Charles Hartshorne (1897-2000) was one of the leading American developers and exponents of process philosophy. He also made significant contributions to the contemporary theological understandings of God, creation, suffering, and evil.

Charles Hartshorne was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, on June 5, 1897. His father, Francis C. Hartshorne, was an Episcopal clergyman and his mother, Marguerite Haughton, was the daughter of an Episcopal clergyman. Although in his own life not identified with a particular denomination, Hartshorne's religious background provided a definitive direction for his philosophical thinking. A serious youth given to much reading and reflection, he entered Haverford College in 1915. With the advent of World War I he became a hospital orderly in Normandy, France, and, as with many other participants in the war, the enormous toll in human lives and injury deeply upset him. Hartshorne returned from the war and entered Harvard, majoring in philosophy. He completed his undergraduate work...