Thanks for this thoughtful reply! The Bastiat quote is a great find. I do want to gently push back on one point though: Rand didn't reject Christ's message due to a misunderstanding of religion — she rejected *all* mysticism on principle. Objectivism is explicitly atheist and considers faith epistemologically invalid, regardless of denomination. She wasn't missing the "grace vs. law" distinction; she rejected the transcendent altogether.

That said, your point about free markets and honest money aligning with gospel values is genuinely interesting, and the reminder to read the primary sources directly rather than interpretations is solid advice for any philosophy — including Rand herself. 🧡