Stephen C. Webster

June 10, 2011

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/10/exclusive-christians-must-reject-ayn-rand-faith-based-group-tells-raw-story/

During this time of financial crisis and talk of severe austerity measures in nearly every statehouse across the nation, the philosophy of author Ayn Rand has become a rallying cry for many leading Republicans who see her as something of a patron saint to American capitalism.

But before evangelicals fully commit to the tea party's favorite budget measures -- like eliminating Medicare and food aid for the poor -- one vocal Christian group thinks they should know something about the movement's famous figurehead.

Rand, perhaps best known for coining the philosophy of "Objectivism," was the author of numerous best-selling novels, including "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." Part and parcel with her philosophy is a complete separation of government and the economy -- an idea antithetical to progressives who see government partly as a policeman meant to protect individuals and communities from the worst abuses of power.

However, it's not just Rand's economic and regulatory arguments that has the non-profit advocacy group American Values Network (AVN) angsty: they want Republican evangelicals to know that Rand was also an atheist who quite literally hated Jesus. They've even produced a video to that effect.