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PatrickLars
Guest
If you’re a Deist, tells us why have you chosen to become one?
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Neil_Anthony
Guest
I used to be a deist, but it was because I had confused the term with “theist”… oops. I’m not a deist anymore, now that I know what it means.
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Charlemagne_II
Guest
Perhaps what is needed is a definition of deist that would be acceptable to all. Some people here might be deists and not even know it. Others might simply want to know what deism is.
There are several branches of deism, so that it is difficult to pin it down. Deism in 18th century Europe and America usually referred to people who had abandoned formal Christianity but had not abandoned God as a necessary explanation for why there seems to be order rather than chaos in the universe. Some of the deists framed original systems of ethics (Spinoza, for example) out of the need to acknowledge an ethical system without traditional religion as its base. Some of the deists also acknowledged truthful elements of Christianity (such as Isaac Newton, who could not abide the notion of a Trinitarian God). Most of the deists refused to be called atheists and often strongly declared themselves against atheism (such as Voltaire, Jefferson, and Paine).
At bottom, deism seems to be mainly a rationalist approach to God, but denies that God has any particular interest in His creation. That certainly describes Einstein, who seemed to think of God as a colossal genius (how about that!) but not much else. Einstein also declared himself strongly against atheism. If there is any consistency among the atheists, could it be that they are not particularly averse to Pascal’s Wager?
There are several branches of deism, so that it is difficult to pin it down. Deism in 18th century Europe and America usually referred to people who had abandoned formal Christianity but had not abandoned God as a necessary explanation for why there seems to be order rather than chaos in the universe. Some of the deists framed original systems of ethics (Spinoza, for example) out of the need to acknowledge an ethical system without traditional religion as its base. Some of the deists also acknowledged truthful elements of Christianity (such as Isaac Newton, who could not abide the notion of a Trinitarian God). Most of the deists refused to be called atheists and often strongly declared themselves against atheism (such as Voltaire, Jefferson, and Paine).
At bottom, deism seems to be mainly a rationalist approach to God, but denies that God has any particular interest in His creation. That certainly describes Einstein, who seemed to think of God as a colossal genius (how about that!) but not much else. Einstein also declared himself strongly against atheism. If there is any consistency among the atheists, could it be that they are not particularly averse to Pascal’s Wager?
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OriginalJS
Guest
Tom Paine and Thos. Jefferson were deists, which may explain why no minister of the gospel would bury Paine after he died. Take a look at the “Jefferson Bible” to see what Jefferson believed. From my observation, many Americans are deists, even if they don’t know what the word means. The number of Americans who say they believe in God, far, far outnumbers those who seriously pracdtice relgious faith.
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Charlemagne_II
Guest
Original
Take a look at the “Jefferson Bible” to see what Jefferson believed.
Jefferson certainly was a deist, yet I think he was the only one of them to take the teachings of Christ seriously. His so-called “Bible” was a brash attempt to set the record straight about what Jesus taught and did, minus the miracles. He had no use whatever for Catholicism, but counted himself a Christian in the sense that he thought Christ meant us to be Christians … mainly through his ethical teachings.
Take a look at the “Jefferson Bible” to see what Jefferson believed.
Jefferson certainly was a deist, yet I think he was the only one of them to take the teachings of Christ seriously. His so-called “Bible” was a brash attempt to set the record straight about what Jesus taught and did, minus the miracles. He had no use whatever for Catholicism, but counted himself a Christian in the sense that he thought Christ meant us to be Christians … mainly through his ethical teachings.
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Sonny1954
Guest
I admit that there are times of great spiritual pain or suffering that I cannot reconcile with a loving Father-God, when Deism has a strong intellectual appeal to me. Atheism seems irrational. If there had been no “first cause” then how could creation have come into existence? Something/Someone older, more intelligent, and greater than creation has to exist in order to bring creation into existence.
But when it seems to me that God isn’t listening or doesn’t care or seems “content” for suffering to go unabated, then Deism seems to fit the facts of my existence. Those are not the high points of my life, either. But it is a truth about me.
But when it seems to me that God isn’t listening or doesn’t care or seems “content” for suffering to go unabated, then Deism seems to fit the facts of my existence. Those are not the high points of my life, either. But it is a truth about me.
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AJTheMan
Guest
I don’t think deism is compatible with church teaching. Is it?
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Charlemagne_II
Guest
AJ
*I don’t think deism is compatible with church teaching. Is it? *
Only to the extent it admits of a Creator or Designer God. After that, it falls flat on its face so far as approaching the Catholic concept of God.
*I don’t think deism is compatible with church teaching. Is it? *
Only to the extent it admits of a Creator or Designer God. After that, it falls flat on its face so far as approaching the Catholic concept of God.
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Sonny1954
Guest
No, Deism is not compatible with Catholic doctrines. It is not Christian at all.
Deism posits that God’s greatest single attribute is logic. That all we can know about God is in the natural world around us and our application of logical reasoning to it. In Deism, God does not answer prayers. He does not become involved in human affairs. They believe it would be irrational for God to set up all of the physical rules that guide the universe and then interrupt the natural application of those ruless by stepping into the process by rearranging the order of things in accord with someone’s prayer.
Although Deists don’t see it that way, I find it a rather gloomy philosophical construct. That’s why it seems intellectually satisfying when God feels distant or does not answer prayers. I figure that S/He must be “up there” but just doesn’t care.
Deism posits that God’s greatest single attribute is logic. That all we can know about God is in the natural world around us and our application of logical reasoning to it. In Deism, God does not answer prayers. He does not become involved in human affairs. They believe it would be irrational for God to set up all of the physical rules that guide the universe and then interrupt the natural application of those ruless by stepping into the process by rearranging the order of things in accord with someone’s prayer.
Although Deists don’t see it that way, I find it a rather gloomy philosophical construct. That’s why it seems intellectually satisfying when God feels distant or does not answer prayers. I figure that S/He must be “up there” but just doesn’t care.
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grampben
Guest
As has been said, Deism is broad. From liberal christians to pantheists!
I’ve been attracted to deism a few times, from a humanist point of view. There may well have been a first cause - but that first cause may not exist anymore and at least can’t interact in the world. Therefore us humans have to learn to work and live together and look after each other.
I’ve been attracted to deism a few times, from a humanist point of view. There may well have been a first cause - but that first cause may not exist anymore and at least can’t interact in the world. Therefore us humans have to learn to work and live together and look after each other.
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