Rousseau's God offers a comprehensive interpretation of Rousseau's theological and religious
writings both in themselves and in relation to his philosophy of the natural goodness of man.
John T. Scott argues that there is a complicated relationship between Rousseau's philosophy on
the one hand and his theological and religious thought. This relationship revolves around two
oppositions: first between the attributes and psychological needs of natural man and social or
moral man second between the criteria of truth and utility for evaluating theological and
religious doctrines. In short because the justification of nature through the natural goodness
of man does not suffice for developed humans Rousseau offers theological and religious
doctrines which are less true than useful psychologically morally or politically--
