Natural religion refers to belief in God and religious truth that is based on nature, reason, and experience rather than revelation or scripture. The concept emerged during the Enlightenment era as philosophers and theologians sought to examine religious beliefs from a rational perspective.
According to proponents of natural religion, evidence for the existence of God can be found by observing the natural world. Philosophers like John Locke pointed to the order and complexity of nature as evidence of an intelligent designer behind creation. Thinkers also appealed to common human experiences and innate moral sense as pointing to divine origins. They argued that qualities like consciousness, morality, and spirituality set humans apart from other animals and reflect a divine spark within.
Deists were among the chief defenders of natural religion. Deists believed God created the universe with natural laws human reason could discern. Once creation was complete, God left the world to run on its own according to these natural laws. Deists like Thomas Jefferson thought natural religion was universal – common sense and reason would lead any person to see God’s handiwork in nature.
Protestant theologians also appealed to natural religion to defend core Christian doctrines. Theologians argued Bible teachings about God’s power, goodness, and providence were affirmed by nature and reason. Biblical moral commands like prohibitions against murder were thought to agree with natural human conscience. While special revelation was seen as higher, natural revelation provided common ground between Christians and unbelievers.
Defenders argued natural religion had several key advantages. First, it provided common ground between different faiths and even non-believers. Since it was based on reason rather than specific doctrines, natural religion could be accepted by a broad range of people. Second, it accorded with new Enlightenment confidence in science and reason as tools for discovering truth. Third, it allowed belief in God without dependence on miraculous events like revelation or divine intervention into nature.
However, critics argued natural religion had serious shortcomings. Many criticized it as promoting a vague, simplified view of God that left out core Christian beliefs like the incarnation and atonement. Thinkers like John Calvin and Karl Barth argued key doctrines like original sin and salvation by grace could only be known through special revelation in Scripture. Critics also argued humans’ fallen moral condition meant their reason alone was an unreliable guide to spiritual truth apart from Scripture. This was a common objection from evangelical Protestants.
Debates over natural religion paralleled larger Enlightenment-era debates over the roles of faith and reason in determining truth. For some, natural religion upheld confidence in human reason’s ability to discern spiritual and moral truths. But others argued revelation and Scripture remained essential due to the limitations of natural knowledge about God and human sinfulness. These debates continue to shape views on whether people can know God apart from special revelation.
In summary, natural religion refers to belief in God based on reason and nature rather than revelation. It emerged during the Enlightenment among deists, Protestant thinkers, and rationalist philosophers. Proponents argued the design of the universe and human experiences like morality provide evidence for God’s existence knowable to all people without scripture or miracles. However, critics objected that natural religion promotes a simplified view of God and overestimates natural reason’s reliability due to human sinfulness. The concept remains significant as a lens for examining tensions between faith and reason in determining theological truth.
Biblical Foundation
Though the Bible does not directly address the philosophical concept of “natural religion,” it does teach that nature gives evidence of God’s existence that is perceptible to humans. Several biblical passages suggest people can perceive God’s attributes and presence by observing creation.
For example, Psalm 19:1 states that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” This suggests creation bears witness to the Creator. In Romans 1:20, Paul says God’s “invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” This implies people can discern God’s power and divinity by examining the natural world.
Other passages like Acts 14:17, Acts 17:24-27, and Job 12:7-10 make similar points about creation testifying to God’s existence and presence. These texts provide a biblical foundation for the view that observation of nature can lead to knowledge of God.
At the same time, the Bible holds that special revelation (the prophets, Scripture, Jesus) provides fuller and more authoritative knowledge of God. Psalm 19 contrasts natural revelation in verses 1-6 with Scripture’s perfect revelation in verses 7-11. And while Romans 1 says people can perceive God’s power in nature, it also teaches human suppression of natural knowledge of God (v.18-20). Special revelation gives knowledge of salvation unavailable simply through reason.
In summary, the Bible teaches natural revelation in creation gives evidence of God, but also indicates Scripture provides fuller, clearer, and more authoritative revelation. This accords with some natural religion views while challenging others that marginalize special revelation or see reason alone as sufficient.
Historical Background
Natural religion has been a recurrent theme throughout the history of philosophy and theology. Belief that God’s existence and attributes can be known through observing nature dates back at least to Plato. However, natural religion became a major focus during the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Deism, which emerged in England in the late 1600s, emphasized natural religion. Deists like Lord Herbert of Cherbury, John Toland, and Matthew Tindal argued reason and nature were the only reliable guides to religious truth. They compiled rational proofs for God’s existence and providence from universal human reason and physical causes rather than relying on revelation, miracles, or tradition.
Enlightenment thinkers including John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau appealed to natural religion as giving rational grounding to religious and moral beliefs. Locke’s Reasonableness of Christianity argued for Christianity’s accord with natural reason and common sense. Isaac Newton’s physics revealed orderly natural laws befitting a divine creator. Moral sense philosophers like Francis Hutcheson posited an innate moral sense in humans indicative of God’s design.
Protestant theologians and apologists adopted aspects of natural religion to defend Christianity to Enlightenment rationalism. Joseph Butler’s Analogy of Religion argued human conscience and nature’s orderly design revealed common ground between natural knowledge of God and Christian revelation. William Paley’s watchmaker analogy used mechanical design in nature to point to a divine designer.
Critics like David Hume challenged natural religion from an empiricist standpoint. Hume argued there was no empirical basis for inferring an intelligent designer from the unguided processes of nature alone. Immanuel Kant critiqued traditional proofs of God’s existence and emphasized moral reason as grounding religion.
In the 19th century, natural religion flowed into arguments from natural theology as new scientific discoveries revealed nature’s complexity. Figures like Asa Gray saw Darwinian evolution as compatible with design. Today, the Intelligent Design movement appeals to aspects of natural religion in critiquing scientific materialism.
In summary, natural religion emerged as a significant emphasis during the Enlightenment among deists, philosophers, and Protestant apologists. It remains an important lens for discussing the relationship between reason, science, and faith.
Key Thinkers and Debates
Natural religion has been a subject of debate between numerous influential thinkers across philosophy, theology, and the sciences. Examining key voices sheds light on the diversity of perspectives.
Deists
Deists like Lord Herbert of Cherbury, John Toland, Matthew Tindal, and Voltaire used reason and nature alone to argue for belief in a Creator God. They compiled rational proofs from first principles or empirical facts to demonstrate God’s existence, providence, and role as moral legislator. Deists rejected revelation and miracles as bases for religion, arguing they were rationally uncertain.
Empiricists
Empiricists like John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume examined natural religion based on their epistemology rooted in sense experience. Locke saw sufficient evidence in nature to infer God’s existence. Berkeley argued regularities in nature implied divine volition behind natural laws. But Hume critiqued inductions from design as lacking empirical or logical justification.
Protestant Apologists
Protestant thinkers like John Wise, Joseph Butler, William Paley, and William Derham appealed to natural religion to show Christianity’s reasonableness. They argued the design manifest in nature aligned with Christian revelation, though revelation provided fuller knowledge. Critics like John Calvin saw natural reason as corrupted after the Fall and dependent on Scripture.
Romanticism
Some Romantic authors like William Wordsworth found God’s presence revealed directly in emotional experiences of nature rather than inferences from design. Critics like William Blake critiqued natural religion as promoting a distant God removed from human experience.
Natural Theology
Scientific discoveries from biology, astronomy, and physics in the 18th-19th centuries provided new empirical bases for natural theology, from William Whewell to Asa Gray. Proponents argued sciences like geology and Darwin’s theory revealed deeper divine design in complex natural processes.
In summary, debates between deists, empiricists, Protestant apologists, Romantic writers, and natural theologians illustrate some diversity on natural religion. These disputes touch on key issues like the roles of reason versus revelation, empiricism, and scientific evidence for or against design.
Key Issues and Questions
Natural religion relates to several key philosophical, theological, and scientific issues which remain points of discussion:
Does the natural world provide evidence of God’s existence?
Central to natural religion is whether features of the natural world like its order, design, and causal regularities point to a Creator. This issue relates to debates over design arguments and the explanatory value of theism versus scientific materialism.
Can God’s attributes be known through reason and nature alone?
Deists believed reason and nature provided knowledge of God’s core attributes like power, wisdom, and goodness. Critics argue divine attributes like love and justice are only fully known through revelation. What is knowable of God from nature remains debated.
Does natural religion align with or conflict with revealed religion?
A historical question is whether rational proofs of God’s existence undermine faith in revelation, or whether they can complement and support revealed doctrines. Natural religion’s friendliness toward reason was viewed by some as challenging orthodoxy.
Can science and faith both access truths about God and creation?
For centuries, scientific study of the natural world was seen as reinforcing theology. Today, debates over evolution, cosmology, and human origins highlight perceived conflicts. Can scientific and theological claims be reconciled?
Does natural religion promote religious pluralism?
Since natural religion derives from common reason and nature rather than revelation, some argue it provides shared truth between faiths. But critics contend it sacrifices unique doctrinal truths for a watered-down pluralism.
Engaging these questions from philosophical, theological, and scientific angles helps shed light on this historically significant religious concept.
Critiques and Responses
Natural religion has been critiqued on various grounds. Examining key criticisms and responses clarifies strengths and weaknesses of this approach to religious knowledge.
Critique 1: Natural Religion Leads to Deism or Atheism
Some critics argue reliance on reason over revelation leads to diminishing religious beliefs. Søren Kierkegaard claimed natural religion’s impersonal rational God leads to atheism. Karl Barth argued it tends toward “religion without revelation.”
Response: Some natural religion proponents saw reason and nature as complementing revelation. Natural evidences were viewed as strengthening rather than opposing doctrines. Other proponents adopted more radical deism but did maintain core theistic beliefs.
Critique 2: It Rejects Essential Doctrines like Trinity, Incarnation, Grace
Reformed critics argued natural religion rejects key Christian doctrines only knowable by revelation, like the Trinity. It also allegedly rejects human depravity and need for grace affirmed in Scripture.
Response: Most natural religion advocates did not reject these doctrines entirely but saw reason and nature as only giving partial knowledge. Some like John Locke argued reason affirms “probability” of Scripture’s teachings.
Critique 3: Reason Alone is an Unreliable Guide Due to Human Sinfulness
Critics in the Reformed tradition argued human perception and reason were impacted by the Fall. Due to biases and tendencies to suppress truth, reason cannot be relied on apart from Scripture’s guidance.
Response: Proponents argued core moral and rational capacities remain intact despite sin. Common notions of God and ethics persist across cultures and eras, indicating shared rational grounds.
Critique 4: Scientific Materialism Undermines Arguments from Design
Hume questioned perceived design in nature as lacking demonstrative logical necessity. Darwinian evolution provided naturalistic explanations for apparent design. Some consider nature “red in tooth and claw.”
Response: Contemporary Intelligent Design movement argues nature, especially biological complexity, still indicates intentional design. Fine-tuning is explained best by a Designer. Apparent “flaws” in design may reflect human ignorance.
Engaging these critiques clarifies boundaries and limitations of natural religion as an approach to knowledge of God and religious truth.
Connection to Culture and Christian Living
Natural religion also relates significantly to Christian life and witness in contemporary culture. Considerations include:
Perspectives on Science and Faith
Natural religion interfaces with debates on science-faith relations. Does fine-tuning of physical laws or biological complexity reflect design? Christian apologists utilize new scientific discoveries to highlight glimpses of God in nature.
Defending Core Moral Values
Appeals to natural law and conscience provide bases for upholding moral realism against relativism. Arguments that moral values stem from humans being created by a moral God have cultural traction.
Nuanced Apologetics
Natural religion provides starting points for apologetics but has limits in supporting core doctrines. Christians should acknowledge common ground while clarifying the need for revelation.
Avoiding Extremes of Rationalism or Fideism
Natural religion highlights ongoing tensions between faith and reason. Christians should thoughtfully engage evidence while recognizing faith’s limits and role in knowing God.
Ongoing Relevance of General Revelation
Christians can affirm with natural religion that God reveals Himself through creation and conscience. General revelation complements the gospel as a witness.
In summary, natural religion overlaps with several aspects of Christian witness and cultural engagement. Careful, nuanced employment of its insights can support sharing gospel truth.
Conclusion
Natural religion remains a philosophically and theologically rich concept. It upholds human reason and the natural world as sources of knowledge of God distinct from special revelation. The significant debates it has sparked across centuries highlight abiding tensions: between reason and revelation, natural evidence and the supernatural, common ground and distinctive doctrines. If engaged judiciously, natural religion can provide helpful starting points for cultural apologetics and witnessing to a creative, rational God evident in the natural order. However, Christian truth ultimately rests on God graciously condescending to reveal Himself not just in creation but personally through Christ.
