Atheistic and Christian faiths - a contest of delusions?

A third area of comparison between Christian faith and atheistic faith is that of personal transformation.

An episode of Australian Story broadcast last year, titled "Hell For Leather", featured the remarkable rescue and redemption in the lives of former hardened criminal and heroin dealer Terry Walker, and former policeman Ron Favaloro, who was facing multiple drug related charges.

The lives of both men were radically turned around, from despair to hope, and from crime to benevolent philanthropy (such as giving away mountains of food to the needy six days a week), as a direct result of their respective Christian conversions.

And an episode of Gangs of Oz last year featured an ex-member of a violent and ruthless criminal gang who gave his life to God and is now a law abiding citizen and productive member of society.

I have yet to hear of any similar transformations resulting from conversion to atheism.

The title of Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion calls to mind the story of a hopeless alcoholic whose life was dramatically transformed by his Christian conversion.

Replying to the charge that his conversion was merely a delusion, he said: "I thank God for this wonderful delusion! It has put clothes on my children, shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me, and put joy and peace into my home, which previously had been sheer hell. If this is a delusion, may God send it to the slaves of alcohol everywhere, for their slavery is an awful reality."

The ultimate comparison, of course, is between Jesus of Nazareth and any atheist you'd care to name. At the risk of stating the obvious, there's never been anyone remotely approaching an atheistic equivalent of this humble carpenter's son, who started what became a world-wide movement of redemption and transformation by teaching, living, and dying for, the values of faith, love, justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation and self-sacrifice.

His impact, influence and inspiration have well and truly stood the test of time, remaining undiminished 20 centuries later. Whatever else this may be, it's certainly no delusion.