of NBI's collapse, she declared that she did not even want an organized movement. Jim Peron responded to Shermer, Rothbard and others with an argument that similarities to cults are superficial at best and charges of cultism directed at Objectivists are ad hominem attacks. Objectivism, he said, lacks layers of initiation, a hierarchy, obligation, cost or physical coercion: In 2001, Rand's long-time associate Mary Ann Sures remarked: Meanwhile, Shermer, who considers himself an admirer of Rand, has tempered his judgment. Contrasting Peikoff's "heavy-hammer approach" with the "big-tent approach" of The Atlas Society, Shermer told Ed Hudgins: "If we're close enough on the same page about many things, I think it's more useful to cut people some slack, rather than going after them on some smaller points. I don't see the advantage of saying, 'You shouldn't have liked that movie because ultimately, if you were an Objectivist, you wouldn't have.' I guess it was those sorts of judgments made by some Objectiv[ists] that I objected to." See also Bibliography of Ayn Rand and Objectivism Libertarianism Objectivism and libertarianism References Works cited External links Ayn Rand Institute Ayn Rand Society ObjectivismOnline.Net The Atlas Society Leonard Peikoff's site Barbara Branden's site Ethical schools and movements Political movements Political theories