Congressman Ryan, a Conservative Catholic, made no bones about his love for Ayn Rand's signature novel, Atlas Shrugged, when he began his political career. The novel's portrayal of heroic entrepreneurs fighting an evil government fits perfectly with Ryans's ideal of conservatism. But a few years ago, the congressman began to feel pushback from traditional Christians who weren't so keen on Ayn Rand's theological views. How, it was asked, could Ryan condone an atheist who dismissed religionists as ignorant and deluded? The upshot: Ryan began parsing his words in a hurry.

Judging from recent trends, however, the icy divide over the God issue shows clear signs of melt. Gradual movement toward accommodation is coming not just from Christians wishing to co-opt Ayn Rand's capitalistic ethic, but from Randians seeking to expand their fan base.

A hint of compromise from the Randian side was evident this fall with the rollout of Atlas Shrugged, Part