Often, rationality and spirituality are considered hostile opposites. In this view, rationality subjects spirituality to harsh and ruthless criticism, while spirituality chides rationality for its blindness to higher values and transcendental experience. Both tend to deny the value of the other, throwing out the baby of their insights with the bath water of their misunderstandings.
Nowhere is this more obvious that of the work of Ayn Rand and her magnum opus Atlas shrugged. As an outspoken atheist and critic of religion and mysticism, Ayn Rand's followers tend to take an antagonistic view towards any talk of spirituality or religion. Religious or spiritual teachers, on the other hand, use ad hominem arguments against Ayn Rand and the "cult" of her followers to attempt to sidestep the criticisms that she levels of their beliefs.
As the proponent of a "rational" spirituality, I find both of these positions lacking. Rather, I find unending beauty and power and Ayn Rand's ideas and writings, including her devastating critique of religious and spiritual teachers and teachings. At the same time, I feel that Ayn Rand profoundly misunderstood a spirituality built on a phenomenological inquiry into the nature of human consciousness. In the same way, I appreciate the critiques of Ayn Rand's stance from such integral philosophers as Ken Wilber, and find his descriptions of a trans-rational spirituality to be both accurate and reasonable.
I intend, on this blog, to use many of the insights of Ken Wilber, especially his work on the "Pre-Trans fallacy" to 1) highlight and honor them many fundamental and monumental contributions that Ayn Rand has made to the human quest for self realization and knowledge, and 2) clearly differentiate between a pre-rational and trans-rational spirituality, highlighting how Ayn Rand's critique can both help us recognize our own self-deceptions around "spirit" and become a powerful tool in our own spiritual realization. In other words, I will go through both sides of the Pre-Trans fallacy, and help us transcend the misunderstandings, while including the insights of each.
While I believe event Ayn Rand's fans and followers will gain greatly through this introduction to a rational spirituality, I see even greater value for the "spiritual" among us who have yet to thoroughly confront and integrate Ayn Rand's ideas into their own lives. Welcome to Money Is The Root Of All Good - The Blog
Mark Michael Lewis
http://aGameWeAllCanWin.com
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