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Accepted Paper:
Conservatism and Technological Embrace: Meanings of Life and Gender in Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Discourse
Aivita Putnina
(University of Latvia)
The paper looks at the use of concept of life and consequently gender in conservative Christian environment. I argue that about the role of procreation reformulated vis a vis bio-technologies, play an important role in justifying and naturalizing conservative thought.
Paper long abstract:
Celebrating the 104th anniversary of the Latvian state in 18 November 2022, LELC Archi-bishop in his stately sermon claimed the true unification of the nation under the test for “giving life”. The speech and the biological understanding of life used there becomes an entry point in analysing the Christian conservatism as a technological embrace. As Jordanova (1995) has argued, a shift of associating children ‘naturally’ with their mothers instead of fathers occurs in 18th century due to shift in perspective in life sciences and technology. I look at its further contribution to contemporary conservative discourse allowing to justify pro-life and anti-LGBTQ+ positions while deleting its historical ties to science and “naturalizing” the work of God.