For those of you not familiar with Deism, here are the basics:
1. God Exists
2. Reason is the primary tool by which we seek to understand God and the Universe.
3. God Created the Universe, or caused its creation.
4. God does not interfere in the universe he created.
5. All revelations from God currently being espoused are false, but we may each still find inspiration from within ourselves.
6. There is no such thing as the “supernatural”… just things humanity may not understand as of yet.
7. God should be revered, and thanked, but never petitioned.
Please no one word answers. I am trying to understand both sides.
2007-01-23 15:55:55 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thank you all for your answers. In response to the below, I am aware that most of the founding fathers were Deists, yet a lot of “religious” people say they were mostly Christians. I too believe actions speak louder than words and I do my best to make sure that I sleep well at night and not go against that “spirit” inside of me when it tells me the path to take (although I do poke fun at the Christians on this board ;)) I have felt too many things in my life to consider myself atheist, but having a free mind keeps me from being fanatical. To OpinionatedKitten: My idea of God is the source of all that is. To put it in context it is the Bang the Big Bang theory. No I can’t just do away with it because I do not consider how it serves me. I consider it as what I know.
2007-01-23 16:20:32 · update #1
I don't consider Deism evil.
Your brief summary is not the entire scope of Deism...nor do all Deist's agree on all things.
2007-01-23 16:35:55 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't have a problem with number 1,2,3, but the rest I take issue with.
4. God does interfere. If He did not, no one could be saved. He brings life to the believer upon conversion. He draws us to Himself in various ways.
5. Finding inspiration from yourself is an exercise in folly because you are limited to your finite mind and understanding and therefore your God becomes yourself. All understanding of the universe is limited to one human mind.
6. no supernatural? Well if you believe that God does not interfere with His creation then I could understand where a person could come to that conclusion, but since I don't believe that then I have to disagree. God is independant of His creation. He has the ability to inject Himself into it as He sees fit. Prophecy is just one of the many ways He does this. Fulfilled prophecy disproves this assertion.
7. God should be petitioned. Why not petition a God that created you? What is the harm? Christians are instructed to petition God.
That is my understanding of truth. I am a christian because I believe the Bible and have seen God at work in my life.
2007-01-23 16:07:54 · answer #2 · answered by sheepinarowboat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is evil because bad people use God in their defence of doing bad things. It takes away a person's motivation for free will with the concept that God already has a plan that we cannot change. It makes people angry when bad things happens, wondering why God has abandoned them, instead of accepting that bad things happen randomly and for no reason.
2007-01-23 16:20:51 · answer #3 · answered by God Fears Me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, just because I disagree with some of the principles of Deism, I wouldn't call it evil. Most of our founding fathers were Deists.
2007-01-23 16:04:05 · answer #4 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a thank you to verify actuality, and all actuality is divine, is to ask God. yet because you do no longer think of that's attainable, you will use prognosis to attempt to coach it theologically. All that exists is the present. What existed is a dream and so is what is going to exist. If one thinks that reincarnation could be shown scientifically and that via doing so it may prepare that God is benevolent, then you will have self assurance in technological know-how. have self assurance interior the sunshine which you would be toddlers of sunshine.
2016-12-16 12:10:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not see Deism as evil. I am personally much closer to GOD then what you have written here and you can be too. But I would not call it evil at all.
2007-01-23 16:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to be a Deist. I don't think it is evil. If someone were able to convince me Catholicism is false, I would happily go back to Deism.
2007-01-23 15:59:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most of the founding fathers of America were Deists. No I do not believe that it is evil in any way.
2007-01-23 15:59:32 · answer #8 · answered by Medusa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No
It seems quite sane a position. If I believed in a deity I most likely would be a Deist.
2007-01-23 16:01:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not evil, but why do you need that God at all? What is He to you? He's the prime mover, but after that he just lets things be? Why does he need to be there then? Can't you just do without that concept altogether?
2007-01-23 16:03:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋