An Explication of Philip Freneau's Poem, On the Religion of Nature.
In today's modern world, Philip Freneau's poem, which is entitled On the Religion of Nature, could possibly make one literally think of a religion worshipping not the traditional Lord, but celebrating Mother Earth, Father Sky and all the wonders of the natural landscape that they exist in such as trees, flowers, etc. In Freneau's time, he was simply trying to explain how perfect it would be if everyone followed just one religion. .
Freneau states "That the power of nature, ever blessed, bestowed religion with the rest." (5-6) His explanation that nature gives you religion he considers a blessing to man. Many modern religions today consider nature a religion and see crops growing and flowers blooming as a blessing, which has been bestowed upon them by their creator. .
Freneau may have been trying to say that we are born with a fixed destiny. "Born with ourselves, her early sway inclines the tender mind to take the path of right, fair virtue's way its own felicity to make." (7-10) In other words, there are no forks in the road, so to speak. There is only one way to go in life that has been predetermined for us. .
The third sestet discusses that if everyone followed one religion, the religion of nature, even teachers of philosophy would stop fighting over which religion was the correct one. "And from this source would nations know all that can make their heaven below." (17-18) Religion of nature is perfection and knowing and following this would make everyone's heaven on earth. Instead of waiting for death to go to such a glorious place called Heaven, seeing beauty in nature and seeing it as our religion would give us heaven now.
Lines nineteen through twenty-four illustrate man's religion in opposition to nature's religion. Nature's religion will not curse or "doom them to perpetual grief". (20) If you are not a believer, you will not be damned such as in man's religion.