Concept in Definition ABC

In a general sense, the concept of deism is equivalent to that of theism, that is, any doctrine that it maintains that God exists and, therefore, opposed to atheism. In fact, both deism and theism share the idea of ​​God as beginning creator. However, there is a difference between the two concepts: according to theism the existence of God is based on both in faith as in reason, while for deism the existence of God is strictly a matter rational.

Deism as a philosophical approach

If we take monotheistic religions as a reference, the existence of God is based on a revelation of God to men and from it a tradition religious, Judaism, Christianity or Islam. According to him approach deism, the idea of ​​God is created from human reason itself and from margin of revelation, faith and sacred texts. This means that deism starts from the concept of God as the original principle of the universe. In other words, the God of the deists is a rational God.

Deism as a philosophical trend began in France in the 18th century, also known as the Age of Enlightenment. For the deists, the concepts of sin, miracle or redemption do not have any prominence to understand the idea of ​​God. The God of the deists is, in a way, the God of all religions.

As an intellectual position, deism can be defined as a secular religion

Is a religion because it provides a global vision of reality and, at the same time, is part of a creator God. But this religion has a secular component, since the idea of ​​God is not part of any religious tradition.

From a philosophical point of view, deism is an attempt to combine human reason and the existence of a creator God. Deism connects with religious traditions such as Hinduism or Buddhism, since in both there is an order of the universe similar to the conception of the deists. Thus, for a Buddhist, the existence of evil is related to the lack of spiritual harmony in each individual (remember that for a Christian evil is a consequence of original sin).

Different ways of understanding deism

The philosophers of this current do not present a single vision. Thus, for some, there is a God who rules the world and punishes humans when they act guided by evil.

For others, on the other hand, God is simply a principle that explains reality as a whole, but they reject the idea that God intervenes in human affairs. In any case, according to the deist view, the origin of life is explained from a law natural activated by a creator.

Photos: iStock - sdominick / kickers