Some people are afraid of the word Nature. They cross themselves when they
hear it pronounced. It has a sound like “Old Nick” in their ears. To these
pious souls the word Nature banishes God from the universe. This is looked
upon by many as the highest offence of language. It has been the custom
for several centuries to abuse Nature, to call it bad names, and associate
it with depravity and everything evil. Theology has condemned the word,
and the pulpit has touched it only with the tips of its fingers. To speak
of Nature as anything good is regarded as throwing dirt in the eyes of
God.
Nothing clings to the world like a superstition. Start a fear in the human
breast, and it will make every heart quake before it can be driven out.
Let a bad habit become fixed, and it will be as hard to dislodge it as it
is to plant a good habit.
But men are getting over their fright somewhat. The natural is found to be
the true, not the false; the right, not the wrong; the good, not the bad.
Nature has been slandered, lied about. It was once thought necessary to
assassinate this word in order to preserve the Orthodox religion. The
necessity still remains, but orthodoxy is dying.
Nature is a large word. It means about all there is. If there is a God, he
is natural.