Nature's God
Nov 14, 2014•54 min
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Episode description
Recognize this?
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
Yup, it's the very first line of the American Declaration of Independence. And, yes, we know that the Declaration is not part of the Constitution. Sheesh. Give us a break - it's still pretty important. In fact, it's so important that we wonder: just what are these "Laws of Nature" and who is this “Nature’s God?” Jesus? Vishnu? Zeus? Or perhaps someone else? Author Matthew Stewart digs deep into history and philosophy and shares his findings with us in his new book, "Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic."
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
Yup, it's the very first line of the American Declaration of Independence. And, yes, we know that the Declaration is not part of the Constitution. Sheesh. Give us a break - it's still pretty important. In fact, it's so important that we wonder: just what are these "Laws of Nature" and who is this “Nature’s God?” Jesus? Vishnu? Zeus? Or perhaps someone else? Author Matthew Stewart digs deep into history and philosophy and shares his findings with us in his new book, "Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic."
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