Regarding what some people term self sacrifice, human sacrifice and selflessness; I would say again, those who fumble around ignorantly, thinking such things, taken to the extreme, will lead to happiness are misled and misinterpret scripture. The type of sacrifice that is good is when we give up something good (e.g. TV) for something better (e.g. reading). Again, the absence of force of any kind is crucial. Each is free to choose, for instance, a lower kind of pleasure over a type of activity that would bring true joy.
The definition of sin has application here. Sin is where we act truly selfishly (which is to say childishly, ignorantly, etc.) in distinction from when we act with enlightened self-interest. Sin, where we transgress, disobey natural law, wounds our spirits, our minds, the eternal in us. It impedes our love of self and life, our growth, our eternal progression. It is not so much that we get punished as it is that we fail to be who we are- “men of the mind,” higher, eternal beings with limitless eternal potential. “Selfless service” is the quickest way to get us back on track. It helps us re-focus and rebound. That we benefit most from that service and that the fact of that service’s beneficence to us is lost on many is of little consequence. Our progression toward greater happiness is what is important. The rest can be learned as we go. And that is one reason the scriptures so harp on faith and humility. It is impossible for mortal man to be all-knowing, just as it is impossible for the child not to be at least somewhat more ignorant than his father; so it’s wise to listen to the Exalted Man; the ultimate, perfected Objectivist, who is our Father in heaven. And to worship Him (and His Son) is but to follow the grave suggestions of a loving Father whose profit in the exchange with us is simply his joy in our happiness and our return to His presence. Yet when I get there, now and later, I(’ll) absolutely feel that I got the better part of the deal, as I do in any bit of intercourse into which I freely enter. Therefore, whenever I “sacrifice,” and serve someone else (Him or His kids), whether I like it or not, whether I’m aware of it or not, I get the better part of the deal, whether my profit be money, happiness or some other value, received now or later.
Have you ever “felt” the joy of being in the service of your fellow man? I feel it whether I’m being paid in money or not. It is the joy experienced by Dagny, et al in production. The full expression of one’s powers, enjoyed by Rand’s heroes can only be achieved through service. That is, that level of production can’t not yield fruit that is valuable to others. And even absent the joy of service, good luck getting rich without serving/creating value for others. Service/work is an eternal principle of truth and it’s impossible to not be compensated in kind or better, now or later (see Napoleon Hill’s “Law of Success” and “Think and Grow Rich”).
While I’m recommending books (beyond the Book of Mormon which is objectivism historicized, just as objectivism is the Gospel applied temporally), “Mormon Scientist” by Henry Eyring springs to mind, written about his granddad, the famous chemist; also, “The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace Wattles, more temporal application of spiritual, eternal laws applied to a quest for abundance. The point is, it all agrees, again, “All truth can be circumscribed into one great whole.” See also, freecapitalist.com (local radio show host’s site who turned me onto “Atlas”).
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