lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
I don't mean any disrespect to deists - honestly, I am fine with many different views of deity including deism. But I don't understand why deism is listed as a religion. By my understanding, religions have shared beliefs and practices, such as Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism... In contrast, deism strikes me more as a theological position on the nature of God/gods, on par with theism, pantheism, panentheism, polytheism, henotheism, atheism, etc. These are not in and of themselves religions but rather ways of viewing God. So, for example, I know both theistic Jews and atheistic Jews. I know theistic Christians and deistic Christians (and even a couple of atheistic Christians). I know polytheistic Hindus and monotheistic Hindus. And I myself am a panentheistic UU. But panentheism is not my religion. The panentheistic view of God is shared by people across many different religions. And I don't gather specifically with other panentheists in order to worship in a panentheistic way; rather, I gather with fellow Unitarian Universalists and sing hymns from our hymnal and light our chalice, which is a shared symbol for all UUs, etc. Religions have shared traditions and symbols and stories... As far as I know, and I am open to correction, deism does not.
Even in this umbrella forum, "Theological Concepts," deism is listed along with theism, non-theism and monism.
So... is deism really a religion? Or is it a theological concept?
Even in this umbrella forum, "Theological Concepts," deism is listed along with theism, non-theism and monism.
So... is deism really a religion? Or is it a theological concept?