ClayJones.net
As we have already seen, Ayn Rand was really big on self-esteem.
One of her “inner-circle” disciples, Nathaniel Branden, is often called “the father of the self-esteem movement.” As I mentioned yesterday, Rand and Branden (he was 14 years her junior) felt good enough about themselves to have a sexual affair with both their spouses’ knowledge. After all, as Atlas Shrugged makes perfectly clear, smart and successful people deserve each other. To object would be to admit you aren’t the kind of person Rand admired. Famously, however, sexual hijinks also ended Rand and Branden’s social and professional relationship when Brandon—apparently feeling too good about himself—had an affair with another woman without telling Ayn (their sexual relationship had already ended—Branden had blamed it on some unresolved psychological issues). To say Ayn was livid is an understatement akin to saying toddlers shouldn’t kiss rabid Dobermans.
Did you feel the love? Umm… pleasure seeking?
But, I can hear you thinking, “in spite of their sexual peccadillos the self-esteem movement is still a good thing, right?”
Wrong.
But let me back up a minute. Here are some of the principles upon which Brandon’s philosophy of self-esteem is based:1
- “I have a right to exist.” But if you are a murderer do you have the right to live?
- “I am of high value to myself.” Okay, but that’s like saying, “I can’t live without me.”
- “I have a right to honor my needs and wants….” Apparently, even if what I “want” is adulterous.
- “I am lovable.” But what if you’re just a selfish, gravy-sucking pig? Just saying that doesn’t make it true.
- “I am admirable.” Maybe not! Does anyone admire Charlie Manson?
- “I deserve to be treated… with respect by everyone.” Does Charlie Manson deserve this?
- “I am worthy of happiness.” Regardless of whether I treat others responsibly?
- “My happiness and self-realization are noble purposes.” It is true that everyone wants to be “happy” but on what basis is that want noble?
Now granted few people are like Pol Pot or Charlie Manson but the point is that simply being human, particularly from Rand’s or Branden’s atheistic worldview, doesn’t confer your right to exist, the right to honor your wants, or that you are lovable, admirable, or respected, etc.
No wonder that studies in the last ten years have revealed that the self-esteem movement is creating societally lazy, sometimes thuggish, ne’er-do-wells who, nonetheless, believe they are really wonderful.
One major study concluded that high self-esteem does not lead to better school performance and that “narcissists are charming at first but tend to alienate others eventually. Self-esteem has not been shown to predict the quality or duration of relationships….” Also, “High self-esteem does not prevent children from smoking, drinking, taking drugs, or engaging in early sex.” The study concludes by pointing out that “Praising all the children just for being themselves… simply devalues praise and confuses the young people as to what the legitimate standards are.”2 After all, saying “I am valuable simply because I am human” isn’t saying anymore than “I’m one in seven billion.”3
Thankfully, there is a God who created humankind in His image and so there are absolute standards upon which we can base our worth. And if we do well on this earth we can look forward to His one day telling us “well done.”
2 Corinthians 10:17-18: “‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
Amen.
