Deism is belief in a
God or
first cause based on reason rather than faith, distinguishing it from theism. Deism is usually synonymous with
"natural religion" in 18th century Enlightenment writings. Deism originated in 17th century Europe, gaining popularity in the
18th century Enlightenment especially in America as a modernist movement inspired by the success of the scientific method
(Reference
(http://deism.org/historyofdeism.htm)). Deists emphasize the exclusive application of
reason and personal experience to religious questions. Relying on empirical evidence demonstrating a natural world obeying
natural laws, Deists reject the idea of a theistic God actively involved in the
universe beyond its creation. Deism is concerned with those truths which humans can discover through a process of
reasoning, independent of any claimed divine
revelation through
scripture or prophets.
18th century popularity
Deism was founded on the belief that the universe was created by a God who then made no further intervention in its affairs,
often expressed by the metaphor of the "Divine Watchmaker" who created a mechanism so perfect as to be self-regulating.
Deism developed in response to
Newtonian
physics, by which matter is shown to behave in a manner mathematically predictable by natural laws. It was popular
among thinkers of
the Enlightenment such as
Voltaire and the
Founding Fathers of the
United
States.
Thomas Jefferson and
Benjamin Franklin are perhaps the most well-known of the American founding Deists.
Thomas Paine published
The Age of Reason, a tract that popularized Deism throughout America and Europe.
See also
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."
This common
sense approach to God and a spiritual philosophy can not only bring
a lasting profound sense of peace and happiness to the individual,
but it also has the potential to go light years in eradicating
religious fear, superstition and violence.
Deism Web Site
