Chuck Colson speaks of the philosophy of Ayn Rand in a recent Breakpoint commentary. Apparently, Atlas Shrugged, Rand's most popular work, came in second (next to the Bible) in a 1991 Book-of-the-Month Club and Library of Congress survey asking members which book had most influenced their lives. According to Colson, 50 years after the book's publication and 25 years after Rand's death, Atlas Shrugged is still widely read. "Given its popularity and impact," as Colson says, it should be read by Christian believers as well.
Rand's "me-first" philosophy essentially turns Christian philosophy on its head (from what I remember of what I read some time ago). Virtue is whatever serves the self; vice is self-sacrifice. (In an intellectual sort of way...her philosophy is complex, and caution should be exercised when trying to boil it down. However, the way she takes true evils and attaches them to non-evils, and vice-versa, is the essence of rationalistic confusion, as well as of that which rationalizes.)
Colson goes on to mention a book by Scott Ryan explaining how Rand's manipulative behavior was justified by her beliefs:
We're not talking here about personal flaws or merely human weaknesses. As Ryan puts it, these abuses are "demonstrably connected to Rand's own 'philosophical' premises"—that is, her worldview.
What this illustrates is that people don't necessarily develop behavior to suit their beliefs; more likely it's the other way around. They search for a belief system that allows them to justify what they want to think and do. Essentially, they search for a system that justifies or has already established those beliefs which they themselves hold in seminal form. Even among those who call themselves Christians, you will find this. Once a person has "sanctified" her behavior by her beliefs, then, she establishes both the behavior and the beliefs. Her behavior will then follow from her beliefs -- and vice-versa -- in an ongoing cycle of justification.
(Makes you wonder why justification is so important to such a person...)
In contrast to behavior sanctified by beliefs is that which follows belief authored, not by oneself, but by God. There is no one who accepts the gospel who is not brought to reckon with his or her own thoughts and behaviors. The gospel compels a person to repent -- turn from wickedness -- and walk in the Spirit. Only by the Spirit can this self-sacrifice occur. Certainly self-sacrificial behavior is evident among those who do not profess to be Christians, but I believe it's still led by the Spirit, Who can work in and through anyone. Yet it's only the person that consciously wills to serve the Father who can consistently walk in the Spirit.
That is why it is said, "You will know them by their fruit" (Matthew 7). "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23).
Upright thought and behavior needs no rationalization.
