This challenging treatise by Sir Fred Hoyle, astrophysicist, begins by instructing us how to avoid "being sucked into a maelstrom of respectable ignorance. Whenever the word 'origin' is used, disbelieve everything you are told." Then, in a progressive, fathomable, fascinating discourse, he posits his beliefs about the organ of the universe, beginning with an explanation of the ice ages and his theory of the giant comet, the disintegration of which, Hoyle maintains, contributed to the origin of religion. Under expert guidance, we see how this event gave rise to the belief in Mohammed, early Christianity, and impacts on the thinking of medieval times.