#455 What is 'Natural,' Food, Life, and Religion - Alan Levinovitz

What is 'Natural,' Food, Life, and Religion - Alan Levinovitz Art of Living Author Interview Series... Welcome to The Not Old Better Show. I'm Paul Vogelzang, and this is episode #455. As part of our Art Of Living author interview series, today's show is fascinating. We'll be speaking with author, academic, and journalist Alan Levinovitz about his new book, 'Natural: "How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Harmful Fads…". Dr. Levinovitz will be reading a passage from his new book, too. I loved the book, and let me tell you a bit about this subject: Debates about what can be called 'natural' might seem unnecessary today, or even quaint, but not so this one, especially because our guest Alan Levinovitz answers our questions about how this focus on 'natural" drives more attention to COVID, religion, and the climate crisis From 'clean eating' to the countryside to Goop, 'natural' is assumed to be good and is almost a new religion, Dr. Levinovitz tells us today. Additionally, we'll hear from Dr. Levinovitz, who is an assistant professor of religion at James Madison University and a freelance journalist about our collective enchantment contradictions with what is "Natural," and with the concept of "natural," and tells us that often what qualifies as Natural is not simply a nutritional issue, but a moral one. "Natural" equates to "goodness," according to Dr. Levinovitz, "Seeking out natural products is about health, yes, but holistic health," he wrote. "Physical and spiritual, personal, and planetary. Nature becomes a secular stand-in for God, and the word 'natural' a synonym for 'holy, and even religion." Let's hear from Dr. Alan Levinovitz, reading from his new book, That of course is our guest today, author, academic, and journalist Alan Levinovitz reading from his new book, 'Natural: "How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Harmful Fads…" Please join me in welcoming to The Not Old Better Show, author, academic, and journalist Alan Levinovitz. My thanks to the author, academic and journalist Alan Levinovitz, 'Natural: "How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Harmful Fads…"And, my thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience. Please be safe, practice smart social distancing, be well, and remember, Let's Talk About Better. The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody. Please find out more at https://notold-better.com Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.