An atheist says, "I truly believe Africa needs God"

This is a really good article. Very insightful. Matthew Parris is someone who knows Africa. He grew up there and has extensively traveled throughout the continent. He doesn't explain why he is "Now a confirmed atheist", but he doesn't let that get in the way of truly seeing the good that comes from Christian conversion.

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.

And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.

Here's the article by Matthew Parris at Times Online.