For example, many religious traditions consider austerity and renunciation from material pleasures a virtue. Randian libertarianism characterizes selfishness as a virtue.
To consider as divine is to deify, to declare as innocent is to exonerate, to hold as a virtue is to —?
The simplest solution would be to say
Randian libertarianism praises selfishness.
I am thinking of the following usage:
Praise
v. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.
v. To extol or exalt; worship.
However, I will have to agree with @JLT that extol is probably the most appropriate word here. It is not very common and might be considered pompous in other settings but is particularly well fitted to discussion of religion.
Randian libertarianism extols selfishness.
Depending on how importunate, or vehement one is, to hold a virtue in high regard importunately or vehemently is to TOUT.
Randian libertarianism touts selfishness as a virtue.
Or,
A form of Christian asceticism touts mortification as a virtue.
One such word would be the following:
To hold a trait as a virtue is to honor it.
a : to regard or treat (someone) with admiration and respect : to regard or treat with honor
b : to give special recognition to : to confer honor on
I believe three words which come very close and have not yet been mentioned are esteem, venerate, and revere.
