The Myth of Nature

The myth of nature treats the created world as a moral authority—something inherently good, normative, and self-justifying. While nature is real, the myth arises when people read into it laws, meanings, and moral standards that belong only to God. From ancient Greek philosophy to the Enlightenment and Romanticism, “nature” was increasingly viewed as a guiding force rather than a fallen creation. This thinking led to moral relativism and evolutionary ethics, where right and wrong constantly change. Darwinism reinforced the idea that whatever exists in nature is therefore good. From this flowed modern justifications for sexual immorality, lawlessness, and the rejection of Biblical standards, seen clearly in thinkers like the Marquis de Sade and later in the Kinsey Reports. Biblically, nature is created, fallen, and in bondage, awaiting redemption (Rom. 8:18–23). It is not a source of law or morality. Only God and His revealed Word provide true standards. When nature replaces God, culture drifts into chaos; when God’s law is restored, order and life follow.