Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

   10. (Mus.)
       (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human
           throat, in distinction from instrumental music.
       (b) Of or pertaining to a key which has neither a flat
           nor a sharp for its signature, as the key of C major.
       (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which
           moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but
           little from the original key. --Moore (Encyc. of
           Music).

   {Natural day}, the space of twenty-four hours. --Chaucer.

   {Natural fats}, {Natural gas}, etc. See under {Fat}, {Gas}.
      etc.

   {Natural Harmony} (Mus.), the harmony of the triad or common
      chord.

   {Natural history}, in its broadest sense, a history or
      description of nature as a whole, incuding the sciences of
      {botany}, {zo["o]logy}, {geology}, {mineralogy},
      {paleontology}, {chemistry}, and {physics}. In recent
      usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of
      botany and zo["o]logy collectively, and sometimes to the
      science of zoology alone.

   {Natural law}, that instinctive sense of justice and of right
      and wrong, which is native in mankind, as distinguished
      from specifically revealed divine law, and formulated
      human law.

   {Natural modulation} (Mus.), transition from one key to its
      relative keys.

   {Natural order}. (Nat. Hist.) See under {order}.

   {Natural person}. (Law) See under {person}, n.

   {Natural philosophy}, originally, the study of nature in
      general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science,
      commonly called {physics}, which treats of the phenomena
      and laws of matter and considers those effects only which
      are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; --
      contrasted with mental and moral philosophy.

   {Natural scale} (Mus.), a scale which is written without
      flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less
      likely to mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales
      represented by the use of flats and sharps) being equally
      natural with the so-called natural scale

   {Natural science}, natural history, in its broadest sense; --
      used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral
      science.

   {Natural selection} (Biol.), a supposed operation of natural
      laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed
      selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in
      the survival of the fittest. The theory of natural
      selection supposes that this has been brought about mainly
      by gradual changes of environment which have led to
      corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms
      which have become so modified as to be best adapted to the
      changed environment have tended to survive and leave
      similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly
      adapted have tended to die out though lack of fitness for
      the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the
      fittest. See {Darwinism}.

   {Natural system} (Bot. & Zo["o]l.), a classification based
      upon real affinities, as shown in the structure of all
      parts of the organisms, and by their embryology.

            It should be borne in mind that the natural system
            of botany is natural only in the constitution of its
            genera, tribes, orders, etc., and in its grand
            divisions.                            --Gray.
      

   {Natural theology}, or {Natural religion}, that part of
      theological science which treats of those evidences of the
      existence and attributes of the Supreme Being which are
      exhibited in nature; -- distinguished from revealed
      religion. See Quotation under {Natural}, a., 3.

   {Natural vowel}, the vowel sound heard in urn, furl, sir,
      her, etc.; -- so called as being uttered in the easiest
      open position of the mouth organs. See {Neutral vowel},
      under {Neutral} and Guide to Pronunciation, [sect] 17.

   Syn: See {Native}.

Religion \Re*li"gion\ (r[-e]*l[i^]j"[u^]n), n. [F., from L.
   religio; cf. religens pious, revering the gods, Gr. 'ale`gein
   to heed, have a care. Cf. {Neglect}.]
   1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their
      recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having
      power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and
      honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love,
      fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power,
      whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites
      and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of
      faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical
      religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion;
      revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion
      of idol worshipers.

            An orderly life so far as others are able to observe
            us is now and then produced by prudential motives or
            by dint of habit; but without seriousness there can
            be no religious principle at the bottom, no course
            of conduct from religious motives; in a word, there
            can be no religion.                   --Paley.

            Religion [was] not, as too often now, used as
            equivalent for godliness; but . . . it expressed the
            outer form and embodiment which the inward spirit of
            a true or a false devotion assumed.   --Trench.

            Religions, by which are meant the modes of divine
            worship proper to different tribes, nations, or
            communities, and based on the belief held in common
            by the members of them severally. . . . There is no
            living religion without something like a doctrine.
            On the other hand, a doctrine, however elaborate,
            does not constitute a religion.       --C. P. Tiele
                                                  (Encyc.
                                                  Brit.).

            Religion . . . means the conscious relation between
            man and God, and the expression of that relation in
            human conduct.                        --J.
                                                  K["o]stlin
                                                  (Schaff-Herzog
                                                  Encyc.)

            After the most straitest sect of our religion I
            lived a Pharisee.                     --Acts xxvi.
                                                  5.

            The image of a brute, adorned With gay religions
            full of pomp and gold.                --Milton.

   2. Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts
      inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life
      and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and
      practice.

            Let us with caution indulge the supposition that
            morality can be maintained without religion.
                                                  --Washington.

            Religion will attend you . . . as a pleasant and
            useful companion in every proper place, and every
            temperate occupation of life.         --Buckminster.

   3. (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a
      regulated mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter
      religion. --Trench.

            A good man was there of religion.     --Chaucer.

   4. Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as
      if it were an enjoined rule of conduct. [R.]

            Those parts of pleading which in ancient times might
            perhaps be material, but at this time are become
            only mere styles and forms, are still continued with
            much religion.                        --Sir M. Hale.

   Note: Religion, as distinguished from theology, is
         subjective, designating the feelings and acts of men
         which relate to God; while theology is objective, and
         denotes those ideas which man entertains respecting the
         God whom he worships, especially his systematized views
         of God. As distinguished from morality, religion
         denotes the influences and motives to human duty which
         are found in the character and will of God, while
         morality describes the duties to man, to which true
         religion always influences. As distinguished from
         piety, religion is a high sense of moral obligation and
         spirit of reverence or worship which affect the heart
         of man with respect to the Deity, while piety, which
         first expressed the feelings of a child toward a
         parent, is used for that filial sentiment of veneration
         and love which we owe to the Father of all. As
         distinguished from sanctity, religion is the means by
         which sanctity is achieved, sanctity denoting primarily
         that purity of heart and life which results from
         habitual communion with God, and a sense of his
         continual presence.

   {Natural religion}, a religion based upon the evidences of a
      God and his qualities, which is supplied by natural
      phenomena. See {Natural theology}, under {Natural}.

   {Religion of humanity}, a name sometimes given to a religion
      founded upon positivism as a philosophical basis.

   {Revealed religion}, that which is based upon direct
      communication of God's will to mankind; especially, the
      Christian religion, based on the revelations recorded in
      the Old and New Testaments.