A study of George Berkeley (1685-1753), perhaps best known for his teaching that matter is superfluous and unintelligible. But as the author shows, much of his life was governed by religious concerns, both practical and theoretical.

This is a study of George Berkeley (1685-1753), perhaps best known for his teaching that matter is superfluous and unintelligible. But as the author shows, much of his life and work was governed by religious concerns, both practical and theoretical. He became Dean of Derry in 1724 and embarked on a project to establish a college in Bermuda in 1728. In 1734 he became Bishop of Cloyne. According to A.N. Wilson's recent biography of C.S. Lewis, it was Lewis' reading of Berkely which brought him to Christianity.