Any other deists out there ?

ScottGem

Raises hand!!!

P.S. to Bushg, you missed it, I have indicated I am a Deist on more than one occasion. Oh and deism isn't a "faith".

Basically a deist believes that some intelligent force created the universe and the physical laws that it operates under. Then that intelligence basically said go play. That intelligence does not interfere nor interact with its creations, though it may monitor them (probably for amusement).

Nor do I believe we are the only experiment created by this intelligence.

I believe this because the intracacy of the design of our universe, how things interact etc, would seem to require some intelligence of design. But I reject the idea of that intelligence looking at its creations as playthings to manipulate, try to get back on the right track or not. I reject the idea that such an intelligence would want to be prayed to and/or worshipped.

firmbeliever

As you are a deist ScottG,
I wonder how you view death and the afterlife?

Also what if everything that is going to occur or have occurred was already known to God? Does this make a difference ?Is that what you believe?or Not?

ScottGem

I don't!

No, that's not what I believe. I believe in free will. I believe that this intelligence set up a framework that controls the physical universe. But that every form of life has choices they can make within that framework.

For example, even a plant has choices as to where its roots will go. These choices may not be conscious, but there are choices nonetheless.

bushg

Scott In desim is there an afterlife?

ScottGem

Deism is not a religion. Its a belief in how the world was created. There is nothing to worship, no rules to live by, no dogma to practice. Deism differs from atheism in that deists believe there was an intelligence that created the universe. Whether that intelligence still exists or not, is up to the individual. But a deist does not beleive that the intelligence is doing anything to influence what happens. Just that a set of physical laws like gravity, were created with the universe and we have to live according to them.

deist

I believe God created the universe, & that was his one & only miracle. I don't believe God interacts with the world, I don't believe any of the world's holy books are divinely inspired, I don't believe in the miracles or resurrection of jesus, & I believe if God cares about anything, it's how well we treat each other, & not what we particularly believe.

deist

Some deists believe in an afterlife & some don't.

deist

I know the question was not to me, but let me answer also. Some deists believe in life after death, & some don't. I, personally, don't know if there is an afterlife or not. Antony Flew is a deist who doesn't believe in an afterlife.

alkalineangel

does the "creator" necessarily mean God or are we talking about any type of creator, possibly even another race? I mean are you saying that something, we dont know what, created us, or is it always just "god".. Just curious, I have been struggling to find my following for years, and have settled in the Unitarian universalist realm, but am curious about deism...I have certain ideas on things, and have trouble fitting them in any place.

ScottGem

I can't speak for the OP, but I've been careful to refer to an "intelligence" or "intelligent force". I do not refer to this intelligence as God or a God (though deist comes form deity). Just an intelligence and power beyond our comprehension.