The portrayal of God in the holy books of various revealed religions ranges from the wrathful to the insistence on turning the other cheek. What all these have in common is a God that is all too human, be it on a grand scale.
Deism differs profoundly by appreciating that God ultimately lies beyond our comprehension, so we are not in any position to ascribe a form. What God isn’t is a super being essentially like ourselves.
A certain quality of God is being eternal. This is an assumption, but a reasonable one, differentiating from the finite nature of the universe. There is a scientific notion supporting this view in that Einstein’s general theory of relativity suggests the possibility of there being parts within the universe that are void of time.
Rather than scripture of one sort or another, deists look to science as the best way humanity has of expanding our understanding of creation. For it is through studying creation we can discern some inkling of the Creator.
Deists also want to set aside anachronistic concepts relating to God. For example, God as a celestial king, and a rather despotic one, sitting on a throne in constant judgement over His vassals, humanity.
As our learning evolves, so must human religion, and religions are human creations, they are not ordained by God. In this deism is no different. It presently reflects a religious or philosophical view of current understanding.
Deism is likely, at some future point, to be superseded by a more advanced view taking into account new thinking. Although, not being hidebound by creeds, doctrines or supposed holy books, deism is open to adapt to new and developing ideas.
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