deism

(noun)

A theological/philosophical position that combines the rejection of revelation and authority as a source of religious knowledge with the conclusion that reason and observation of the natural world are sufficient to determine the existence of a single creator of the universe.

Related Terms

  • The Philosophical Dictionary
  • The Treatise on Tolerance
  • Ancien Régime

Examples of deism in the following topics:

  • Deism

    • Deism played a major part in inspiring enlightenment philosophy and in the creation of the principle of religious freedom.
    • Paine published a treatise that helped to popularize Deism throughout the USA and Europe.
    • Another major contributor to Deism was Elihu Palmer (1764–1806), who wrote the "Bible" of American deism in his (1801) and attempted to organize Deism by forming the "Deistical Society of New York.
    • "The Age of Reason—a treatise that helped to popularize Deism throughout the USA and Europe.
    • Another major contributor to Deism was Elihu Palmer (1764–1806), who wrote the "Bible" of American deism in his Principles of Nature (1801) and attempted to organize Deism by forming the "Deistical Society of New York. "
  • The Political Revolution

    • Attempts to reconcile science and religion led to the growing appeal of Deism, often resulting from a rejection of prophecy, miracle, and revealed religion.
    • An alternative religion was Deism, the philosophical belief in a deity based on reason, rather than religious revelation or dogma.
    • Deism greatly influenced the thought of intellectuals and Founding Fathers, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, perhaps George Washington, and, especially, Thomas Jefferson.
    • When Jefferson was attacked for his Deism in the 1800 election, Republican politicians strove to distance their candidate from Paine.
  • Theism and Monotheism

    • In contrast to monotheism, deism is the belief that at least one deity exists and created the world, but that the creator(s), though transcendent and supreme, does/do not alter the original plan for the universe.
    • Deism typically rejects supernatural events (prophecies, miracles and divine revelations) prominent in organized religion.
    • Instead, deism holds that religious beliefs must be founded on human reason and observed features of the natural world, and that these sources reveal the existence of a supreme being as creator.
  • The American Enlightenment

    • Attempts to reconcile science and religion led to the growing appeal of Deism, often resulting from a rejection of prophecy, miracle, and revealed religion.
    • For these philosophers, an acceptable alternative was Deism, the philosophical belief in a deity based on reason rather than on religious revelation or dogma.
    • Deism greatly influenced intellectuals and several noteworthy 18th-century Americans such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson.
    • Drawing on the principles of Deism and the Enlightenment's aversion to established faiths, James Madison later enshrined religious tolerance as a fundamental American right in the United States Bill of Rights.
  • Evolution of Protestantism

    • Deism is a loosely used term that describes the views of certain English and continental thinkers.
    • Deism stressed morality and rejected the orthodox Christian view of the divinity of Christ, often viewing him as a sublime, but entirely human, teacher of morality.
    • Deism influenced the development of Unitarianism in America.
  • The Age of Reforms

    • It has been described as a reaction against skepticism, deism and rational Christianity, although why those forces became pressing enough at the time to spark revivals is not fully understood.
  • The Second Great Awakening

    • It has been described as a reaction against skepticism, deism, and rational Christianity, although why those forces became pressing enough at the time to spark revivals is not fully understood.
  • Voltaire

    • At the same time, he espouses deism, tolerance, and freedom of the press.
  • Introduction to the Enlightenment

    • A number of novel ideas developed, including Deism (belief in God the Creator, with no reference to the Bible or any other source) and atheism.
  • Enlightenment Ideals

    • A number of novel ideas developed, including Deism (belief in God the Creator, with no reference to the Bible or any other source) and atheism.
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