Post-Energy Drink Ramblings

I am three hours post-energy drink, and I am sitting down to write. Went back to work, after... Interrupted by a phone call from David John. He’s into Columbia! And coming to New York in the fall. How cool is that!?!
So, now thirty minutes have gone by, and I haven’t written anything. Story of my life. So the topic is Reason. I want to deal with Reason in several parts. Even though I cannot visualize a cool flow of the text given a rigid outline, I think I need an outline (and it turns out I can’t make a non-rigid or fluid outline), so here it is.
What is Reason? Another interruption. Matthew came into the den asking about his iTouch apps and internet access. “No Matthew. I didn’t do anything to interfere with your internet access. No, Luke may not troubleshoot for you. Take a break. Read. You have an hour before bedtime, and I will read you a story then.”
Why is Reason so important to the Objectivist? What is Reason? How does the Christian view Reason? How do faith and reason interact?
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (1 Ephesians 1: 15-23)

God-centeredness vs. Others-centeredness

  At Brown University, I studied the Middle Ages. Amidst the violence and disease that caused me to prefer calling this period the "Dark Ages," I found the behavior of the monks refreshing. When they left their cloistered habitat to participate in the the lives of the people, they went about the work of another kingdom. The monks' inventions, scholarship, art, and building of hospitals renewed society and improved lives.
  So often, I see in myself and others the loud and clumsy proclamation of the way things should be, a kind of evangelism or proselytizing, whether it's Objectivism or Christianity. In contrast, the monks were busy doing excellent work. If anything, they were earning the right to be heard. But, even without being heard, the Gospel was being proclaimed in what people saw.
  When it comes to the sacrificial life, there is a subtle but crucial difference between the motivation of self-interest and God-centeredness. I am implying that sacrifice has a place in Objectivism because I am using a more broadly recognized definition than Ayn Rand uses. According to the common definition, sacrifice is not subjecting a greater value to a lesser. It's making the often difficult choice to forego a good value for a great one. In the case of the monks, they were putting their own lives (of great value to themselves) at the disposal of God (a much greater value). God, in turn, directs his work for the benefit of those whom he loves. At face value, the monks are putting others before themselves and this looks like Altruism. Whereas the motivation of Altruism is its own end, the monks' end is glorifying God.