It most certainly is and if you go back far enough, it was the fear of nature more generally. Western religion grew out of pagan / fertility religions where the Gods were natural forces - praying for rain etc. Interesting theory is that we evolved to personify natural forces because we evolved to be aware of predatory indicators - ex: a bush moving around may indicate an animal. Well, a big thunder crack in the sky and pouring rain may also be some being- and we better not upset it otherwise we cant grow food and we will die.
