In becoming a more and more non-Christian — if not anti-Christian — Australia, like most of the West, has lost something more than religious faith. Even some long-time atheists are starting to acknowledge that Christianity contributed something vital to the spirit of the West.

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Punk rock philosopher. Liberalist contrarian. Grumpy old bastard. I grew up in a generational-Labor-voting family. I kept the faith long after the political left had abandoned it. In the last decade...