Natural Religion

Natural religion might have the following meanings:

  • In the modern study of religion it is used to refer to the notion that there is a spontaneous religious apprehension of the world common to all human beings, see:
    • Urreligion
    • origin of religion
    • anthropology of religion
  • As a reverent form of nature worship, embodied in a well-known quote from Frank Lloyd Wright: "I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."
  • Referring to the religions of people prior to their Christianization.

Famous quotes containing the words natural religion, natural and/or religion:

    “The love of truth, virtue, and the happiness of mankind are specious pretexts, but not the inward principles that set divines at work; else why should they affect to abuse human reason, to disparage natural religion, to traduce the philosophers as they universally do?”
    —George Berkeley (1685–1753)

    “Nothing natural can be wholly unworthy.”
    —Anna Julia Cooper (1859–1964)

    “Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.”
    —C.S. (Clive Staples)