---
title: "Paul Ryan’s Religious Biography"
description: "Part of a series of profiles of the 2012 presidential candidates and their religious beliefs."
date: "2012-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Tom Rosentiel"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/2012/08/13/profile-of-paul-ryan-and-his-religious-beliefs/"
categories:
  - "Religion & Politics"
  - "Religion & Politics"
---

# Paul Ryan’s Religious Biography

Paul Ryan, the youngest of four children in an Irish-Catholic family, was born in Janesville, Wis., where he still lives. At age 16, he found his 55-year-old father dead of a heart attack at the Ryan family home. His father's death reportedly led to a period of soul-searching, during which he read the works of novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand and others. Ryan has cited Rand as a major influence on his decision to seek a career in public service, although he rejects her well-known atheism.

[Read the full religious profile](https://projects.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/rp2012/paul-ryan/).