Atheism in History-with Professor Alec Ryrie

Atheism in History-with Professor Alec Ryrie

From The Rational Egoist by The Rational Egoist with Michael Liebowitz

April 22, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Professor Alec Ryrie joins Michael Liebowitz to discuss the history and meanings of atheism and notable atheists.

Professor Ryrie joins Michael to discuss the history of atheism, the different meanings of the term, and some famous atheists.Alexander Gray Ryrie is a British historian of Protestant Christianity, specializing in the history of England and Scotland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.[ He was Professor of Divinity at Gresham College from 2018 to 2022. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2019.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible. His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defense of individual rights and intellectual clarity. He is the co-author of two compelling books that…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Liebowitz

Guest: Professor Alec Ryrie

Topics covered

  • atheism
  • history
  • Protestant Christianity
  • famous atheists
  • sixteenth century
  • seventeenth century

Keywords

  • atheism
  • history
  • Protestant Christianity
  • famous atheists
  • sixteenth century
  • seventeenth century

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gresham College, British Academy

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