Opinions on deism, atheism, and agnosticism?

Question

What do you think of the modern ideas of deism, atheism, and agnosticism? Is there any reason not to be a deist, an atheist, or an agnostic? If so, what is the reason? If not, what would happen in your life if you became one the three.

Answer 1

We atheists are nothing like what the church leaders are fond of charicaturing us as. We are freethinking individuals who are able to see the Big Picture without the blinders of religion. We do not live in despair, quite the contrary; freethought is incredibly refreshing, liberating, and empowering. We are not nihilists or agnostics, but lovers of life who see it as all the more precious because there's no eternal afterlife. We do not need the bribe of heaven or the threat of hell to be good people, we believe in being good for its own sake. Through science and reason, we know more about the true nature of the world we live in than your religion could ever hope to offer.

The fear of death is a natural thing, which is why you need to think hard about living your life for the moment. We are not the enemy of christians and other theists.

Answer 2

The problem here is that you assume that those who identify as deists are, in fact, inherently identifying themselves with the "same God" as the theistic disciplines, when this is, in fact, not necessarily so. I would argue that it can be rightly said that modern deism flows from Edward Herbert's original ideas on the subject. He vehemently rejected the Christian notion of a creator deity. He had a far more naturalistic view of creation, wherein the deity is revealed by way of it's creations and our ability to logically perceive this. Today those ideas are still in effect. You are quite correct when you state that deism is about no direct intervention-or, I'd say, even direct communication-by said deity. However, deism is NOT simply the "same religion without continued direct intervention". One simply cannot adhere to any defined theistic doctrine yet also be a deist. You could not be a Christian deist or Muslim deist. Deism, in and of itself, is a naturalistic view without all of the absolute dogma and doctrine of theism. While some deists might, through personal revelation, believe that deism has some absolute form, this is certainly not true of the whole. In addition, deism certainly cannot be defined as agnosticism. Agnosticism is about that which, supposedly, is beyond knowledge, but deists claim knowledge, so it just doesn't fit. However, since there exists the principle of agnostic theism, the principle of agnostic deism could exist as well. Lastly, how can being a deist be an act of cowardice? A true deist is trying side-step anything; rather, he boldly states that whatever deity there is does not conform to what the theistic disciplines say it does and is, in fact, beyond the petty actions and desires that most theistic disciplines seem to what to assign to it. There is certainly nothing cowardly about that.

Answer 3

Well I was going to write a nice enlightened answer, but efw above beat me to it and made all the points I was going to make. Actually, his/her first paragraph above could have been cut-n-pasted from some of the stuff I've written, right down to the phrases used. I guess great minds must think alike. :-)

The only thing I'll add is that religious beliefs tend to be hereditary; most people are of the same religion & denomination as their parents. So if there is a "reason" not to be atheist/agnostic/deist, it's that some people are simply raised under one of the more traditional religions, and are never provided with the intellectual tools to break out of that line of thinking.

Answer 4

To the person who said Deism sucks - do you even know what Deism is?? Probably not.

Deism is defined in Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1941, as: "[From Latin Deus, God.Deity] The doctrine or creed of a Deist." And Deist is defined in the same dictionary as: "One who believes in the existence of a God or supreme being but denies revealed religion, basing his belief on the light of nature and reason."

I personally believe in a supreme being who created the universe, set the clock ticking and then stepped back to watch. He/She /It is still watching.

"We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." The Dalai Lama

Answer 5

I am agnostic. I don't agree with any religion out there, and quite simply I don't like the idea of organized religion at all. People ask me if I feel empty because God isn't in my life. I say no, because I don't believe in a god and I am more self-reliant because of it. I know prayer won't help me, I help myself. My friends and family help me, and I help them in return. I have a very fulfilling life, and I love every minute of it. I am not under the delusion of a higher being in the sky. But, on the other hand, I believe there is something out there, we just can't comprehend it.

Answer 6

That's like a 10-20 page essay.

Simply, I pick atheism because it is the most probable and more believable.

Answer 7

I prefer to think that everything is God and we are all one thru the collective mind, thought and energy. We are just disconnected during our lifetimes like children searching for their parent or origin. I really don't know but it sounds OK to me. Otherwise the religious bit is really getting tiresome as a subject.

Answer 8

I think there is a reason to give it all a miss. God is not necessary to creation nor the running of the universe.

Answer 9

To each their own.

I'm an ex-catholic turned Agnostic. I don't judge or hate people based on something as silly as their faith.

Answer 10

Deismn sucks, and atheism rules!