Deism
Deism is the view that reason, rather than revelation, gives us the truth about God. Deists understand God as the first cause and intelligent creator of an ordered universe. God is transcendent, standing apart from the world, rather than immanent within it.[1]
Reason instead of revelation
Deism is a form of theological rationalism: the belief that what can be known about God is known through reasoning about the world. The philosopher Leibniz is cited in connection with this rationalist approach.[1]
Deism and theism
Deism is often contrasted with theism. J. Adam Carter draws the line clearly: theists hold that God acts in the world and reveals himself to it, while deists deny both. A deist God made the universe but does not interfere in it.[2]
Because deists see God as the "first cause", deism connects naturally with the first-cause arguments for God discussed under Existence of God.[1][3]
Deism and its neighbours
Deism is also compared with pantheism, which identifies God with nature instead of placing God outside it. Panentheism, the view that the world is in God while God is more than the world, has been described as a combination of pantheism and deism.[4][5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Deism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. p. 61.
- ↑ Pritchard, Duncan; Harris, Mark (2017). "Are theism and atheism totally opposed? (J. Adam Carter)". Philosophy, Science and Religion for Everyone. Routledge.
- ↑ "Arguments for the Existence of God". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. pp. 14–16.
- ↑ "Pantheism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016. pp. 155–156.
- ↑ "Panentheism". Philosophy of Religion A-Z. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016.