RE: Deism vs. Atheism
May 23, 2010 at 11:54 am
(This post was last modified: May 23, 2010 at 11:56 am by Caecilian.)
A deist is an atheist who can't let go of believing in some sort of divine agency.
Look at when deism was popular- the Enlightenment period, basically. Europe was beginning to move towards a more scientific and less supernatural view of the world.
Many intellectuals (Voltaire, Hume, Jefferson...) found it impossible to believe in the christian fairytale any more. But there was a strong stigma against atheism- it was a bit like being a socialist in the US today. Also, of course, they'd been brought up christian, and lived in a strongly christian society- not believing in any god at all was a very difficult step to make.
Deism is a kind of unhappy compromise position imo.
Look at when deism was popular- the Enlightenment period, basically. Europe was beginning to move towards a more scientific and less supernatural view of the world.
Many intellectuals (Voltaire, Hume, Jefferson...) found it impossible to believe in the christian fairytale any more. But there was a strong stigma against atheism- it was a bit like being a socialist in the US today. Also, of course, they'd been brought up christian, and lived in a strongly christian society- not believing in any god at all was a very difficult step to make.
Deism is a kind of unhappy compromise position imo.
He who desires to worship God must harbor no childish illusions about the matter but bravely renounce his liberty and humanity.
Mikhail Bakunin
A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything
Friedrich Nietzsche
Mikhail Bakunin
A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything
Friedrich Nietzsche
