What Is A Deist?
The World Union of Deists' slogan is: God gave us reason, not religion.
I personally consider myself to be a Deist. When people ask me what religion I belong to, they get a blank look when they hear the word "Deist." So here's the best explanation I can give.
The Deist believes that "God" is first cause, revealed through nature, personal experience and reason and not through religious texts. I put the word "God" in quotes because I sometimes have a hard time with that word due to the negative associations it has with religion. I tend to use the word "creative force" instead. Deists do not believe that the Bible, the Quron, the Book of Mormon, or any other religious texts or religious revelations are authorities that reveal the existence of God.
Deists do not believe in a "personal God;" that is, a supreme being that is actively involved in people's lives, observing and judging. Although there are a number of theories and explanations, the Deist reasons that since all things have been created, there is an impersonal creative force (which is God or first cause). This creative force does not intervene; instead, creation unfolds in accordance with the laws of nature.
My personal belief concerning this, which may not match the beliefs of other Deists, is that the creative force expresses itself or becomes aware of itself through consciousness. A plant may have consciousness; an insect may have consciousness; animals have consciousness and of course, we humans have consciousness. Consciousness is constantly evolving and seeking additional knowledge and experience. As consciousness expands, understanding of natural law will also expand.
Personally, I have and continue to "experiment" with consciousness and have observed its effect on my personal world. It has nothing to do with superstition or New Age beliefs but is simply something that I have been proving in my own world. There was a time that I could barely walk after a severe car accident. I would lose the feeling in my legs and fall uncontrollably 50 or more times a day. I worked on clearing negative emotions and thoughts and no longer have this problem. Other health issues were cleared and I am finding that material things can come into my life simply by conscious creation. I am not sure that this is something that most Deists subscribe to; however, it works for me and fits into my understanding of the laws of nature. It's all energy and is neither good nor bad. I do not pray to an external, invisible being.
For the Deist, morals and values come from logic and reason, not supernatural authority. These morals translate into a way of life and involve empathizing with others and understanding cause and effect. They do not stem from a fear of eternal judgment upon death.
Deists have no dogma, no sacred texts, no clergy and no ritual.
They differ from atheists in that they do believe there is a creative force (or God).
The World Union of Deists' membership application beautifully captures what Deists believe, and quotes some of the writings of Thomas Paine. I suspect that many who identify themselves as "spiritual but not religious" can relate to what the membership application states:
"I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy. I believe it is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a Word of God can unite. The Creation speaks a universal language, independently of human speech or human language, multiplied and various as they may be. It is an ever existing original, which every man can read. It cannot be forged; it cannot be counterfeited; it cannot be lost; it cannot be altered; it cannot be suppressed. It does not depend upon the will of man whether it shall be published or not; it publishes itself from one end of the earth to the other. It preaches to all nations and to all worlds; and this Word of God reveals to man all that is necessary for man to know of God."
Further, I respect the right of all people to believe, or not to believe, in God, as they choose and I will never attempt to deny anyone that basic freedom…
To prevent myself from becoming a slave to any idea, opinion, creed, dogma, or philosophy, whether religious or political, I will always keep my mind open to opposing views and honestly examine them using reason as my guide.
As an advocate of the natural religion, Deism, I will foster environmental awareness. Instead of looking upon Nature as something that needs to be "subdued" and "taken dominion over", as the Bible teaches, I will look upon it as something beautiful and fragile that I am a living part of, and that I owe a responsibility to. I will enjoy Nature, and protect it.
As far as life after death is concerned, I do not know the answer and I do not think Deists proclaim that they know. We can speculate about reincarnation and might even remember experiences that may suggest reincarnation, but no one knows for sure whether there is an afterlife. Reason and logic dictate that we consciously live in the here and now, live this life as best we can, and hopefully contribute something meaningful to the world in which we live.
Related posts:
- America the Deist Nation: Deism FAQs
- The Radical Rhetoric of the English Deists – The Discourse of Skepticism, 1680 – 1750 – Studies in Rhetoric Communication
- Conversation Which Occurred on a Stage Coach Between a Deist and a Christian
- The Ultimate Wisdom, Spoken by a Deist
- The Moral Philosopher in a Dialogue between Philalethes, a Christian Deist, and Theophanus, a Christian Jew – Works in the History of British Deism
- GodDiscussion Radio: A Look at Deism
- Intolerance and Religion Go Hand in Hand
- Argument for Deism
- The Day God Died.
- Hume on God – Irony, Deism and Genuine Theism
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9 Responses to “What Is A Deist?”
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Well, you're one step above atheism in that you believe in supreme being. But I just don't know how I could last with a belief in a being that is so anti-personal and virtually non-existent. To me, God, or whatever one wishes to call Him, is very real, and very involved. Thanks for sharing you thoughts. It opened my understanding to what a Deist believes. It's good to know what others believe.
Thanks for giving good explanation about Deist. I thought that Deist is an Atheist, but now i understand that Deist is more than Atheist. Thanks for sharing this and let my mind opened.
This article is quite nice. It gives an idea about 'Deist.'
You seem to be reading day and night looking for good stuff to post lol
i like the starting quote
Hello Urbain…your article is beautiful. I think I have been heading towards Deism without realizing that. The more I studied religion, the more I thought it was a mistake of man and not part of some divine revelation. Thank you very much for this article…it has helped me find a possible home for my belief system.
As Always
Peace
You and I agree on a lot of things, Attrus. I am glad you liked this … Everyone has their own interpretation; however, for me, the deist philosophy makes the most sense.
Thanks for yor beautiful thoughts. I personally think that religious practice can be a great way to train ourselves in discipline of compassion and to experience unity with the infinite.
Tragically religion is all to easily grabbed by mans innate need to protect our known experience, etnocentricities, nationalisms and biases.
I think there is a personal God yet not one limited by the finite limitations of our own concepts. Infinity is beyond our comprehension.
Excellent points, Brian. It's all in the perception. Thanks so much for your comments.