2007-03-20 14:55:49 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
a deist is someone who believes in God, but God is so far removed from His creation that He does not involve Himself in it and therefore to have a personal relationship with Him is impossible. God is like a divine clockmaker who wound up the "clock" called creation and then "detached Himself" from what He made and lets it run by itself through the natural laws that He made.
Many of our founding fathers were deists as the concept started in Europe then moved to the colonies in the eighteenth century. Deists denied the Trinity (Thomas Jefferson most prominently) and the supernatural if I'm not mistaken since they believed so heavily in natural laws. Jefferson took all the references to the deity of Christ out of the Bible.
2007-03-20 15:06:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Basically that some entity of higher power created the universe, this planet, and everything else, put it into motion, but at this point does not have anything to do with it. So, yes, "god" created the world, but doesn't interact/ interfere in our lives anymore.
Thomas Jefferson was a deist, though many have said he was more likely an atheist, but a closet one. It was a way of affirming he "believed", though he likely did not. At that time, to not believe in god wasn't as "accepted" as it is today.
Much like the fact Lincoln was an atheist. Though he never publicly ackowleged it, as it would have been detrimental to his political career.
2007-03-20 15:03:37 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A deist by definition is a person who believes in a deity - or supreme being. This knowledge may come through natural means - looking at the world of creation around us, or through moral means - looking at the concept of natural law. Or it can come through the Bible, although the Bible does not leave room for just believing in a deity. The Bible claims there is one true God, and that just simply believing in a god is not sufficient for salvation.
2007-03-20 15:01:26 · answer #3 · answered by Tim C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Deist is basically, someone who believes in God, but does not believe in any Prophet or Holy person, or any Sacred Scripture.
They believe that God Created the universe & everything that's in it, but, that's it.
2007-03-20 15:11:38 · answer #4 · answered by clusium1971 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The view of God as the "watch maker" who started the world and just sat back and watched, like a watch maker does with his product. They believe that God does not intervene in the world.
2007-03-20 15:01:40 · answer #5 · answered by Wardog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone who believes that a god was responsible for the existence of the universe but had no further involvement or interest in it.
2007-03-20 15:00:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a view that there is a Creator who operates by natural laws, but doesn't do the smiting, prophecy, and revelation.
2007-03-20 15:05:19 · answer #7 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The belief that God created the world and left it alone.
2007-03-20 14:59:48 · answer #8 · answered by Maikeru 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that a diest only believes in God the Father and not the trinity.
2007-03-20 15:02:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Someone who believes in a deity or deities (god or gods).
2007-03-20 15:00:36 · answer #10 · answered by jenn_smithson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋