Frequently Asked Questions

About Deism

What is Deism?
Deism is a belief in God through one’s own reasoning and study of nature. Deism doesn’t accept that any holy book is the work of God. Deists are people that believe in Deism.

How do you know that there is a God?
Different Deists have used their own reasoning and studies to decide that there is, or probably is, a supreme being otherwise known as God. So there is no one answer as to why Deists believe in a God.

How is Deism different from Atheism?
Atheists don’t believe in a supreme being or God. Deists do believe in a God. Both may have come to their conclusions using their own reasoning, but the conclusions are different.

If God doesn't intervene in human affairs, why bother with Deism?
Deism teaches that we should use our own reasoning to solve problems. Deists can discuss different problems and find better answers by working together than they could on their own. Also, Deists have a sense that there is some reason for their existence, even if they do not know what that reason is. This can be comforting to many Deists.

If Deists believe in God, why do they reject Christianity, Judaism, and Islam?
Deists believe that revelations from God, if there are true revelations from God, can not be passed on from the person getting the revelation to another. Due to the limits of language, one person can never convey something as personal as a revelation from God to another person. Most Deists also recognize the inconsistencies in the holy books of the major religions. Deists believe the best way to determine the nature of God, is through nature. Nature is universal and does not have any need for translation.

Do Deists have any moral codes? If so, why would they even bother to be moral, if they don't believe God will intervene?
Deists recognize that they live in a society. That the society must have order for it to thrive and that if the society doesn’t thrive, neither will the individual. Therefore, Deists consider what effect their actions will have on society as well as on themselves. So Deists do in fact consider morality very important. Deists derive their morality from their own reasoning and studies.

Do Deists pray?
Some Deists pray and others don’t. Deists that do pray may pray in different ways. It is generally accepted amongst Deists that if they do pray, it should just be for giving thanks to God for what they have. This is not so much to please God, but to help the individual Deist recognize all of the good things that they have in their life.

How do Deists worship God, and why bother if God doesn't intervene?
Generally, Deist worship God by finding awe and wonder in the universe. By finding awe and wonder the Deist has a more fulfilling life. Having a more fulfilling life, is enough of a reason for most Deists to worship God.

Nature can be very cruel, how can Deists justify using nature as a guide to God?
Nature is the way things are, and God is the way God is. By studying nature Deists hope to understand how God is, not how we want God to be. Deists also find meaning in how nature works to better understand their own human nature. 

Who invented, started, created, Deism?
No one is really credited with having started Deism. Although Lord Herbert of Cherbury is often given credit having used the term Deism first, the concepts can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. It can also be argued that since Deism is a natural religion, its concepts may be prehistoric.