Ayn Rand wrote in a 1946 letter to Sylvia Austin "There is a great, basic contradiction in the teachings of Jesus. Jesus was one of the first great teachers to proclaim the basic principle of individualism -- the inviolate sanctity of man's soul, and the salvation of one's soul as one's first concern and highest goal; this means -- one's ego and the integrity of one's ego. But when it came to the next question, a code of ethics to observe for the salvation of one's soul -- (this means: what must one do in actual practice in order to save one's soul?) -- Jesus (or perhaps His interpreters) gave men a code of altruism, that is, a code which told them that in order to save one's soul, one must love or help or live for others. This means, the subordination of one's soul (or ego) to the wishes, desires or needs of others, which means the subordination of one's soul to the souls of others...." in which she wrote to repeat "Jesus was one of the first great teachers to proclaim the basic principle of individualism -- the inviolate sanctity of man's soul, and the salvation of one's soul as one's first concern and highest goal; this means -- one's ego and the integrity of one's ego." . Individualism is the basic American value. Did she change her mind afterwards?
http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/texts/je...

No. But Rand paid due respects to Christianity for the concept that all individuals have a unique identity which separates them from the collective. It is the basis for Individual Rights and is reflected in our Declaration Of Independence and elsewhere in the philosophies that led to our Bill Of Rights.

Where she differed from Christianity was in their belief that this identity was centered in a soul which belonged to their God.