Hello

[DeistPaladin]

Welcome! I look forward to reading your input. I'm also quite curious about your deism and look forward to hearing more about your beliefs.

Credo (I believe):

1. We live in a natural universe governed by predictable laws and best understood through science and reason.

2. Said natural universe is wonderful enough. We don't need parting waters or sticks turning to snakes to have a sense of awe of the sublime.

3. We humans could be described as "rational animals" (a quote I heard once from a deist author), which means we're clearly kin to the animals but endowed with higher reasoning skills. It therefore can't be a "sin" to use critical thinking, since that's part of our design.

4. I lack a positive belief in any afterlife. I'm open-minded as to what is the cause of consciousness. If "souls" exist, they're part of the natural universe and would have properties that can one day be understood. For now, I'm prepared to accept consciousness is an emergent property of the brain, that this life is all we get, that God gives us one shot at the brass ring and then it's fade-to-black-roll-the-credits (I'm curious what my theme music will sound like). If I'm wrong, I'll deal with that when it comes, confident that God has more important character qualities on which to judge me than what my metaphysical beliefs were.

5. Morality is a function of how we treat our fellow sentient beings. The three commandments I try to live by are "act with integrity", "respect the rights of others" and "take responsibility for your actions". I came by these commandments as I questioned myself as to why I felt like events or actions I'd seen were "wrong". Why are they wrong? What's so objectionable about them? Answering these questions are how I came by these three "rules" which seem to cover all the bases.

6. "God" is defined as the mysterious First Cause of said natural universe. My sense of awe of the natural universe and the potential of the human mind are what give me say "God" with reverence. In advance, I know that won't be enough to convince others (most of my friends, family and freethinkers I work with are atheists). I don't care. I'm not here to convince anyone. I have no "souls" to save. Lack of belief in others doesn't bother me.

7. Once you accept point #1, the distinctions between atheism, deism, pantheism, agnosticism (whatever your definition of that might be), etc. are hair-splitting abstract philosophical issues of no importance to day to day life. Were I to switch to atheism tomorrow, my life wouldn't change. It would be annoying though, since I'd have to get a new YouTube account. Also, "TheAtheistPaladin" is already taken.

8. Because of #7, I think all freethinkers of all kinds should unite to create a more rational world.

9. ...that everyone should have the freedom and courage to pursue their own answers to these ancient questions (who am I? Why are we here? etc.). I won't tell anyone why they should be a deist and not an atheist (although one of the benefits is you get to identify with great thinkers from history who had fantastic hair).

10. Human beings have a noble destiny. Instead of this end-times crap, which could be a self-fulfilling prophecy, I believe that we are evolving* not just biologically but also morally. Things which used to be accepted, like slavery or inequality, no longer are. I believe that trend will continue. Maybe our future isn't going to be "Star Trek" but it will be better. This belief has been battered mercilessly by reality for the last decade but I still hold it.

*Yes, I know evolution isn't necessarily progressive but has to do with adaptation to a given environment but I'm using the colloquial term.

Ready to discuss.