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A

Acharya S (D. M. Murdock)

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Jesus mythicism.

Acts of the Apostles

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Agora (film)

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

Al-Ghazali

Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018). See also Islamic science, medieval; Tyson, Neil deGrasse.

• and the “decline” of Islamic science: Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018)

Albertus Magnus

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Alcuin of York

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021). See also Carolingian Renaissance.

Alexandria

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); The Great Library of Alexandria – Part One (2021); The Great Library of Alexandria – Part Two (2021); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Great Library of Alexandria; Serapeum; Hypatia of Alexandria.

Ammianus Marcellinus

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022).

Ananus son of Ananus (high priest)

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019). See also James, brother of Jesus; Josephus.

Ancient learning, loss of

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); History for Atheists on Answers in Reason (2020); Interview: Tom Holland on “Dominion” (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Manuscripts and copying; Great Library of Alexandria; Photios (Patriarch) and the Bibliotheca.

• pagan texts preserved by Christians: Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• survival and transmission of texts: The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023)

Annals (Tacitus) see Tacitus

Anti-Semitism

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Nazism and religion.

Antioch

Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Library of Antioch.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Antipodes

“Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016). See also Flat earth myth; Augustine of Hippo.

Antiquities of the Jews (Josephus) see Josephus

Apocalyptic Jesus

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Interview – Dr Kipp Davis on Jewish Apocalypticism (2024); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); History for Atheists on MythVision (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Historical Jesus; Kingdom of God; Ehrman, Bart D..

Apollonius of Tyana

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Aquinas, Thomas

Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Scholasticism.

Archimedes

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020). See also Archimedes Palimpsest.

Archimedes Palimpsest

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020). See also Archimedes; Manuscripts and copying.

Aristarchus of Samos

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Aristotle

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Natural philosophy; Scholasticism.

• and medieval universities: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• condemnations of 1210–1277: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020)

Astrology

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023).

Astronomy

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Heliocentrism; Geocentrism.

Athanasius of Alexandria

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017).

Atheism, history of

Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021). See also Unbelievers (Ryrie); Soviet atheism.

Athenian Academy, closing of

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020). See also Justinian I (emperor); Damascius.

Athens

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Athenian Academy, closing of.

Atwill, Joseph

Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018). See also Jesus mythicism.

Augustine of Hippo

“Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); The Church and Dissection (2022); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Literalism, biblical; Antipodes.

• on curiosity and learning: Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024)
• on interpreting Genesis: Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024)

Augustus (emperor)

Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Aurelian (emperor)

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Sol Invictus; Christmas.

Averroes (Ibn Rushd)

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023).

Avicenna (Ibn Sina)

Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023).

B

Babinski, Edward T.

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018).

Bacon, Roger

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Baghdad

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023).

Barberini, Maffeo see Urban VIII (pope)

Baronius, Cesare (cardinal)

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Basil of Caesarea

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020).

Bayes' theorem

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023). See also Carrier, Richard.

Beck, Roger

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Mithras and Mithraism.

Bede

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Eostre; Easter.

Bellarmine, Robert (cardinal)

Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galileo Galilei; Foscarini, Paolo Antonio.

• and Giordano Bruno: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017)
• letter to Foscarini (1615): Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• “true demonstration” of heliocentrism: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)

Bethlehem

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Nativity of Jesus.

Bible, interpretation of

Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Literalism, biblical.

Black Death

Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Cats and the Black Death (2023); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Black Death and cats.

Black Death and cats

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017). See also Gregory IX (pope).

Blackwell, Richard J.

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Boethius

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020).

Boghossian, Peter

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021).

Boniface (missionary)

Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025).

Boniface VIII (pope)

The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Dissection.

Bradwardine, Thomas

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Brahe, Tycho

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Tychonic system.

Bright Ages, The (Perry & Gabriele)

Interview – Dr David M. Perry on the “Dark Ages” (2024). See also Dark Ages.

Bruno, Giordano

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); “Atheistically Speaking” Podcast on History for Atheists (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019). See also Inquisition; Multiple worlds; Schoppe, Gaspar.

• as “martyr for science”: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020)
• cosmology / infinite worlds: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• in Cosmos (2014): Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018)
• theology and heresies: Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); “Atheistically Speaking” Podcast on History for Atheists (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• trial and execution: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)

Burckhardt, Jacob

Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018). See also Renaissance.

Buridan, Jean

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Byzantium / Byzantine Empire

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Constantinople.

C

Caesar, Julius

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Great Library of Alexandria.

Cameron, Alan

Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Canon, biblical

Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Constantine and the Bible (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Nicaea, Council of; Constantine I (emperor); Marcion.

Capernaum

Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019).

Carolingian Renaissance

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Charlemagne; Alcuin of York.

Carotta, Francesco

Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018). See also Jesus mythicism.

Carrier, Richard

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Jesus mythicism; Bayes' theorem.

• Bayesian argument: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)
• on “brother of the Lord”: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020)
• on Hypatia: Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017)
• On the Historicity of Jesus (2014): Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)
• responses to History for Atheists: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025)

Casey, Maurice

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Castelli, Benedetto

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Galilei.

Catholic Church

Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019). See also Papacy; Inquisition.

Celsus (anti-Christian writer)

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Censorship

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Index of Prohibited Books.

Centre Party (Germany)

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019). See also Nazism and religion.

Charlemagne

Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Carolingian Renaissance.

Chick, Jack T.

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Pagan Christmas (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021). See also Easter; Ishtar.

Christie, Thony

Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Interview – Sebastian Major on Galileo and History Myths (2022).

Christmas

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas (2020); Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Saturnalia; Sol Invictus; Yule; Mithras and Mithraism; Nothaft, Philipp.

• Christmas trees and customs: Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• date of 25 December: Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Pagan Christmas (2020)
• pagan origins claims: Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Cicero

Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

City of God (Augustine)

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021).

Classical learning see Ancient learning, loss of

Claudius (emperor)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Clavius, Christopher

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Jesuits.

Clement of Alexandria

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020).

Closing of the Western Mind, The (Freeman)

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Collegio Romano

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Jesuits.

Columbus, Christopher

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); How History is Done (2022). See also Flat earth myth.

Commentariolus (Copernicus)

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Conflict thesis

Interview – Hutchings & Ungureanu on the Conflict Thesis (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Draper, John William; White, Andrew Dickson; Galileo Affair; Science and religion.

Constantine I (emperor)

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Constantine and the Bible (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); The Crappy Golden Orrery Award 2023 (2024). See also Nicaea, Council of; Canon, biblical.

• and the Bible / canon: Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Constantine and the Bible (2021); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); The Crappy Golden Orrery Award 2023 (2024)
• conversion: Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Constantine and the Bible (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Constantinople

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Copernicus, Nicolaus

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025). See also Heliocentrism; Rheticus, Georg Joachim.

• Catholic reception: Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• deathbed publication myth: Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Protestant reception: Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025)

Corinthians, Letters to the

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Cosmas Indicopleustes

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024). See also Flat earth myth.

Cosmic Skeptic see O'Connor, Alex ("Cosmic Skeptic")

Cosmos (TV series)

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Sagan, Carl; Tyson, Neil deGrasse.

Council of Nicaea see Nicaea, Council of

Council of Trent

Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Counter-Reformation.

Counter-Reformation

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Council of Trent.

Coyne, Jerry

Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Creationism

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Literalism, biblical; Evolution.

Cremonini, Cesare

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Crucifixion of Jesus

Did Jesus Exist? The Jesus Myth Theory, Again. (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Pilate, Pontius.

Crusades

Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Religious wars and violence.

Cyril of Alexandria

Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

D

D'Souza, Dinesh

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021).

Da Vinci Code, The

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Constantine and the Bible (2021); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Damascius

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria; Athenian Academy, closing of.

Daniel, Book of

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020).

Dark Ages

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Non Sequitur Show 3: The “Dark Ages” (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Interview – Dr David M. Perry on the “Dark Ages” (2024); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Middle Ages; Petrarch; Gibbon, Edward; Renaissance.

• as an academic periodisation: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023)
• “Christian Dark Ages” chart / meme: Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• in popular culture and New Atheist rhetoric: Non Sequitur Show 3: The “Dark Ages” (2018); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• origin of the term: Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Interview – Dr David M. Perry on the “Dark Ages” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)

Dark, Ken

Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019).

Darkening Age, The (Nixey)

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024). See also Nixey, Catherine.

Darwin, Charles

Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Davidic descent of Jesus

Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021). See also Romans 1:3; Messiah.

Davis, Kipp

Interview – Dr Kipp Davis on Jewish Apocalypticism (2024).

Dawkins, Richard

Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also New Atheism.

• The God Delusion: Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023)
• Outgrowing God / children’s books: Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021)

De revolutionibus (Copernicus)

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Copernicus, Nicolaus; Osiander, Andreas.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Gibbon)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024). See also Gibbon, Edward.

Democritus

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020).

Descartes, René

Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025).

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems see Galileo Galilei

Diocletian (emperor)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Persecution of Christians.

Dionysus

Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Pagan parallels to Jesus.

Dissection

The Church and Dissection (2022); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galen; Vesalius, Andreas; Medicine.

• “Church banned dissection” myth: The Church and Dissection (2022); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)

Doherty, Earl

Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Jesus mythicism.

Domination (Roberts)

Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018). See also Roberts, Alice.

Dominicans

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Interview – Dr David M. Perry on the “Dark Ages” (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Dominion (Holland)

Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Interview: Tom Holland on “Dominion” (2021); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Holland, Tom.

Draper, John William

Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025). See also Conflict thesis; White, Andrew Dickson.

Dzielska, Maria

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

E

Easter

Easter, the Existence of Jesus and Dave Fitzgerald (2017); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Is Easter Pagan? (2022); Interview – Andrew Henry on Easter and “Pagan Origins” (2023); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Eostre; Ishtar; Passover; Hislop, Alexander.

• eggs and hares: Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Is Easter Pagan? (2022); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• Ishtar claims: Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• name, and Eostre: Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Ecclesiastical History (Socrates Scholasticus) see Socrates Scholasticus

Ehrman, Bart D.

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Interview – Bart Ehrman on Jesus Mythicism (2025); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Historical Jesus.

• Did Jesus Exist? (2012): Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Interview – Bart Ehrman on Jesus Mythicism (2025)
• The Triumph of Christianity (2018): Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Engels, Friedrich

Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021).

Enlightenment

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Interview: Ted McCormick on Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment (2021); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Voltaire; Pinker, Steven; Gibbon, Edward.

Eostre

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Easter; Bede.

Epicurus and Epicureanism

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Epiphanius of Salamis

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Eratosthenes

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020). See also Flat earth myth.

Euclid

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017).

Eusebius of Caesarea

Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019).

Evolution

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Creationism.

F

Falk, Seb

The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Gibbon, Edward; Dark Ages; Ward-Perkins, Bryan.

Feldman, Louis H.

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Josephus.

Finocchiaro, Maurice A.

Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galileo Affair.

Fitzgerald, David

Easter, the Existence of Jesus and Dave Fitzgerald (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023). See also Jesus mythicism.

• Nailed: Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)

Flat earth myth

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Non Sequitur Show 1 (2018); The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021). See also Columbus, Christopher; Cosmas Indicopleustes; Antipodes.

Florence

Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

Foscarini, Paolo Antonio

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Bellarmine, Robert (cardinal).

Franciscans

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024).

Fredriksen, Paula

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Freeman, Charles

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

French Revolution

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

Fry, Stephen

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

G

Gainsford, Peter

Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Galatians 1:19

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020). See also James, brother of Jesus.

Galatians, Letter to the

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Galen

The Church and Dissection (2022); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Dissection; Medicine.

Galilee

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019). See also Nazareth.

Galileo Affair

Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Interview – Sebastian Major on Galileo and History Myths (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galileo Galilei; Conflict thesis.

Galileo Galilei

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Interview – Sebastian Major on Galileo and History Myths (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Galileo Affair; Bellarmine, Robert (cardinal); Urban VIII (pope); Heliocentrism; Inquisition.

• 1616 injunction: Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• and Kepler: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632): Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• “Eppur si muove”: Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Letter to Castelli: Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina: Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• papal “apology” and rehabilitation: Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022)
• personality and relationships: Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• telescopic discoveries: Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• theory of the tides: Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• torture and imprisonment claims: Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• trial and sentence (1633): Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Interview – Sebastian Major on Galileo and History Myths (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• Two New Sciences: Galileo – History and Myth (2026)

Galileo Goes to Jail (ed. Numbers)

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Numbers, Ronald.

Genesis

Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022). See also Literalism, biblical; Creationism.

Geocentrism

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus); Heliocentrism; Tychonic system.

Gerbert of Aurillac (Sylvester II)

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

Gibbon, Edward

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Dark Ages; Fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Giese, Tiedemann

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Copernicus, Nicolaus.

God's Philosophers (Hannam)

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Hannam, James.

Goebbels, Joseph

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Hitler, Adolf.

Gospel of John

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Gospel of Luke

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Gospel of Mark

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021).

Gospel of Matthew

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020).

Gospels

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Canon, biblical.

• as historical sources: Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024)
• dating: Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Grayling, A. C.

Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Interview: Tom Holland on “Dominion” (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also New Atheism.

Great Fire of Rome (64 CE)

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017). See also Nero (emperor); Tacitus.

Great Library of Alexandria

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Non Sequitur Show 2: The Great Library and Hypatia (2018); The Great Library of Alexandria – Part One (2021); The Great Library of Alexandria – Part Two (2021); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); “Atheistically Speaking” Podcast on History for Atheists (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); History for Atheists on MythVision (2020). See also Serapeum; Mouseion (Alexandria); Ptolemy I and II (kings of Egypt); Hypatia of Alexandria.

• “destroyed by Christians” myth: Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020)
• “destroyed by Muslims” myth: Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); How History is Done (2022)
• destruction by Caesar (48 BCE): Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017)
• destruction under Aurelian (270s): Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017)
• holdings and size: Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022)
• in Cosmos and popular culture: Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021)

Greenblatt, Stephen

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Lucretius; Renaissance.

Gregory IX (pope)

Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Black Death and cats; Inquisition.

Gregory of Nyssa

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025).

Grosseteste, Robert

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

H

Halloween

Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Pagan Halloween? (2022); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Samhain; Hutton, Ronald.

• Samhain origins claim: Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Pagan Halloween? (2022); Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024)

Hannam, James

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Harris, Sam

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also New Atheism.

• The End of Faith: Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024)

Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

Interview – Dr Dan McClellan on the Hebrew Bible (2025); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021).

Hegesippus

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also James, brother of Jesus.

Heimskringla

Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Yule.

Heliocentrism

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Copernicus, Nicolaus; Galileo Galilei; Kepler, Johannes; Tychonic system.

• declared heretical? (1616): Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• evidence and scientific status c. 1600–1650: Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020)

Henry, Andrew

Interview – Andrew Henry on Easter and “Pagan Origins” (2023); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017).

Heresy (Nixey)

Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Nixey, Catherine.

Heresy and heretics

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022). See also Inquisition.

Herod Agrippa

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018).

Herod Antipas

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019).

Herod the Great

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Herophilus and Erasistratus

The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Dissection.

Hicks, Stephen

Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020).

Himmler, Heinrich

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021).

Hipparchus

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019).

Hippolytus of Rome

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Pagan Christmas (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Christmas.

Hirsi Ali, Ayaan

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017).

Hislop, Alexander

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017). See also Easter; Christmas; Ishtar.

Historical Jesus

Scientists and “Rationalists” Getting the Historical Jesus Wrong (2015); Easter, the Existence of Jesus and Dave Fitzgerald (2017); Did Jesus Exist? The Jesus Myth Theory, Again. (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); How History is Done (2022). See also Jesus mythicism; Apocalyptic Jesus; Ehrman, Bart D.; Josephus; Tacitus.

• criteria and method: Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)
• non-Christian references: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)
• scholarly consensus: PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021); Interview – Derek Lambert on Jesus Mythicism (2022); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024)

Historiography and historical method

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); How History is Done (2022); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Whig history; Pseudo-history.

History of the Warfare of Science with Theology (White)

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also White, Andrew Dickson.

Hitchens, Christopher

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025). See also New Atheism.

• God is Not Great: Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024)

Hitler, Adolf

Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Non Sequitur Show 1 (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Nazism and religion; Pius XII (pope).

• Mein Kampf: Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021)
• personal religious beliefs: Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Non Sequitur Show 1 (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023)
• Table Talk: Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021)

Holland, Tom

Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Interview: Tom Holland on “Dominion” (2021); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Dominion (Holland).

• Dominion (2019): Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Interview: Tom Holland on “Dominion” (2021); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Homer

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021).

Humanism (Renaissance)

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Renaissance; Petrarch.

Hume, David

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017).

Hutchings, David

Interview – Hutchings & Ungureanu on the Conflict Thesis (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Conflict thesis.

Hutton, Ronald

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Pagan Christmas (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Halloween; Christmas.

Hypatia of Alexandria

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Non Sequitur Show 2: The Great Library and Hypatia (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Hypatia – Myths and History (2024); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); “Atheistically Speaking” Podcast on History for Atheists (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020). See also Cyril of Alexandria; Theon of Alexandria; Agora (film); Serapeum.

• age at death: Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020)
• and the Great Library: Non Sequitur Show 2: The Great Library and Hypatia (2018); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020)
• as “martyr for science” / feminist icon: Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Non Sequitur Show 2: The Great Library and Hypatia (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); How History is Done (2022); Hypatia – Myths and History (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)
• in Agora (film): Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020)
• murder of: Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017)

I

Iamblichus

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Index of Prohibited Books

Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Censorship.

Infinite worlds see Multiple worlds

Inquisition

Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galileo Galilei; Bruno, Giordano; Torture.

• death toll: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• medieval inquisitions: Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Roman Inquisition: Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025)
• Spanish Inquisition: Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); How History is Done (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• use of torture: Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); How History is Done (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)

Interpolation (textual)

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025). See also Testimonium Flavianum; Tacitus.

Irenaeus

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025).

Isaiah, Book of

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Ishtar

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Easter; Hislop, Alexander.

Isidore of Seville

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020).

Islam, reform of

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017). See also Reformation.

Islamic science, medieval

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021). See also Al-Ghazali; Averroes (Ibn Rushd); Avicenna (Ibn Sina); Baghdad.

J

James, brother of Jesus

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Galatians 1:19; Josephus.

• “brother of the Lord” (Galatians 1:19): Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022)
• in Josephus (Antiquities XX): Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)

Jefferson, Thomas

Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023).

Jerome

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Jerusalem

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021).

Jesuits

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Clavius, Christopher; Riccioli, Giovanni Battista; Collegio Romano.

Jesus agnosticism

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023). See also Jesus mythicism; Myers, P. Z..

Jesus mythicism

Atheistically Speaking Podcast on Jesus Mythicism (2016); Did Jesus Exist? The Jesus Myth Theory, Again. (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Derek Lambert on Jesus Mythicism (2022); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Interview – Bart Ehrman on Jesus Mythicism (2025); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019). See also Historical Jesus; Carrier, Richard; Doherty, Earl; Fitzgerald, David; Price, Robert M.; Nazareth.

• “amalgam” / composite Jesus theory: Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Interview – Derek Lambert on Jesus Mythicism (2022)
• and pagan parallels: Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024)
• as atheist activism: Atheistically Speaking Podcast on Jesus Mythicism (2016); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Derek Lambert on Jesus Mythicism (2022); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022)
• celestial / heavenly Jesus theory: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); How History is Done (2022)
• “no contemporary references” argument: Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018)
• status in academia: PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)

John Chrysostom

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017).

John of Marignolli

Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Monstrous races; Maps, medieval.

John Paul II (pope)

Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Galilei.

John Philoponus

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

John the Baptist

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Johnstone, Nathan

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Interview – Dr Nathan Johnstone on New Atheist Bad History (2025); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); How History is Done (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also New Atheism.

Josephus

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020). See also Testimonium Flavianum; James, brother of Jesus.

• Antiquities XVIII (Testimonium): Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)
• Antiquities XX (James passage): Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)
• Origen’s knowledge of: Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)

Judas Iscariot

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Julian (emperor)

Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018). See also Paganism, late antique.

Justin Martyr

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024).

Justinian I (emperor)

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Athenian Academy, closing of.

K

Kelly, Henry Ansgar

Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Inquisition.

Kepler, Johannes

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Heliocentrism.

Kingdom of God

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Apocalyptic Jesus.

L

Lambert, Derek (MythVision)

History for Atheists on MythVision (2020); Interview – Derek Lambert on Jesus Mythicism (2022); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Jesus mythicism.

Lataster, Raphael

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023). See also Jesus mythicism.

Law, Stephen

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022). See also Jesus mythicism.

League of Militant Atheists

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021). See also Soviet atheism.

Lenin, Vladimir

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019). See also Soviet atheism.

Leo the Mathematician

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020).

Leonardo da Vinci

Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022).

Library of Antioch

Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017). See also Antioch.

Light Ages, The (Falk)

The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Falk, Seb.

Lindberg, David C.

Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Literalism, biblical

Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Bible, interpretation of; Augustine of Hippo; Creationism.

Lost ancient works see Ancient learning, loss of

Lucretius

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Greenblatt, Stephen.

Luther, Martin

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Reformation.

M

Macrobius

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Maher, Bill

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Major, Sebastian

Interview – Sebastian Major on Galileo and History Myths (2022).

Malalas, John

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020). See also Athenian Academy, closing of.

Manuscripts and copying

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Dr Kipp Davis on Jewish Apocalypticism (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Ancient learning, loss of; Archimedes Palimpsest.

Maps, medieval

Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Monstrous races.

Marcion

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024). See also Canon, biblical.

Marco Polo

Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

Marx, Karl

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021).

Mary, mother of Jesus

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020).

Mayer, Thomas F.

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Affair.

McClellan, Dan

Interview – Dr Dan McClellan on the Hebrew Bible (2025).

McCormick, Ted

Interview: Ted McCormick on Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment (2021). See also Enlightenment; Pinker, Steven.

McDaniel, Spencer Alexander

Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021).

Medicine

The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); How History is Done (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galen; Dissection.

Meier, John P.

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Mein Kampf see Hitler, Adolf

Melanchthon, Philip

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018).

Messiah

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021). See also Davidic descent of Jesus; Apocalyptic Jesus.

Middle Ages

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Dark Ages; Renaissance.

• science and natural philosophy in: “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025)

Miracles

Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Historical Jesus.

Mithras and Mithraism

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas (2020); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Christmas; Pagan parallels to Jesus; Sol Invictus.

Monasteries and monks

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Manuscripts and copying.

Monstrous races

Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Maps, medieval.

Moses

Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021).

Mouseion (Alexandria)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Great Library of Alexandria.

Multiple worlds

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020). See also Bruno, Giordano.

Myers, P. Z.

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018). See also Jesus mythicism; Jesus agnosticism.

N

Nativity of Jesus

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Bethlehem; Christmas.

Natural philosophy

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Aristotle; Scholasticism; Universities, medieval.

Nazareth

Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Interview – Bart Ehrman on Jesus Mythicism (2025). See also Salm, René; Dark, Ken.

• archaeology: Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023)
• existence in first century disputed: Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023); Interview – Bart Ehrman on Jesus Mythicism (2025)

Nazism and religion

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Hitler, Adolf; Pius XII (pope).

Nelson, L. Aron ("Aron Ra")

Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021).

Neoplatonism

Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Non Sequitur Show 2: The Great Library and Hypatia (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023). See also Plotinus; Hypatia of Alexandria; Proclus.

Nero (emperor)

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Tacitus; Persecution of Christians.

New Atheism

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Interview – Dr Nathan Johnstone on New Atheist Bad History (2025); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020). See also Dawkins, Richard; Harris, Sam; Hitchens, Christopher; Grayling, A. C.; Johnstone, Nathan.

New Atheism: Myth and History, The (Johnstone)

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); How History is Done (2022). See also Johnstone, Nathan.

Newton, Isaac

The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022).

Nicaea, Council of

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); Constantine and the Bible (2021); The Crappy Golden Orrery Award 2023 (2024). See also Constantine I (emperor); Canon, biblical.

Nicholas of Cusa

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Nixey, Catherine

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018). See also Heresy (Nixey).

• The Darkening Age (2017): Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); How History is Done (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• Heresy (2024): Review – Nixey, “Heresy” (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)

Nothaft, Philipp

Interview – Dr. Philipp Nothaft on the Date of Christmas (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Christmas.

Numbers, Ronald

“Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

O

O'Connor, Alex ("Cosmic Skeptic")

Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Galilei.

Occam's razor

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); How History is Done (2022). See also Jesus mythicism.

On the Historicity of Jesus (Carrier)

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Carrier, Richard.

Oresme, Nicole

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024).

Orestes (prefect of Alexandria)

Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

Origen

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Josephus.

Osiander, Andreas

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Ovid

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020).

P

Pacelli, Eugenio see Pius XII (pope)

Padua

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Pagan origins of Christian festivals

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Interview – Andrew Henry on Easter and “Pagan Origins” (2023); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Halloween? (2022); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Christmas; Easter; Halloween; Hislop, Alexander; Hutton, Ronald.

Pagan parallels to Jesus

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Jesus mythicism; Mithras and Mithraism.

Paganism, late antique

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022). See also Julian (emperor); Serapeum.

• Christian persecution of pagans: Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023)

Palmer, Ada

Interview – Dr Ada Palmer on Myths of the Renaissance (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Renaissance.

Papacy

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Catholic Church.

Passover

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Easter.

Paul the Apostle

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Interview – Joseph A.P. Wilson on Was Paul Sexist? (2023); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Galatians 1:19; Romans 1:3.

• and women: Interview – Joseph A.P. Wilson on Was Paul Sexist? (2023); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020)
• letters / epistles: Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025)
• on Jesus’ earthly existence: Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025)

Paulkovich, Michael

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019). See also Jesus mythicism.

Pearse, Roger

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Periodisation

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022). See also Dark Ages; Middle Ages; Renaissance.

Perry, David M.

Interview – Dr David M. Perry on the “Dark Ages” (2024). See also Dark Ages.

Persecution of Christians

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Nero (emperor); Diocletian (emperor).

Petrarch

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024). See also Dark Ages; Renaissance.

Philo of Alexandria

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021).

Philostratus

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Photios (Patriarch) and the Bibliotheca

The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Pilate, Pontius

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Pinker, Steven

Interview: Ted McCormick on Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment (2021); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020). See also Enlightenment.

Pius XI (pope)

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019).

Pius XII (pope)

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); Non Sequitur Show 1 (2018); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Hitler, Adolf.

• and the Holocaust: Why “History for Atheists”? (2015); Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019)
• Cornwell’s “Hitler’s Pope”: Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Podcast: Did the Catholic Church Support Hitler? (2017); Non Sequitur Show 1 (2018); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021)

Plato

Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021). See also Neoplatonism; Athenian Academy, closing of.

Pliny the Elder

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Pliny the Younger

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Plotinus

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020).

Plutarch

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Pontifical Academy of Sciences

Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also John Paul II (pope).

Positive Christianity (Nazi)

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Nazism and religion.

Price, Robert M.

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023). See also Jesus mythicism.

Proclus

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023).

Protestantism

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Reformation; Luther, Martin.

Prothero, Donald

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020).

Pseudo-history

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); The Archimedes Palimpsest (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Pagan Christmas (2020). See also Historiography and historical method.

Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Geocentrism.

Ptolemy I and II (kings of Egypt)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Great Library of Alexandria.

Pythagoras and Pythagoreans

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

R

"Rationality Rules" (Stephen Woodford)

“Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Holland, Tom.

Reformation

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Luther, Martin; Protestantism.

Reichskonkordat (1933)

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019). See also Pius XII (pope).

Religious wars and violence

Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021). See also Crusades; Thirty Years War; Wars of Religion.

Remsburg, John

Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018). See also Jesus mythicism.

Renaissance

Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Interview – Dr Ada Palmer on Myths of the Renaissance (2025); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); The Church and Dissection (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Burckhardt, Jacob; Humanism (Renaissance); Petrarch; Palmer, Ada; Twelfth Century Renaissance.

• and science: Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• Burckhardt and the invention of “the Renaissance”: Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Interview – Dr Ada Palmer on Myths of the Renaissance (2025); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026)
• “rediscovery” of ancient learning myth: Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Interview – Dr Ada Palmer on Myths of the Renaissance (2025)

Renan, Ernest

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023).

Resurrection of Jesus

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022). See also Easter; Miracles.

Revelation, Book of

Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021).

Rheticus, Georg Joachim

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Copernicus, Nicolaus.

Riccardi, Niccolò

Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Galilei.

Riccioli, Giovanni Battista

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Jesuits.

Roberts, Alice

Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Domination (Roberts).

Romans 1:3

Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Non Sequitur Show 4: Jesus Mythicism (2018); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021). See also Davidic descent of Jesus.

Rome

Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Pagan Christmas (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025).

Russell, Bertrand

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025).

Ryrie, Alec

Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Unbelievers (Ryrie).

S

Sagan, Carl

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Cosmos (TV series).

Salm, René

Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Interview – Prof. Ken Dark on the Archaeology of Jesus’ Nazareth (2023). See also Nazareth.

Samhain

Is Halloween Pagan? (2021). See also Halloween.

Sanders, E. P.

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Saturnalia

Pagan Christmas (2020); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Is Halloween Pagan? (2021). See also Christmas.

Schmidt, Thomas C.

Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Testimonium Flavianum.

Scholasticism

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021). See also Aquinas, Thomas; Universities, medieval; Natural philosophy.

Schönberg, Nikolaus von (cardinal)

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Schoppe, Gaspar

Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017). See also Bruno, Giordano.

Science and religion

Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Interview – Hutchings & Ungureanu on the Conflict Thesis (2022); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Conflict thesis.

Scientific Revolution

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021). See also Galileo Galilei; Copernicus, Nicolaus; Kepler, Johannes; Newton, Isaac.

Secularism

Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Enlightenment.

Seidensticker, Bob

Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019).

Seneca

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025).

Septuagint

Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025).

Serapeum

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022). See also Serapis; Theophilus of Alexandria; Great Library of Alexandria.

• destruction (391/392 CE): Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022)

Serapis

Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Serapeum.

Shapiro, Ben

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); 2018 – The Year in Review (2019); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Shea, William R.

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Interview: Thony Christie on the Galileo Affair (2021); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Slavery

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Dominion (Holland).

Socrates

Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017).

Socrates Scholasticus

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

Sol Invictus

Great Myths 2: Christmas, Mithras and Paganism (2016); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Pagan Christmas (2020); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Christmas; Aurelian (emperor); Mithras and Mithraism.

Soviet atheism

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); 2020 – The Year in Review (2021). See also Stalin, Joseph; Lenin, Vladimir; League of Militant Atheists.

Soviet Union

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019). See also Soviet atheism.

Stalin, Joseph

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Soviet atheism.

Stark, Rodney

Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025).

Steigmann-Gall, Richard

Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Nazism and religion.

Stenger, Victor

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024).

Suda

Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

Suetonius

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Tacitus.

Sunspots

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Galileo Galilei.

Synesius of Cyrene

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); The Lost Books of Photios’ Bibliotheca (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

T

Tacitus

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Suetonius.

• Annals XV.44 reference to Christ: Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)
• claims of interpolation: Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023)

Tarico, Valerie

Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019).

Tertullian

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020); The Church and Dissection (2022).

Testimonium Flavianum

Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022). See also Josephus; Origen.

• Origen and Eusebius: Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)
• partial authenticity / interpolation: Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Richard Carrier is Displeased, Again (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025)
• Whealey and Schmidt on: Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020)

Theodosius I (emperor)

Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020).

Theon of Alexandria

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020). See also Hypatia of Alexandria.

Theophilus of Alexandria

Edward T. Babinski Objects (2016); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022). See also Serapeum.

Thessalonians, Letters to the

Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 6: Paul’s Davidic Jesus in Romans 1:3 (2020).

Theudas

Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 3: “No Contemporary References to Jesus” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Thirty Years War

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Religious wars and violence.

Tiberius (emperor)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet (2018); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022); Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024).

Tides see Galileo Galilei

Timaeus (Plato)

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020).

Toledo

Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020).

Torture

Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024); Galileo – History and Myth (2026); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Inquisition.

Trajan (emperor)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Jesus Mythicism 2: “James, the Brother of the Lord” (2018); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Burning the Library of Antioch? (2022).

Transubstantiation

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Giordano Bruno – Gaspar Schoppe’s Account of his Condemnation (2017); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023).

Trinity

Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Nicaea, Council of.

Twelfth Century Renaissance

Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024). See also Renaissance.

Two Babylons, The (Hislop)

Easter, Ishtar, Eostre and Eggs (2017). See also Hislop, Alexander.

Tychonic system

“Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); “Aron Ra” Responds … Badly (2020); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Brahe, Tycho; Geocentrism; Heliocentrism.

Tyson, Neil deGrasse

Great Myths 1: The Medieval Flat Earth (2016); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Cosmos (TV series); Al-Ghazali.

• on al-Ghazali and Islamic science: Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018)
• on Giordano Bruno: Great Myths 3: Giordano Bruno was a Martyr for Science (2017)

U

Ulugh Beg

Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023).

Unbelievers (Ryrie)

Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Ryrie, Alec.

Ungureanu, James C.

Interview – Hutchings & Ungureanu on the Conflict Thesis (2022); The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Conflict thesis.

Universities, medieval

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); The History for Atheists Video Channel is Live (2021); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); The Church and Dissection (2022); Interview – Dr Thomas C. Schmidt on Josephus’ Testimonium (2025). See also Scholasticism; Natural philosophy.

Urban VIII (pope)

Galileo – History and Myth (2026); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Galileo Galilei.

V

Vatican

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); “Aron Ra” Gets Everything Wrong (2019); Galileo – History and Myth (2026). See also Papacy.

Vatican Observatory

Great Myths 7: “Hitler’s Pope”? (2019); Cosmic Skeptic Bungles Galileo (2022); Did the Pope Apologise to Galileo? (2025); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

Vermes, Geza

PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 5: The Nazareth “Myth” (2019); Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020).

Vesalius, Andreas

The Church and Dissection (2022); Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025). See also Dissection.

Vespasian (emperor)

Great Myths 5: The Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria (2017); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Jesus Mythicism 4: Jesus as an Amalgam of Many Figures (2019); Great Myths 11: Biblical Literalism (2021); Jesus Mythicism 8: Jesus, History and Miracles (2022).

Voltaire

Great Myths 4: Constantine, Nicaea and the Bible (2017); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Richard Dawkins Teaches the Children (2020); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Review – Ryrie, “Unbelievers” (2023). See also Enlightenment.

W

Ward-Perkins, Bryan

Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024). See also Fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Wars of Religion

Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017). See also Religious wars and violence.

Watts, Edward J.

The Closing of the Athenian Academy (2023); Review – Nixey, “The Darkening Age” (2017); Review – Ehrman, “The Triumph of Christianity” (2018); Review – Holland, “Dominion” (2020); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Great Myths 9: Hypatia of Alexandria (2020); Review – Roberts, “Domination” (2025). See also Hypatia of Alexandria; Athenian Academy, closing of.

Weikart, Richard

Hitler: Atheist, Pagan or Christian? (2021). See also Hitler, Adolf.

Whealey, Alice

Jesus Mythicism 7: Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum (2020). See also Testimonium Flavianum.

Whig history

An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); “The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Medieval Maps and Monsters (2019); Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Great Myths 8: The Loss of Ancient Learning (2020); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); Great Myths 15: What about “the Dark Ages?” (2024); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Historiography and historical method.

White, Andrew Dickson

Great Myths 16: The Conflict Between Science and Religion (2025); Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); The Church and Dissection (2022); Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Al-Ghazali (2023). See also Conflict thesis; Draper, John William.

Widmanstetter, Johann Albrecht

Great Myths 6: Copernicus’ Deathbed Publication (2018); Galileo – History and Myth (2026).

William of Conches

“The Dark Ages” – Popery, Periodisation and Pejoratives (2016); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); Great Myths 13: The Renaissance Myth (2021).

William of Ockham

Jesus Mythicism 1: The Tacitus Reference to Jesus (2017); Sam Harris’ Horrible Histories (2018); PZ Myers and “Jesus Agnosticism” (2018); Stephen Hicks Mangles History (2020); How History is Done (2022).

Wilson, Joseph A. P.

Interview – Joseph A.P. Wilson on Was Paul Sexist? (2023).

Witch craze

Review – Johnstone, “The New Atheism” (2019); Cats, the Black Death and a Pope (2017); Non Sequitur Show 3: The “Dark Ages” (2018); Great Myths 12: Religious Wars and Violence (2021); Great Myths 14: “The Inquisition” – Myths and History (2024). See also Black Death and cats.

Women in early Christianity

Interview – Joseph A.P. Wilson on Was Paul Sexist? (2023); Richard Carrier is Displeased (2016); An Islamic “Reformation”? – Pseudo History meets Politics (2017); PZ Myers and the Mythicists (2023); “Rationality Rules” Bungles Tom Holland (2025). See also Paul the Apostle; Hypatia of Alexandria.

Y

Yaroslavsky, Yemelyan

Great Myths 10: Soviet Atheism (2021). See also Soviet atheism.

Yule

Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024); Pagan Christmas (2020). See also Christmas; Heimskringla.

Z

Zeitgeist (film)

Pagan Christmas, Again. (2024). See also Jesus mythicism.