. On the one hand, Rand’s tough guy, every-man-for-himself posturing is a natural fit because it puts a philosophical gloss on the latent sociopathy so prevalent among the hard right. On the other, Rand exclaimed at every opportunity that she was a militant atheist who felt nothing but contempt for Christianity. Apparently, the ignorance of most fundamentalist “values voters” means that GOP candidates who enthuse over Rand at the same time they thump their Bibles never have to explain this stark contradiction. And I imagine a Democratic officeholder would have a harder time explaining why he named his offspring “Marx” than a GOP incumbent would in rationalizing naming his kid “Rand.”

And, for what it’s worth, I don’t believe that Ron Paul named his son after Ayn Rand.

A full-scale, newly published critique of Barton is coming from Professors Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter of Grove City College, a largely conservative Christian school in Pennsylvania.

I’m, also, amazed how Barton can’t even get or understand that you and your co-author Michael Coulter are conservative Christians … labeling you “academic elitists”.

Barton, also, states:

He contends that Throckmorton and Coulter are hostile toward his “personal religious beliefs”.

I guess, Barton’s “personal religious beliefs” mean that every conservative Christian, no matter of what stripe, has to believe what Barton believes … be damned the truth.

And, how cool is it, Warren, that 10 conservative Christians were asked to review Barton’s book; and, now your book stands as a necessary counter witness to Barton’s mythical history of Jefferson.

I’m quite surprised that Newt Gingrich would have given support to Barton’s work. I thought Gingrich was a history prof. But, as the article mentioned, a good many supporters of Barton’s work have probably never even read his book.

A full-scale, newly published critique of Barton is coming from Professors Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter of Grove City College, a largely conservative Christian school in Pennsylvania.

I’m, also, amazed how Barton can’t even get or understand that you and your co-author Michael Coulter are conservative Christians … labeling you “academic elitists”.

Barton, also, states:

He contends that Throckmorton and Coulter are hostile toward his “personal religious beliefs”.

I guess, Barton’s “personal religious beliefs” mean that every conservative Christian, no matter of what stripe, has to believe what Barton believes … be damned the truth.

And, how cool is it, Warren, that 10 conservative Christians were asked to review Barton’s book; and, now your book stands as a necessary counter witness to Barton’s mythical history of Jefferson.

I’m quite surprised that Newt Gingrich would have given support to Barton’s work. I thought Gingrich was a history prof. But, as the article mentioned, a good many supporters of Barton’s work have probably never even read his book.

Thank God there are people weighing in on this from all sides. What I esp find striking,”Richards says in recent months he has grown increasingly troubled about Barton’s writings, so he asked 10 conservative Christian professors to assess Barton’s work.” He DIDN’T ask 10 secular liberal professors! Let’s see Barton refute their assessment. On the other hand, he might just judge them by saying that they aren’t real Christians to begin with.

Thank God there are people weighing in on this from all sides. What I esp find striking,”Richards says in recent months he has grown increasingly troubled about Barton’s writings, so he asked 10 conservative Christian professors to assess Barton’s work.” He DIDN’T ask 10 secular liberal professors! Let’s see Barton refute their assessment. On the other hand, he might just judge them by saying that they aren’t real Christians to begin with.