“Deism” is the Latin form of the Greek “Theism”, with both meaning a belief in one God, contrasting with polytheism (many Gods) and Atheism (no God). However, language is ever changing.
During the latter part of the 17th and into the 18th centuries, science and rationalism began to systematically emerge, challenging prevailing religious notions. This new thinking began to permeate religious ideas, resulting in a radical Christianity.
This new theology (or should that be deology?) subjected the scriptures and creeds to forensic examination, applying scientific rigor to what had traditionally been accepted on faith.
Such critical Christianity rejected concepts such as revelations, miracles and the infallibility of the bible. Requiring a convenient name to differentiate it from conventional Theism, this developing religious view adopted Deism.
Deism quickly became influential amongst leading philosophers, politicians and scientists of the day, spreading through Britain, France, Germany and America. It embraced advances in physics, chemistry and astronomy, and leading figures such as Bacon, Copernicus and Galileo.
It was a logical progression to apply the techniques for the rational study of nature to religion. Indeed, nature became the starting point, the “gospel” Deists drew upon as inspiration for their promotion of God.
God was no longer an anthropomorphic figure rewarding the faithful few and damning the rest to the torments of Hell. Indeed the concept of God became rather less definite, a First Cause in the chain of cause and effect creating, and constantly recreating, the universe.
These early Deists contended the Bible did hold important truths while maintaining it was not divinely inspired and, therefore, beyond error. Bible study became a branch of history.
An early Deist, Lord Herbert of Cherbury in his book “De Veritate” (1624) suggested “Five Articles” for Deism to observe:
i. Belief in the existence of a single supreme God.
ii. Humanity’s duty to revere God.
iii. Link worship with mortality.
iv. God will forgive if sins are repented and abandoned.
v. Good works and evil will receive their due reward or punishment in this life and after.
The influence of 1500 years of Christianity is still clear in Herbert’s “Articles” and over time, as Deist thinking advanced, they were superseded. In fact, the notion that Deism required “Articles” or a creed was eventually dismissed and such terms would come to be used only figuratively, not literally.
Deist thinking was advanced by such as Anthony Collins (1676-1729), Matthew Tindal (1657-1733), FMA de Voltaire (1694-1778) and JJ Rousseau (1712-1778).
Many of the founding fathers of the USA were Deists, including Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. English born Thomas Paine, author of the hugely influential Deist book “The Age of Reason”, was involved in the revolutions of the US and France.
Deists advocated the important principle of separating the church and state, along with religious freedom, which was incorporated in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the USA.
Today, Deism largely does not associate itself with any of the Abrahamic religions and is often very critical of them, while recognising a basic idea in common, advocacy of God.
Really, Deism is no longer a religious movement in any conventional sense. There are no Deist places of worship, no priests, no holy books or scriptures and no hierarchy wielding authority.
Many Deists regard Deism as transcending religion, a philosophy recognising that while there are intimations of the divine, ultimately God is ineffable.
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