Volume 123 Issue 1 January/February 2008 Editorial: Incredible Mr Darwin The more science uncovers, the more brilliant the father of evolution is revealed to be Cover Story Interview: Watching David Attenborough Laurie Taylor turns the microscope on to the man who’s brought us life on earth, in the freezer, under the oceans and in the undergrowthColumns Politicised religion requires a militant response It’s not peace in heaven that religion is after, but political power here on Earth, says Elizabeth Wilson American barbarity How do you justify the unspeakable? Simply invoke the threat of terrorism, says Stan Cohen Features The closing of the Christian mind In the late fourth century political expediency led a ruthless Roman emperor to shut down debate within the Christian church. Charles Freeman explains Spoil yourself Luxury may mean excess, vulgarity and obscene waste. But, argues Sally Feldman , it’s also a basic humanist instinct Backward Christian soldiers Evangelicals are taking over the US military, reports David Belden . And one man’s determined to stop them Dinner with Darwin To celebrate the birthday of the father of evolution we asked a selection of scientific commentators, including Steve Jones and Jerry Coyne , what they’d like to say to him round the supper table. Taking liberties True freedom requires not wealth but faith, says social theorist Stein Ringen Acting up He speaks approvingly of Lenin and Robespierre and packs lecture halls across the world. But is “stand-up philosopher” Slavoj Žižek serious? asks John Clark Fall out For many years the government has been in bed with the Islamists of the Muslim Council of Britain. But, finds Dave Rich , the tide is turning Regulars Thinker: Carl Jung Underlying Carl Jung 's brand of radical metaphysics, claims Paul Bishop , is a deep vein of rationalism Doomsday diary Filmmaker Ben Anthony visits the cult at the end of the world End Game: Lean on me Laurie Taylor offers his shoulder to cry onCulture Capture the moment Truth, immediacy, humanity – Peter Hamilton celebrates the work of two major photographers Book Reviews The Happiest Man in the World by Alec Wilkinson Michael Bywater is in awe of Poppa NeutrinoAfrican Psycho by Alain Mabanckou Natalie Haynes is unimpressed by an African murder mysteryVillages of Vision: A Study of Strange Utopias by Gillian Darley Ken Worpole visits utopian villages with Gillian DarleyDeath at Intervals by José Saramago Philip Womack admires another fable from Nobel Laureate José Saramago Counterknowledge by Damian Thomson AC Grayling reviews a Catholic attack on nonsenseThe Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google by Nicholas Carr Bill Thompson is excited by the digital revolution