Deism

Deism is a philosophical belief that posits that God exists as an uncaused First Cause primarily responsible for the creation of the universe, but does not interfere directly with the created world. Equivalently, deism can also be defined as the view which posits God's existence as the cause of all things, and admits its perfection (and usually the existence of natural law and Providence) but rejects divine revelation or direct intervention of God in the universe by miracles. It also rejects revelation as a source of religious knowledge and asserts that reason and observation of the natural world are sufficient to determine the existence of a single creator or absolute principle of the universe.

History

Deism emerged during the Age of Enlightenment – a cultural movement of intellectuals in the 17th and 18th centuries, which began first in Europe and later in the American colonies. Its purpose was to reform society using reason, challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith, and advance knowledge through the scientific method. It promoted scientific thought, skepticism, and intellectual interchange and opposed superstition, intolerance, and abuses in church and state.

Beliefs

Deists typically reject most supernatural events (prophecy, miracles) and tend to assert that God (or "The Supreme Architect") has a plan for the universe that is not to be altered by intervention in the affairs of human life. Deists believe in the existence of God, on purely rational grounds, without any reliance on revealed religion or religious authority.

Criticism

Critics of deism often state that deists ignore the problem of evil and suffering, fail to explain the purpose of the universe or the meaning of life, and hold a belief in God that is purely theoretical and without practical consequence.

See also

• Agnosticism
• Atheism
• Pantheism
• Theism

References

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