A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 2 of 2 / Third edition, Revised and Expanded, in two volumes

A sweeping survey traces the emergence and development of freethought from ancient to modern times, emphasizing the English experience of religious persecution and heterodox currents, the spread of skeptical, naturalistic, and deistic ideas across Europe, and the impact of scientific challenges to orthodox cosmology. It charts debates in literature, theatre, and pamphletry, the prosecutions and defenses of unorthodox thinkers, and the intellectual contributions of philosophers and scientists who questioned revealed religion and promoted reason, tolerance, and inquiry. The narrative highlights the interplay between political power, theological controversy, and scientific advance in shaping modern secular and rationalist tendencies.