This is What Deists Believe About Forgiveness

I have always believed in forgiveness, (or at least I think I always thought I had - at the very least as a civilized value). To believe in a value, however, and to practice it are two entirely different things as I came to find out. Ultimately I came to practice it because I was forced to face the harm that was done to me when I was abused as a child. This was forced upon me by a mental breakdown and it made me realise that I needed to heal from what had been done to me. I found the only way I could do that was through appropriate therapy and ultimately forgiving. As a result I became a social worker and then a therapeutic foster mother for severely abused children, three of whom I adopted. I thought I had always believed in forgiveness but that turned out not to be the case. Or at least not in the way I now understand forgiveness to mean. I came to believe in forgiveness because for me it was the only way out of my mental torment. It was the only choice I had. To give up the anger and hatred and let it go. Let go of the bitterness and the wish I had to hurt the people who had hurt me.

I think here we need to define what I mean by forgiveness. For me it means simply that the desire to take revenge against the event/person who hurt you has been let go of and that the event/person you are forgiving ceases to dominate your life. It means in that sense that you regain your own power again and that you are in charge of your life - not the event/person who hurt you. It means you are free to go forward with peace of mind and not let your life be dominated by hurtful events/persons from the past. It means you still retain the capacity to love.

Most of all you forgive to help heal yourself - not to set the other person free. The only person who can ultimately free that person from their own guilt, (if they feel any), is themselves. It may help them if you let them know that you forgive them and there is nothing to stop you from doing that, (providing you do not get re-abused in the process), but in my view it is not necessary for your own healing. Neither is it a moral imperative.

It is important for me to establish that, for me, forgiveness can never be considered a moral imperative. I believe forgiveness is preferable in the sense that it is a gift you give yourself to help you heal - I believe it is the ultimate gift of love to yourself and in that to the world. However I believe it can never be mandated. It cannot be something that any outside agency tells you you should or must do. That would simply be cruel. It would be putting yet another burden on someone who is already broken and hurting. It is also psychological nonsense. People heal at their own pace and will forgive if, and when, they are ready. It cannot be forced.

Also, forgiving the other person does not mean that you absolve them of any responsibility for what they have done. It if did, what would there be to forgive? It doesn't mean you need to be high and mighty and judgemental either - how can anyone say for certainty that if they had walked in that hurtful persons shoes that they would not have turned out the way they did? I say no-one can say this truly.
It also doesn't mean that you should be high and mighty about the fact that you can forgive when others can't. If anything, the fact they cannot forgive means that they are still hurting. Surely the most loving response when anyone is hurting is to show them compassion? If you can forgive it means you are fortunate, not morally superior.

Forgiveness does not mean that the other person cannot be punished or should not be rehabilitated for what they have done - or that you cannot desire this outcome. That is a desire for justice and not revenge. It would be a poorer world if there was no justice in it.
I think a lot of confusion comes about concerning forgiveness because of the Christian, (and perhaps other religious views), on it. In this I will concentrate on the Christian perspective because it is the one I know best.

A lot of the moral revulsion I think that many people feel concerning forgiveness, (and they do), comes into play because of the Christian take on forgiveness. It leads people to think that forgiveness is what goody two shoes type of people do. To waft around with ones hands in the air saying "I forgive you" to people is morally repugnant and the height of insufferable arrogance. Some-one said this to me recently and I commented, "Good for you. I hope it feels good because I do not need your forgiveness. The only forgiveness I need is the forgiveness I give to myself". The man concerned was a fundamentalist Christian and his attitude made me feel physically sick, to put it bluntly. If he had told me that his God forgave me, I think I would really have put him right. That is because I am a Deist. While I believe there is a Cosmic Intelligence, (or what some might call God), who created the world, he, (for want of a better word), has absolutely no interest in forgiving me or not. That is because he created me with intelligence and Reason by which I could work out that psychologically it was better for my mental health and my life if I did forgive. I have no need of a supernatural agency to forgive me.

I was brought up a Christian and as such was taught the Lord's Prayer. The bit where it says "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" could, in my opinion, be replaced with a more Reasoned Deist understanding and this would be it: "We acknowledge that we cannot expect to live in a world where other people try to live with love and practise forgiveness if we are not at least willing to try and do this ourselves." Note I suggest the intention to try and do these things. People's capacity to love and forgive are variable because of their own situation but at least a willingness to try cannot be expected if we are not willing to try it ourselves.
My commitment to forgiveness was tested to the limit when on the 7th July 2005 I was on the platform of a tube station when it was bombed. I was severely injured and still to all intents and purposes I cannot walk to this day. (I can hobble a few feet in pain and with assistance). I am effectively confined to a mobility scooter when I go out and a wheelchair when inside and am in constant but variable pain. The bombings of the 7th July 2005 also ultimately killed my husband who I loved very much. It also injured a close friend of mine who is now my principal carer. But could I forgive?

I have to admit it has been a long and hard struggle but I finally have come to know that I forgive my attackers. And I know it for the simple reason I would never wish what happened to me to happen to them or anyone else and it has made my commitment to non-violence, except in situations of self-defense, absolutely resolute. I would not wish the pain I felt and still feel even on my worst enemy. And for me that is my understanding of forgiveness. I am at some sort of peace now. And my physical pain eases when I forgive and am not full of anger.

I have come to learn though that forgiven is not a static state. It is a dynamic state. It is not a destination. It is a journey and on my journey I explored reasons as to why what had happened to me actually did happened to me. What was the ultimate meaning of it?
On my journey to find answers to this question I went on a spiritual quest and investigated most of the world's religions and belief systems and I rejected them all. I was not bombed because it was my "karma" and had been bad in a previous life. I had not been bombed because my soul required "lessons" and I had "attracted" it. I was not bombed because of Satan being in the world, (he doesn't exist by the way), and I had not been bombed because it was an act of God. Why would a loving God want me to be bombed - to strengthen my character as some religious people suggested? Would any loving parent deliberately hurt their child so their "character" got strengthened? My Reasoned answer would be no.

No, the reason I got bombed was because there are evil people in the world and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the bombs obeyed the laws of physics. Laws that had been put in place by our Creator and had been misused by people with warped minds. How could anyone claiming to follow a religion "revealed" by God plant a bomb to maim and kill ordinary people just going about their everyday life? (And in this I am not singling out Islam. All the three so called "revealed" Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam have a history of bloodshed and violence - so no-one in this respect is historically morally superior to the other).
However, it made me think there must be a problem because if the God of love, (which I trust our Creator is), could not be found in the "revealed" religions or in any of the other belief systems, all of which have their own superstitions of faith healing, miracles and supernatural entities etc., where could he be found?

I loved and marvelled at Nature. I also believed in Science. I tried to become an Atheist because, truthfully, I had met some marvellous and loving Atheists who helped me in my healing from the bombing and losing my husband. I knew because of them that belief in religion and supernatural entities were not needed to be kind and loving. It seemed to be an inherent, (if somewhat collectively underdeveloped), quality of human nature. Yet where had that human nature come from? Why didn't conscious beings, if they were just collections of chemicals subject to physical laws just turn out to be violent, self - centered and aggressive? Also why were these conscious beings endowed with Reason? Where did that come from? A collection of chemicals does not need to develop either consciousness or Reason. Also, I still saw an Intelligence in Nature. Nature did not create itself. So there must have been behind all that a Creator of some kind.

It was paradoxically whilst reading the book "The God Delusion" by the famous English Atheist Richard Dawkins that I first came across the concept of Deism. That lead me to the Internet and the World Union of Deists. And I knew I had come home. That's what I was - I was a Deist and the rest, as they say, is history.

I knew that God had given me Reason that had lead me to work out that forgiveness was the way out of my mental hell caused by the bombings. And Reason, that caused me to be able to garner my emotions and rise above my baser instincts, was my evidence of God. It was also in the science and evidence based conventional and complimentary medicine that was helping to heal my physical pain.
So now, still, every day I am on the journey of forgiveness but I know that my God given reason will help me through. That then is what forgiveness is for me as a Deist. A function of Reason. Our Creator's most precious gift after life itself.

It was given to us by our Creator to help us heal, not given as a moral mandate. Forgiveness was given to us as a gift to, through Reason, help heal us. But only we, including Deists, can choose whether we make use of that gift or not.

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Here's What Deism Really Is

Deism is a well-established theology with a long history. It is said to originate in the Age of Enlightenment, according to Wikipedia, but it could be argued that it goes all the way back to the days of the great Greek philosophers. It was popular with several of the American Founding Fathers, including Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and more, and is experiencing a resurgence.

Thomas Paine once said “God exists, and there it lies.” This brilliant man summed up Deist theology in a single sentence, and demonstrated the simplicity of Deist belief. This simple phrase illustrated his belief in a Creator while simultaneously stating that anything else you may have heard about God has been invented by men.

What do Deists believe?

Put simply, Deism is the belief in a Creator of the Universe and that the Deity that created it wants us to be good to each other. The Church of Deism teaches that the Deity fashioned a masterful sculpture we call the Universe, but for a mere human to try to comprehend their Creator is like the stone in Michelangelo’s David attempting to understand the artist himself. The doctrine of the Church of Deism is based on individualist theological values, and states that all peaceful religious philosophy has equal validity, or more accurately equal invalidity, because no beliefs in the realm of spirituality can be proven over another. Indeed, none can be proven at all. Deism is known as the Religion of Reason.

Most Deists believe that all religious doctrine was written by man and that the proof is self-evident, but we give respect and understanding to the peaceful beliefs of others regardless. That is not to say that members can’t point out and discuss the dangerous practices of revealed religions, however. In fact, a favorite pastime of Deists is pointing out inconsistencies, hazards and hypocrisies of organized religion. As Deists we strive to remain respectful to individuals who hold beliefs we don’t agree with, but the religions themselves enjoy no such protection. It could be said that we have our own version of the phrase “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
Because of this, peaceful followers of Christianity, Hinduism, Wicca, Islam, and every other spiritual belief are looked upon only as fellow souls seeking the truth regarding the origins of the universe and subsequently, mankind. Due to the individualist nature of the Church, spirituality beyond the existence of a Creator is accepted or rejected by the person’s own proclivities.

That being said, members of the Church of Deism have a well-founded suspicion of organized religion as a whole. One only needs to open a history book or read the latest headlines to see that organized religion has a sometimes simultaneous capacity of great good and incredible evil. The difference usually only depends on which way the winds of the day were blowing, and who claimed to be the keeper of the sacred knowledge. The Crusades, witch burnings, and Jihad are all prime examples of the terrible harm that organized religions have brought upon the human race throughout time.

The Church of Deism recognizes the existence of the Creator as self-evident. One only has to feel the emotion of love, see the smile of an innocent child, observe the complexities of DNA, or watch the graceful movements of a tree in the breeze to see divine inspiration. The Church also teaches that the need for humanity to get along is self-evident too. Some say that organized religion is good because it demonstrates the differences between right and wrong, but Deists attest that morality is self-evident as well. Unlike many organized religions, our members debate the validity of moral issues that injure no one.

Can I become a Deist?

Yes. Anyone 13 years of age and over can become a member of the congregation of the Church of Deism. There is no requirement, or even a request to attend religious services but Deists are free to attend any religious ceremonies they choose of any religious persuasion while seeking the path to enlightenment. All Congregants have unlimited access to the news announcements, articles, and are encouraged to share in the fellowship available at the Church Forum. Differences of opinion are welcome. It is free to join the congregation of the Church of Deism.

Can I become a Deistic minister?

All men and women over the age of 13 may become ordained in the Church of Deism at no charge. One only has to fill out the Ordination form completely and honestly.

A minister of Deism may officiate weddings, funerals and baptisms, perform prison ministry, and take confessions. Ministers may also recruit other congregants and prospective ministers to the faith. Your level of involvement is your decision, and the methods used to perform these tasks are up to you. All 50 states recognize the religion of Deism, but there are some counties that have different requirements for marriage officiants. Prospective Deistic Ministers outside of the United States will have to check their own local laws.

You may choose your own honorary title such as Reverend, Pastor, Rabbi or whatever you like, but ultimately, the choice is yours. You may not call yourself a doctor.

The Church can provide you with a Letter of Good Standing if you need it to perform a wedding, but contact your local County Clerk to find out if it is required before ordering. Chances are your Certificate of Ordination is good enough, and many places won’t even require that.

Not all members of the congregation may wish to have the additional responsibilities of ordination due to personal reasons or age restrictions, but of course all Deistic Ministers are welcome to become members of the congregation. Your ordination is good for as long as you remain a Deist.

Doesn’t it violate Deistic doctrine to organize Deists?

The Church of Deism recognizes the possible dangers of organized religion because we are ardent students of history, however the Church has no problem with like-minded individuals gathering in fellowship to discuss the Mystery of the Creator.

Is there a brick and mortar Church of Deism?

Deistic belief precludes the need for a central church for its congregation, so there is no physical church to attend. Congregants are welcome to join in fellowship in the Church Forum and gain inspiration from the various topics and articles. Because of the dangers of organized religion, congregants are encouraged to practice their faith as they see fit, following the path of Deism alone or with others. Some Deists believe that worshiping a Creator is a necessary part of spiritual enlightenment, however most do not. If you feel that communion with your Deity through prayer or fellowship brings you closer together, by all means do so.

Why the internet?

This is the 21st century. Virtually all churches have a website because it is the future of spreading the word. In a world of declining church memberships and various church scandals, the world wide web may someday be the only place to find a church where you feel comfortable. Others may want to attend church, but for a myriad of reasons aren’t able to. The Church of Deism realizes this and coupled with a reluctance to engage in anything approaching organized, or “revealed” religion, feels it is the best option. Because real human interaction of some kind will naturally always remain the Church feels that it is important to ordain Ministers to maximize interpersonal relationships with the congregation.

Can I belong to a “traditional” or organized religion and still be a Deist?

Yes, but the Church of Deism doesn’t see it as important to maintaining Deistic spiritual beliefs, and depending on the religion may actually run counter to Deistic thought. Avoid any religious service that advocates hate or violence in particular, as you become especially susceptible to the most dangerous aspects of organized religion if you do.

Celebrate your own individualism by not running with the herd. By its age, history, and past memberships alone it could be argued that Deism itself is a traditional religion, but many historic adherents of Deism were members of other churches. Einstein was Jewish. Thomas Jefferson was an Episcopalian. Thomas Paine was a Quaker. If membership in another “traditional” religion enhances your spirit, follow your heart. Deism exists to propel the Human Race forward, not to hold us all back.

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Understanding the God of Panendeism

How God Interacts in Different Theologies

The Theistic God

In Theism, we typically find God watching us from some metaphysical realm outside our own universe. Despite living in an alternate sphere, the Theistic God is often though to be aware of everything, as well as very involved in our material lives. Because of this direct relationship with humans, it seems that the God of theism would have to be either cruel and unwilling to help many, or limited, and incapable of uplifting everyone. Many Theists believe that they can sway God's will through prayer to achieve different results from what God would have chosen otherwise.

The Deistic God

In Modern Deism, God created the universe and its inhabitants and then walked away from it. There is no connection between creation and creator. Everything we do (good or evil) is an expression of our own free will. God doesn't see it, God doesn't act on it - we as humans are left on our own. In contrast, much like in Theism - many Classical Deists did believe God was involved and guided the world. Many Classical Deists also prayed.

The Pandeistic, or Pantheistic God

In Pandeism, God created the universe and either died or was absorbed into it, and therefore, God is the universe. In Pantheism, God is and always has been the universe. Both views theorize that beings are interconnected, encapsulated experiences of God, and that individuality is ultimately an illusion. In these theories, experiential beings are more or less the result of God tricking itself into believing that it is limited with the end goal of achieving different perspectives and experiences that would not be possible as a boundless, infinite God. Since both Pandeism and Pantheism claim that God is the totality of everything, to say that it acts or doesn't act seems meaningless without a subject to be acted upon.

The Atheistic Material Universe

In Atheism, God is not present, and everything that exists came into being through natural processes that did not involve a cognitive being.

The Panentheistic, or Panendeistic God

In Panentheism and Panendeism, God is present in the totality of everything, but not materially or cognitively limited to or manifest as it. God itself posses an individual, greater cognizance, separate from all other beings, transcendent of the sum of all beings, and greater than the universe itself. God is infinite - our own cosmos, anything outside of it, and anything within or without it that lies beyond our current means of perception. We are free observers of, and witnesses to the vast beauty of creation, and of being itself. We possess inherent qualities that draw us freely towards resonance with God's character, and we can sense when we find unity in things like love, creativity, and . In this way, God interacts with us, and we interact with God.

Written by Benjamin F. Sullivan, Published with Permission via Panendeism.org

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Understanding Deism, Pantheism, & Panendeism

This article is meant to be a quick, at a glance guide to understanding Supernatural Theism, Pantheism, and Deism and how they each define God differently.

In Deism God is transcendent, but God is not present materially. God is completely apart from us and creation itself.

In Pantheism and Pandeism, God is universally manifest in and as everything. In this world view, God is not transcendent because God is the manifestation of all reality. Therefore, in Pantheism, we are Gods.

In Panentheism and Panendeism, God is both transcendent of material reality, and present in it. God is in us and we are in God. This is effectively a kind of "natural theism." In this view, we are all part of God, but we ourselves are not gods.

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9 Things Every Deist Should Know

While there are no "official" tenets of Deism, many of the following "unofficial" tenets might be the best way to introduce generally accepted beliefs within Deism. The unofficial tenets of Deism are:

1. Belief in God based on Reason, Experience and Nature (nature of the universe) rather than on the basis of pure faith, holy texts and divine revelation. Essentially, through the use of Reason, God’s existence is revealed by the observation of the order and complexity found within nature and our personal experiences.

2. Belief that the nature of God is generally incomprehensible and is beyond definition for humanity at this time. Furthermore, human language is limited and inadequate to define God; however, man can use Reason to theorize and speculate on what this possible nature is.

3. Belief that man’s relationship with God is impersonal and abstract. However, this does not create a feeling of a distant and cold deity but of one in which God has a profound and unfathomable relationship with all of creation (nature) rather than just one aspect of it.

4. Belief that humanity has the ability to use Reason to develop ethical/moral principles and through the application of Reason these principles can be used to implement moral behavior, which in turn creates a Utilitarian-Humanist morality. Essentially, humans can be guided by their conscience in matters of morality.

5. Belief that humans have the individual capability of experiencing God, which is defined as spirituality. These spiritual experiences are multifaceted and all of humanity has the innate capability to have these experiences. Essentially, each human is capable of having a profound experience of God and nature.

6. Belief that God should be honored in a way that the individual beliefs is best and most appropriate for them. Individuals must determine for themselves how best to honor God and only they can develop how to accomplish this. For many, it is a multifaceted and an individualized process.

7. Belief in the principle of Natural Law that states that all men and women are created equal to each other with inherent freedom and liberty so that no human has more worth than another. Essentially, each human is equal in terms of the freedoms that they have and in the eyes of the law.

8. Belief that mankind’s purpose is to use our reason to understand what it means to be alive in every sense of the word (to live life to the fullest) and to act in such a way as to secure human happiness and contentment for all involved.

9. Belief that Reason and Respect are traits to mankind and that we are to utilize them in all aspects of our daily lives thus creating a pragmatic approach to life. This includes respecting other alternative views and opinions of God (other religions) as long as they do not produce harm and/or infringe upon others.

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The Deist's Glossary

Cult: In Deism, a cult is an embracing of unreasonable beliefs by a group of people. Based on this definition, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all cults because their members suspend their reason in order to believe or accept the unreasonable dogmatic teachings and superstitions such as God giving real estate as a gift to the Jews, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, faith-healing (as just one example of being a superstition, if was REAL innocent helpless children would not be dying from the attempts of their parents at Biblical ) and Mohammad's ascension to heaven, among many more false and unreasonable claims. Because Deism always promotes free and independent thought and reason, it is impossible for Deism to become a cult.

Deism: Deism is the recognition of a universal creative force greater than that demonstrated by mankind, supported by personal observation of laws and designs in nature and the universe, perpetuated and validated by the innate ability of human reason coupled with the rejection of claims made by individuals and organized religions of having received special divine revelation.

Faith: This word has been so terribly abused by "revealed" religions that it has come too really mean the suspension of an individual’s reason in order to accept, or at least to tolerate, an unreasonable claim made by a "revealed" religion. It is the only way "revealed" religions can get people to accept such insane and unreasonable claims and ideas as original sin, walking on water, healing the sick without medical care, splitting the Red Sea, etc. Deists prefer to use the word "trust" instead of faith due to the twisted meaning the word "faith" has acquired after centuries of abuse from the "revealed" religions.

One key difference between Deism and the "revealed" religion is that Deist 't believe faith is required to believe in God. This quote from Voltaire sums it up, "What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason."

God: The universal creative force which is the source of the laws and designs found throughout Nature.

Intelligent Design: Intelligent Design refers to the structures in Nature, such as that of DNA, which can be observed and the complexity of which required an intelligent Designer. In this context "structure" means something arranged in a definite pattern of organization. In Deism, Intelligent Design has absolutely nothing to do with the unreasonable Biblical myth of creation.

Natural Religion: Belief in God based on the application of reason on the laws/designs of Nature as opposed to revealed religion which is based on alleged revelations.

Philosophy: The study of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

Reason: The mental powers used with forming conclusions or inferences based on facts. Deists look at reason as the second greatest gift from Nature's God to humanity, second only to life itself.

Religion: A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe.

Revelation: The act of revealing or of making known. In the religious sense, revelation usually means divine revelation. This is meaningless, since revelation can only be revelation in the first instance. For example, if God revealed something to me, that would be a divine revelation to me. If I then told someone else what God told me it would be mere hearsay to the person I tell. If that person believed what I said, they would not be putting their trust in God, but in me, believing what I told them was actually true.

Revealed Religion: An organized system of belief in and worship of God based on the belief that God communicated/communicates with certain individual founders/members of the particular revealed religion. As mentioned above, by believing in any of the revealed religions a believer is not putting their trust in God, but in the person/people making the claim of receiving the divine revelation.

Trust: Trust is confidence in a person or thing based on reason and experience.

Frequently Asked Questions about Deism

What is the basis of Deism?

Reason and nature. We see the design found throughout the known universe and this realization brings us to a sound belief in a Designer or God. 

Is Deism a form of atheism?

No. Atheism teaches that there is no God. Deism teaches there is a God. Deism rejects the "revelations" of the "revealed" religions but does not reject God.

If Deism teaches a belief in God, then what is the difference between Deism and the other religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.?

Deism is, as stated above, based on nature and reason, not "revelation." All the other religions (with the possible exception of Taoism, although superstition does play a role in both Buddhism and Taoism) make claim to special divine revelation or they have requisite "holy" books.

Deism has neither. In Deism there is no need for a preacher, priest or rabbi. All one needs in Deism is their own common sense and the creation to contemplate.

Also, "revealed" religions, especially Christianity and Islam, use greed and fear to catch and hold converts. The greed is belonging to their "revealed" religion so you can get rewards such as eternal life, and in Christianity, anything you ask for. In combination with greed they use fear of death. Deism does neither. Deism teaches that we should do what is right simply because it's the right thing to do. And Deism doesn't pretend we know what, if anything, happens to us after our bodies die. We love and trust God enough not to worry about it. As Thomas Paine wrote, "I consider myself in the hands of my Creator, and that He will dispose of me after this life consistently with His justice and goodness. I leave all these matter to Him, as my Creator and friend, and I hold it to be presumption in man to make an article of faith as to what the Creator will do with us hereafter."

Do Deists believe that God created the creation and the world and then just stepped back from it?

Some Deists do and some believe God may intervene in human affairs. For example, when George Washington was faced with either a very risky evacuation of the American troops from Long Island or surrendering them, he chose the more risky evacuation. When questioned about the possibility of having them annihilated he said it was the best he could do and the rest was up to Providence. 

Do Deists pray?

Only prayers of thanks and appreciation. We don't dictate to God.

Are there Deist rituals, vows, etc.?

No. Since Deism does not attempt to control people, there is no need for rituals. Regarding vows, like wedding vows or words at a funeral, we believe they are too important to the individuals involved to have been written by anyone else. Deists are too independent to rely on a member of the clergy to do these important things for them.

How do Deists view God?

We view God as an eternal entity whose power is equal to his/her will. The following quote from Albert Einstein also offers a good Deistic description of God: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

Is Deism a cult?

It's impossible for Deism to be a cult because Deism teaches self-reliance and encourages people to constantly use their reason. Deism teaches to "question authority" no matter what the cost.

Unlike the revealed religions, Deism makes no unreasonable claims. The revealed religions encourage people to give up, or at least to suspend, their God-given reason. They like to call it faith. For example, how logical is it to believe that Moses parted the Red Sea, or that Jesus walked on water, or that Mohammed received the Koran from an angel?

Suspending your reason enough to believe these tales only sets a precedent that leads to believing a Jim Jones or David Koresh.

What's Deism's answer to all the evil in the world?

Much of the evil in the world could be overcome or removed if humanity had embraced our God-given reason from our earliest evolutionary stages. After all, all the laws of nature that we've discovered and learned to use to our advantage that make everything from computers to medicine to space travel realities, have existed eternally. But we've decided we'd rather live in superstition and fear instead of learning and gaining knowledge. It's much more soothing to believe we're not responsible for our own actions than to actually do the hard work required for success.

Deism doesn't claim to have all the answers to everything, we just claim to be on the right path to those answers.

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