Nick Spencer draws on Darwin’s autobiography, manuscripts, notebooks and letters – as well as his world-famous publications – in exploring Darwin’s view of design, purpose, morality, the universe and the human mind.  The author argues that, although Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection did undermine his Christian faith, it was the age-old problem of suffering – first in theory, then through the dreadful loss of his favourite child – that caused it to break down.  

This is the first full-length account of Darwin’s religious beliefs to be published in the UK.