-Caveat Lector-
BF>Well, I have had friends who have been Deists, and I have respected them. I
apologise
for the "selfish" comment, as I respect the memory of Einstein, Washington, Franklin,
Newton, and others. I do believe, however, that to catagorically deny Revelation is
nonsense. It is a possibility, and for those who believe a certainty that cannot be
proven. To catagorically deny it is illogical, because it presupposes that science can
prove what science itself never claims to be able to prove or disprove. However, if
people
believe in One God, then I can at least meet them at that level with greater respect
that I
showed in my last post. Sorry.
I would have the same respect here that I would have for other religions I may not
agree
with at every step. Just favor me with one law for all of them, and leave political
questions such as taxing churches aside because some exist in very poor areas and
subsist on
the tithes of their members. The Right and the Left both oppose tax exemptions for
different reasons. The Right talks about independence of the State. However, I
suspect the
real deal here is class. The Right does not believe in preferential laws for the
poor. I
understand that. Be honest about it. The Left believes in an atheistic society.
They are
not Deists, and should stop masking themselves with the Deist label. Be honest and
admit
what you want.
Bates
Euphorian wrote:
> -Caveat Lector-
>
> From
> http://www.deism.com/deism_defined.htm
>
> }}}>Begin
> Deism Defined
>
> DEISM DEFINED
>
> Deism is defined in Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1941, as: "[From Latin Deus,
> God.Deity] The doctrine or creed of a Deist." And Deist is defined in the same
> dictionary as: "One who believes in the existence of a God or supreme being but
> denies revealed religion, basing his belief on the light of nature and reason."
>
> This common sense approach to God and a spiritual philosophy can not only bring a
> lasting profound sense of peace and happiness to the individual, but it also has the
> potential to go light years in eradicating religious fear, superstition and violence.
>
> For comparing Deism to revealed religion and atheism please click on Deism vs.
> Christianity & Atheism, at the bottom of this page.
>
> If this definition of Deism makes sense to you, please click here for a membership
> application from the World Union of Deists, or click here for a subscription to the
> quarterly publication of the World Union of Deists THINK!.
>
> Frequently Asked Questions about Deism
>
> What is the basis of Deism? Reason and nature. We see the design found
> throughout the known universe and this realization brings us to a sound belief in a
> Designer or God.
>
> Is Deism a form of atheism? No. Atheism teaches that there is no God. Deism
> teaches there is a God. Deism rejects the "revelations" of the "revealed" religions
>but
> does not reject God.
>
> If Deism teaches a belief in God, then what is the difference between Deism and the
> other religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.? Deism is, as
> stated above, based on nature and reason, not "revelation." All the other religions
> make claim to special divine revelation or they have requisite "holy" books. Deism
> has neither. In Deism there is no need for a preacher, priest or rabbi. All one needs
> in Deism is their own common sense and the creation to contemplate.
>
> Do Deists believe that God created the creation and the world and then just stepped
> back from it? Some Deists do and some believe God may intervene in human
> affairs. For example, when George Washington was faced with either a very risky
> evacuation of the American troops from Long Island or surrendering them he chose
> the more risky evacuation. When questioned about the possibility of having them
> annihilated he said it was the best he could do and the rest is up to Providence.
>
> Do Deists pray? Only prayers of thanks and appreciation. We don't dictate to God.
>
> How do Deists view God? We view God as an eternal entity whose power is equal
> to his/her will. The following quote from Albert Einstein also offers a good Deistic
> description of God: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable
> superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive
>with
> our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a
> superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms
> my idea of God."
>
> Is Deism a cult? It's impossible for Deism to be a cult because Deism teaches self-
> reliance and encourages people to constantly use their reason. Deism teaches to
> "question authority" no matter what the cost.
>
> Unlike the revealed religions, Deism makes no unreasonable claims. The revealed
> religions encourage people to give up, or at least to suspend, their God-given
> reason. They like to call it faith. For example, how logical is it to believe that
>Moses
> parted the Red Sea, or that Jesus walked on water, or that Mohammed received the
> Koran from an angel? Suspending your reason enough to believe these tales only
> sets a precedent that leads to believing a Jim Jones or David Koresh.
>
> What's Deism's answer to all the evil in the world? Much of the evil in the world
> could be overcome or removed if humanity had embraced our God-given reason
> from our earliest evolutionary stages. After all, all the laws of nature that we've
> discovered and learned to use to our advantage that make everything from
> computers to medicine to space travel have existed eternally. But we've decided
> we'd rather live in superstition and fear instead of learning and gaining knowledge.
> It's much more soothing to believe we're not responsible for our own actions than to
> actually do the hard work required for success.
>
> Deism doesn't claim to have all the answers to everything, we just claim to be on the
> right path to those answers.
>
> Please bookmark this site as it is frequently updated.
>
> [Home] [THINK!] [Stump the Bible Thumpers] [Deism vs. Christianity & Atheism]
> [Deism Defined][Thomas Paine] [Tax Religions!] [WUD Membership Application]
> [Guest Registry]
> End<{{{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
> is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
> expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
> for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
> new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
> simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
> believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
> not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
> believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
> Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
> agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
> Then accept it and live up to it."
> The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
> one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
> German Writer (1759-1805)
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
> prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> "Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
> information and ideas through any media and regardless
> of frontiers."
> Universal Declaration of Human Rights
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
> teach you to keep your mouth shut."
> --- Ernest Hemingway
>
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