I imagine deism used to be popular because when asked "Do you believe in God?" if you answered "No", you were stoned or hung.
"Do you believe in god?"
"Of course!"
"Which one?"
"Well, it's just an impersonal god, really. I'm a Deist. Please don't murder me."
"Do you believe in god?"
"Of course!"
"Which one?"
"Well, it's just an impersonal god, really. I'm a Deist. Please don't murder me."
The whole tone of Church teaching in regard to woman is, to the last degree, contemptuous and degrading. - Elizabeth Cady Stanton