Salon: Ayn Rand vs. the pope - The two contradictory philosophies warring for Paul Ryan's soul

[highplainsdem]

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/14/ayn_rand_vs_the_pope/

This naturally begs the question of how a devout Catholic can follow the social justice theology of the church yet also idolize an atheist that preached the “virtue of selfishness.” Somehow in Paul Ryan’s mind, Jesus Christ and Ayn Rand are complementary figures, not warring factions in defining how an individual should lead a moral life.

-snip-

It isn’t cynical to ask whether Ryan, seeing his career trajectory in ascendancy, chose to not alienate his socially conservative Christian base by repudiating a marginal philosophy he repeatedly touted in the past. But by doing so, he calls into question his intellectual honesty, particularly since his new intellectual role model, Thomas Aquinas, had a habit of writing collectivist things too: “Man should not consider his material possession his own, but as common to all, so as to share them without hesitation when others are in need.”

Interestingly enough, though, there is one rare area where the modern Catholic Church and Ayn Rand agree, and that’s the immorality of war. Unfortunately, this is the one area where Ryan breaks rank with both his intellectual models. Not only did Ryan vote in favor of the Iraq War, his budget proposal increases defense spending.

-snip-

Everyone has ideological idiosyncrasies, but some people hold beliefs so diametrically opposed to each other that you have to question their sincerity or their intellectual integrity. To tweak Lincoln’s famous line, a mind divided against itself cannot stand. And Paul Ryan is nothing if not divided against himself.

[Warpy]

1. What soul?

He wasn't using it so he sold it to Satan by the time he was out of college.

It would be nice, however, if Rome tried to slap politicians down over something besides abortion.

Then again they really don't give much of a shit about anything but keeping women poor and powerless and dead at a young age.

[Freddie]

2. My thoughts exactly

The Bishops talk nice about the poor, but the only thing that really matters to them is zygotes, and keeping women in their place. Paul Ryan is 100% Bishop-approved in those areas.

[notadmblnd]

3. I too, thought it was odd that such a fine Christian would buy into the thoughts and ideas

of an atheist? I mention it in a thread here somewhere.

[hifiguy]

4. I have seen bigger intellectual phonies and frauds than Lyin' Ryan

out there in the march of history but I will not name them. I have no desire to incite a flame war.

[FirstLight]

5. that would be

a good graphic... the belief contradictions....

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

6. If Ryan is a good Catholic, then Pope Ratfinger is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood

But then again I recall hearing that Jack the Ripper was in fact the Loch Ness Monster, so perhaps Ratfinger is a secret Muslim