I was raised as a Christian (Anglican), but I now call myself a deist. I know of some people who are concerned by this, so I figured I would try to describe what it means to be a deist. First, what is deism?
'Deism' is a belief in God based on reason (natural revelation), and specifically not on recorded scripture or events (special revelation).
A 'deist' believes in God, and believes that reason on its own can provide sufficient access to religious truths.
Deism differs from other religions primarily by its rejection of scripture. For example, a 'deist church' would be a contradiction because it would have no scripture to espouse! With no organisation and no directives, deists will generally not evangelise their beliefs. Indeed, a newly-found deist may have never known other deists; they simply apply their own reasoning and reached the same core conclusions as those before them.
Despite the ad-hoc nature of deism, almost all deists would agree with the following statements:
- God instigated reality
- God does not interfere with reality
- We should give thanks to God
- We should not not ask anything of God
Of course, the ad-hoc nature of deism ensures that each deist will have beliefs different from their peers. For example, one belief of mine not supported by all other deists is:
I should assist others in the enjoyment of their lives, just as I try to enjoy my own.
The reasoning here is simple: Life has obviously been provided to all of us, and is rooted in the same cause (ie. God). If I am to treasure my own life and give thanks to God, then I should presumably also treasure the lives of others. Therefore I should do what I can to improve the lives of all, not just my own.
Like the majority (but not all!) deists, I also believe that questions about the afterlife are not important. I feel that many religions rely on the "afterlife" as a place of reward or punishment, and use this as a guide to moral behaviour. I choose to ignore the question of the afterlife, and trust that moral behaviour can be derived from reasoning about this life. In that way, my beliefs are more aligned with those of the deist writer Thomas Paine:
I trouble not myself about the manner of future existence. I content myself with believing, even to positive conviction, that the power that gave me existence is able to continue it, in any form and manner he pleases, either with or without this body; and it appears more probable to me that I shall continue to exist hereafter than that I should have had existence, as I now have, before that existence began.
Perhaps what I find most amusing about deism and Christianity is how similar the morality and behaviour they suggest. Both suggest we be thankful to God, and treat our fellows with care. However, deist beliefs seem to be less likely to raise conflict with others... I am aware that some people are concerned by my non-Christian beliefs, but as a deist I am not concerned by their Christian beliefs. It is not clear to me how to allay their concerns, but I hope that this post has helped.
6 comments:
I agree.
Radio waves we know exist but we cannot see them, touch them or feel them. Yet we have been smart enough to figure out ways to prove they exist.
On the other hand, as smart as we all are, not one of us can create a humble grain of sand from nothing. Yet we know sand exists.
I believe that 'something' has created these items, but as to the how and who I haven't a clue. It is like this higher 'lifeform' has fitted a block in our thought patterns that prevents us figuring out how this higher lifeform functions, where they are, how they came into being, what lies in store for us and how they made the humble grain of sand from nothing.
Many use religion as their belief for these things, and that is their right. But to me, religion does not answer my questions. So I guess that makes me a 'deist' of some kind too.
Like Peter, apologies if this offends, it is not my intention.
Keith
Ack, you're positing a god based on reason? Otherwise it all made sense to me, and it seems to make you a good person. Despite the basic difference (god vs no god), deism doesn't seem so far off from my agnosticism/weak atheism/whatever we're called.
Note that I never said anything significant about the nature of God. I'm only positing (a) there was a source for reality; and (b) I call that source 'God'.
I mean, for all I know, 'God' may have merely chosen 'existence' over 'non-existence'. 'God' may not even be aware of us, or even still exist! That doesn't violate deist beliefs. But I see no escape from the conclusion that there was an origin to our reality.
I give thanks to 'God' because I benefit from reality, and no other reason. (Note that no matter how crap my current situation gets, without reality I could not benefit from anything).
“When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion.”
-Robert Pirsig, authof of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”.
*big, long sigh*
And what is reality? Your reality is very different to mine and to everyone else's reality. That's what makes it a personal experience.
How do you know that I'm not God and you're not just characters in my dream?
Absurdist playwrights has similar thoughts and ended up questioning existence altogether.
Too much thinking gives the brain an ouchy...
Good point. I have no way to prove that my reality and your reality are remotely similar. There is still the possibility that I (or you) are the only real person, and the rest are just puppets!
That said, I think it is much more likely that our realities are similar. I am so strongly convinced that I am even willing to take it on faith. ;)
Deism doesn't require strict mathematical proofs, but it does set a very high bar for what can be accepted on faith. My observations tell me that everyone is created from the same basic stuff, that we are all unique, but all experience reality in much the same way (ie. none of us are puppets).
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