Hiding God in the State of Nature

Alan Levinovitz

Nature and natural sound secular, and the state of nature seems like a secular idea. In reality, appeals to the state of nature are inherently theological. Such appeals are cross-cultural and transhistorical, revealing a deep human need for a benevolent organizing force that provides the foundational pattern for well-ordered lives and institutions. This talk will examine the theological basis of appeals to nature in a variety of contexts, from sexuality to economic theory, and demonstrate how the insights of religious studies help to explain the allure of “naturalness” in supposedly secular contexts.