I have described and discussed deism on thekingpin68 blog previously.
M.H. Macdonald writes that deism describes an unorthodox religious view expressed among readers in the first half of the seventeenth century, most notably Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Macdonald (1996: 304). Deism is from the Latin for deus in contrast to theos from the Greek. Macdonald (1999: 304). Deism is different than theism and is connected to natural religion that thinks religious knowledge is gained through reason and not revelation or church doctrines. Macdonald (1996: 304). There is a belief in a supreme being, but this being is not directly involved in the affairs of his creation. Macdonald (1996: 304). In agreement with Christianity, would be an understanding of God as first cause and the creator of universal laws. Macdonald (1996: 305). David Pailin defines deism as coming from the Latin word deus and parallels the Greek which is theos. Pailin (1999: 148).
In modern times deism is used to define a supreme being who is the ultimate source of reality, but does not intervene in the natural and historical processes through revelation or salvific acts. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin writes that the common use of the term ‘theism’ does not carry the same negative implications. Pailin (1999: 148). He explains that historically deism is not so much a set of doctrines, but a movement, largely British, that became popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Pailin (1999: 148). Many within deism will have doubts concerning concepts of supernatural religious doctrines, revelation and the authority of the Bible. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin notes that some within deism desire to replace Christianity with a more ‘reasonable’ faith, and for others it is an attempt to produce a more ‘reasonable’ version of Christianity. Pailin (1999: 149).
William J. Wainwright explains that deism understands true religion as natural, as opposed to supernatural religion. Wainwright (1996: 188). He writes that some self-styled Christian deists accept revelation although they argue that the content is the same as natural religion. Wainwright (1996: 188). Most deists reject revelation as fiction, but many reason that God has ordained that human happiness is possible through natural means that are universally available. Wainwright (1996: 188). Salvation therefore does not come via divine revelation. Wainwright (1996: 188).
My recent thoughts on deism relate to the following comment cited in my own words from Wainwright.
Most deists reject revelation as fiction, but many reason that God has ordained that human happiness is possible through natural means that are universally available. Wainwright (1996: 188).
Even if Christian revelation via the New Testament and Hebrew Bible is abandoned by a critic, it can still be reasoned that God existed prior to finite time and matter. God is infinite. Reasonably, all of God's attributes are infinite, and therefore God has unlimited life as eternal, unlimited power as omnipotent, unlimited knowledge as omniscient and unlimited goodness and is perfectly holy.
Now, I reason this rules out the notion of God being evil at all, even if one abandons the Bible. If God was both infinitely good and infinitely evil, this would make God a contradictory being, as evil would be contrary and opposite of good. I therefore conclude that whatever, if any, evil occurs is used by God for the greater good. This could be concluded philosophically, even without the use of Scripture.
Even abandoning the Biblical concept of sin, it seems as clear as day philosophically that all persons are morally corrupt and imperfect. Also, all persons eventually die and suffer prior to death. Under a deistic model where God does not reveal himself directly and provides no means of salvation, it seems reasonable and likely that human happiness at best is limited and would cease.
Why under a deistic system should one expect everlasting life from a God that has not revealed himself, and as the first cause has willingly allowed his creations to suffer and die?
His creations would not be worthy of being in his direct presence everlastingly, as even without a concept of sin, philosophically, human beings are corrupt and evil and God is not. Under deism there seems to be no way to close the gap between imperfect humanity and perfect God, and no very good evidence that God is interested in this concept.
If I was a deist, with what I know presently, I certainly would continue to seek God and ask for his best forever, but as I, like all persons are under the curse of suffering and death, I would see no solid philosophical reason within philosophical deism itself to expect anything other than eventual death, and would not have anything other than unsubstantiated hopes for a seemingly disinterested God to extend my life post-mortem.
In all this there is no very good answer to what many perceive as the problem of evil. Why under deism does the perfectly good and holy God create human beings and then abandon all of them in ultimate death?
Perhaps as with plant death for the sake of food and the environment, human suffering and death would and should be considered a good thing within a deistic concept. God would therefore not have a desire to provide any person with everlasting life.
However, within a Christian worldview the problem of evil is viewed as something willed and allowed by the infinite God for the greater good, with the atoning and resurrection work applied to believers within a culminated Kingdom of God as the ultimate remedy for humanity.
I seriously doubt a long lasting, everlasting happiness is available by natural means, and/or from God with a deistic approach.
MACDONALD, M.H. (1996) ‘Deism’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.
PAILIN, DAVID A. (1999) ‘Deism’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
WAINWRIGHT, WILLIAM J. (1996) ‘Deism’, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
I am still here...Mr. Thekingpin68!
Hmm, crush the kingpin, what an idea.
Dumb quotes/some posted on this blog previously
1. Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."
- Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest
2. "Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death stuff."
- Mariah Carey
3. "Researchers have discovered that chocolate produces some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are."
- Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show, August 22
4. "I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."
- David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, (answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes)
5. "Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."
- Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.
6. "I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."
- Winston Bennett, Univ. of KY basketball forward
7. "Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC
8. "We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees."
- Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks
9. "I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We? are the president."
- Hillary Clinton (commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents)
10. "China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."
- Former French President Charles De Gaulle
11. "That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it."
- A Congressional Candidate in Texas
12. "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
- Former U.S. Vice-president Dan Quayle
13. "Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind."
- General William Westmoreland
14. And last but not least, a parting word from Dan Quayle: "I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
Merry Christmas
Okay, I will add this as well and it relates to the previous photo.
Thanks, Mom.
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