Deism
The word Deism is derived from the Latin word for God: "Deus." Deism involves the belief in the existence of God, on purely reasonable grounds, without any reliance on revelation or religious authority. Deists regard their faith as a natural religion, as contrasted with one that is revealed by a God. They reason that since everything that exists has had a creator, then the universe itself must have been created by God. Deism was greatly influential among politicians, scientists and philosophers during the later 17th and 18th century in England, France, Germany, and the United States. Early Deism was a local outgrowth of the great advances in astronomy, physics and chemistry that had been made by Bacon, Copernicus, Galileo, etc. It was a small leap from rational study of nature to the application of the same techniques in religion. Early Deists believed the Bible contained important truths, but they reject the concept of its inerrancy. They were leaders of the Bible as a historical document. Lord Herbert of Cherbury was one of the earliest proponents of Deism in England. In his book, De Veritate, 1624, he described the five articles of English Deists;
1) belief in the existence of a single supreme God
2) humanity's duty to revere God
3) linkage of worship with practical morality
4) God will forgive us if we repent of our sins
5) Good works will be rewarded both in life and after death.
A good number of the leaders of the French and American revolutions followed this faith system. Most Deists believe that God created the universe, and then disassociated himself from his creation. Some Deists believe that God intervenes in human affairs from time to time, Deists do not believe in the concept of a selected chosen people to be the recipients of special revelation or gifts, they deny the existence of the Christian Trinity and do not accept Jesus as the Son of God. They do not believe in miracles because they hold that the world operates by natural and self-sustaining laws of the creator, they believe a practical morality can be derived from reason without the need to appeal to religious revelationand church dogma. Deists pray, but only to express their appreciation to God for his works. They do not ask for special priveleges.
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