Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Deism


York (photo from thekingpin68)

Deism is another important theological term in my studies on the problem of evil.

My brief and former academic advisor David. A. Pailin, defines deism as coming from the Latin word deus and parallels the Greek which is theos. Pailin (1999: 148). In modern times deism is used to define a supreme being who is the ultimate source of reality, but does not intervene in the natural and historical processes through revelation or salvific acts. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin writes that the common use of the term ‘theism’ does not carry the same negative implications. Pailin (1999: 148). He explains that historically deism is not so much a set of doctrines, but a movement, largely British, that became popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Pailin (1999: 148). Many within deism will have doubts concerning concepts of supernatural religious doctrines, revelation and the authority of the Bible. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin notes that some within deism desire to replace Christianity with a more ‘reasonable’ faith, and for others it is an attempt to produce a more ‘reasonable’ version of Christianity. Pailin (1999: 149).

William J. Wainwright explains that deism understands true religion as natural, as opposed to supernatural religion. Wainwright (1996: 188). He writes that some self-styled Christian deists accept revelation although they argue that the content is the same as natural religion. Wainwright (1996: 188). Most deists reject revelation as fiction, but many reason that God has ordained that human happiness is possible through natural means that are universally available. Wainwright (1996: 188). Salvation therefore does not come via divine revelation. Wainwright (1996: 188).

Henry Clarence Thiessen writes that for deism God is present in his creation by his power and not in his being and nature. He has endowed creation with certain invariable laws that he oversees in general terms. Theissen (1956: 74). God has created creatures and left them under invariable laws to their own destiny. Thiessen (1956: 74). For Thiessen, the Christian world-view rejects deism because it accepts that God has revealed himself in creation through divine revelation, has providential control and does at times use miracles within his creation. Thiessen (1956: 75). For Thiessen, a deistic God is not much better than no God at all for humanity. Thiessen (1956: 75).

Thiessen has an excellent point, if deistic approaches reject a God who intervenes within his creation, then it allows, practically speaking, for human beings to expect to have the same end in life as if there is no God. Wainwright deduces that God has ordained human happiness to all universally, but ultimately how happy can human existence be when physical death is the end result for every person? As pointed out in my article, The meaning of life, human life is not substantially meaningful, if permanently terminated. People lose their consciousness and life accomplishments without everlasting life, and therefore life loses ultimate meaning and happiness does not result. The deist can speculate that God can and perhaps shall provide everlasting life and ultimate continual meaning for life, but this is merely speculation devoid of any historically grounded revelation from God.

Accepting that human nature is corrupt as described in Romans 1-3, it is very unlikely that the problem of evil would ever be solved but rather merely treated by humanity if deism is true. There would at no time be any solution for sin, death, and the problem of evil, since the infinite, omnipotent God would not interfere with his creation and regenerate and change individuals in order to eventually establish a Kingdom of God where the problem of evil does not exist. With a deistic universe seemingly sin, death, and the problem of evil continue to exist as long as humanity does. Deism seemingly does not offer any ultimate solution to the problem of evil.

PAILIN, DAVID A. (1999) ‘Deism’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

WAINWRIGHT, WILLIAM J. (1996) ‘Deism’, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

6 comments:

  1. My other article that I mentioned, The meaning of life can be found by scrolling down, within the archives, or via the link below.

    Cheers:)

    http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/02/meaning-of-life.html

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  2. In my understanding of deism, there are two dominant points in which I have always remembered. The first being, that God fashioned the earth and the surrounding cosmos, similiar to that of a "Clock Maker" and let it exist without any interaction with it or with human beings. The second point was in relation to our existence and reality----"Whatever is, is right." The problem is, there are a lot of things in this world which are not right such as moral injustice, pain, suffering,and arguably even death. Our human conscience speaks to us in volumes about problems in this world. My issue with deism, is that it limits Almighty God and His interaction with His Creation, and secondly the philosophy of deism in my opinion ultimately depicts God as being imperfect and creating an imperfect universe and Earth. Thus deism is incomplete and is too limiting on an Almighty God, but at least it acknowledges the existence of a greater being than ourselves who began Creation.
    -Dr. Buffalotoffus-
    University of Grease

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  3. Hi! In spanish we call deism = "Deidad", and it actually means god, or a superior being. This word (in spanish of course)can either refer to a evil god, as to a good one. Most of the time is for a good one, haha.
    By the way, You have a very good blog.
    Thanks for stoping by in mine. I apreciate your comments. Next time i'll try to write in french, Vous parlez francais? I'm asking because I see you're from canada. Nice country, and nice people!
    Sorry for my english, but i haven't practice it in a while(?), haha.
    See ya.

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  4. Thanks Bobby, you made good points. Even if for some deists God is understood to be morally perfect, is seems ultimately rather useless for humanity if God's perfect nature does not lead to a finalized restoration of creation and solutions for sin, death, and the problem of evil.

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  5. Thanks Manolo, for the kind words. No, I do not know French as most British Columbians do not know the language. I was in Mexico once when I was 7 years old. I visited Tijuana.

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