Mere Fidelity Between Nature and Grace
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Apr 9, 2026 
James Wood, a theological scholar versed in de Lubac and historical theology, and Joseph Minich, a philosopher-theologian probing metaphysics and tradition, trace the nature and grace debate. They sketch de Lubac’s challenge to “pure nature,” weigh risks of dualism and pantheism, and explore desire, participatory metaphysics, and whether the incarnation shapes creation’s destiny.
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Natural Desire For God Underpins Human Nature
- De Lubac and Blondel challenged the notion of a separate pure nature by arguing humans have an intrinsic desire for God that grounds their being.
- James Wood highlights Augustine's themes (restless heart; God nearer than the self) as the phenomenological basis for this natural desire.
Separation Of Nature And Grace Fuels Secular Politics
- De Lubac connected extrinsic dualism between nature and grace to the rise of secularism and political idolatries.
- He worried that sharply separating the natural political order from the supernatural makes it easy to order society without reference to God.
Affirm Gratuity While Keeping Distinction Intact
- Maintain both the radical ordering of nature to grace and the radical disjunction between them to avoid collapsing either.
- James Wood stresses affirming the gratuity of grace: God does not owe grace to nature and grace remains distinct.
