The Bible of nature : $b or, The principles of secularism. A contribution to the religion of the future
"The Bible of Nature; or, The Principles of Secularism" by Felix L. Oswald is a philosophical treatise written in the late 19th century. This work argues for a new "Religion of Nature" that contrasts sharply with traditional supernatural religions, advocating for secularism grounded in natural laws and human instincts. Oswald critiques the historical suppression of science and reason by religious institutions, proposing that true enlightenment and moral guidelines should derive from nature rather than dogma. The opening portion establishes a historical critique of religious influences on human development, suggesting that the duality of superstition and antinaturalism has hindered human progress and well-being. Oswald outlines how past religions have fostered mental and physical degeneration through doctrines that reject natural instincts, emphasizing the need for a new secular philosophy that promotes health, knowledge, and human rights. He introduces the foundational principles of physical, mental, and moral maxims, which aim to reclaim the divine aspects of human experience from the grasp of oppressive beliefs, ultimately asserting that humanity's future lies in embracing reason and our innate instincts.