Ask a Deist about Deism.

Not sure where your anger is coming from.
If someone started a thread "Ask me about giraffes" and described them as being about the size of a basketball, covered with spines and moves slowly in a kind of waddle, we would suggest he was actually describing a porcupine. Yes they are both mammals but they aren't the same.
I am not denigrating his faith or his world view. I am simply pointing out it doesn't describe deism.
Relax.

 

I don't know at all where you got "anger" except if you are religious there are only two emotions, anger and hate.

I expressed exasperation(SEE, there ARE other feelings!!! Shock!) that someone just refuses to keep things simple..the scourge of all religions.

 

The thing is deism is a specific school of thought that forwarded specific ideas, and one of them is that subsequent to creation God was hands off. It's fundamental to the school of thought.
That's keeping things simple.

 

I am not eliminating them, I just don't believe in them. I have no problem with those who practice some religious dogma... so long as they don't try to make me live by their rules. To each their own.

Are you a Deist? If so, what makes you any more an authority on the subject then me? Go to different sites you will find different interpretations. If your interpretation is that God does not intervene in the natural world so that means we can't pray... then that is your interpretation. If God does nothing then what is the point of believing in God? I believe in science and the natural order of things... if that is not good enough for you... too bad.

 

You seem to have a very black and white view. Based upon my readings of many different Deists on different forums and websites... Deism is anything but black and white. But you are free to interpret as you like though. Theology is subjective by its very nature.

 

Exactly, and a big reason why I love Deism. Black and white views of religion are to blame for so much strife in our world IMO. Some just have to be right and set others straight when it comes to God. I never tell people what to believe... to each their own. Each and every theology is interpreted innumerable ways by its followers.

 

Well said... herding cats lol. I agree, due to the lack of any religious dogma to follow, each Deist follows their own path to God. And like the Bible, Wikipedia quotes on theology are subjective and wide open to interpretation. Theology is an intangible and as such subjective and wide open to interpretation.

Those who say Deists believe in God, but believe that God does nothing are in my view misinterpreting Deism. What is the point in believing in something that does nothing? Deist believe that God gave us a brain to use... so we use it to find our own answers to life's questions.

 

Your first quotation here is where you equate anything called a religion with the necessity of it having dogma. You later take that back, and you were right to do so.

As for prayer, let me say that intercessory prayer is what is absurd in the eyes of deism. If you wish to simply worship with no expectations from the act of prayer, that would not be in contradiction to the tenents of deism.

http://deism.com/deism_defined.htm

Here is a site that proposes to be the definitive Deist web destination. Whether true or not, they are very dedicated and it is interesting that what is fundamental to them is the complete lack of revelation of God other than that we are capable of through the strict application of reason.

http://altreligion.about.com/od/alternativereligionsaz/p/Deism.htm

Here's another showing the same definition and declaring the essential uselessness of prayer or worship of any kind.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deism

Here's Webster chiming in and saying the same thing essentially.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/deism.htm

Here's another source that says the same.

You say there are lots of sources that show all kinds of different definitions of deism.
I couldn't find them. Mind sharing?

 

I never tell anyone what to believe either.
But I do love accuracy in conversation, and the beginning of communication is the defining of terms. Words have meanings.

 

You just don't get it do you? You have "your" view and post links to support "your" interpretation while seemingly ignoring anything outside of what you hold true. Just a basic search of Deism and prayer turns up many different views. So go ahead and cherry pick what "you" view as correct. I again say Deism, like many theologies and philosophies is subjective and wide open to interpretation. Deism can be broken into different branches, just like Christianity, where there will be differing views to one degree or another.

Why do you care anyway? I asked if you are a Deist and I take your lack of an answer as no, you are not. So are you some Christian I have angered or something?

 

Good luck in finding accuracy in theology and philosophy... its more akin to mental masturbation. You seem to view theology and philosophy as objective... I see it as subjective and wide open to interpretation.

 

So, what do YOUR words mean ? Do you mean-because some sources agree with you, you are now an authority on a body of belief that predates the American Revolution ? What is it ? What are you trying to communicate ??

By the way, I haven't heard "Let's define our terms" in many decades.

 

I would stop explaining it. There are plenty of websites out there on Deism if they cannot understand it or just plain cannot read its their fault. Show them door.

 

So if there are all these different interpretations, simply post a couple.
I couldn't find any.

What does my religion have to do with the accuracy of my posts?

- - - Updated - - -

I agree with you. But words are much more stabile.
Deism is centered on the use of reason. I'm attempting to use it in this conversation.

 

Defining terms is one of the most basic building blocks in the discipline of logic. Absolutely fundamental. Without it communication is essentially impossible.

- - - Updated - - -

You're right.
Unlike robini, I have been citing them.

 

https://www.google.ca/search?q=deis...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

These are all blogs. You know that, right?

 

You seem to only see what you want to see. I see lots of links, including Wikipedia as the 2nd hit (a source you have used). You are obviously a very biased person and only here to argue. I am done with you.

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(Contemporary deist opinions on prayer

Many classical deists were critical of some types of prayer. For example, in Christianity as Old as the Creation, Matthew Tindal argues against praying for miracles, but advocates prayer as both a human duty and a human need.[77]

Today, deists hold a variety of opinions about prayer:

Some contemporary deists believe (with the classical deists) that God has created the universe perfectly, so no amount of supplication, request, or begging can change the fundamental nature of the universe.
Some deists believe that God is not an entity that can be contacted by human beings through petitions for relief; rather, God can only be experienced through the nature of the universe.
Some deists do not believe in divine intervention, but still find value in prayer as a form of meditation, self-cleansing, and spiritual renewal. Such prayers are often appreciative (that is, "Thank you for ...") rather than supplicative (that is, "Please God grant me ...").[78]
Some deists, usually referred to as Spiritual Deists, practice meditation and make frequent use of Affirmative Prayer, a non-supplicative form of prayer which is common in the New Thought movement.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism#Contemporary_deist_opinions_on_prayer

 

Deism is a tree with many different branches.

And this probably best fits me best as a Deist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism

Deism is not about people telling other people how to believe. If we Deist wanted this we would be part of an organized religion. Deist use their own God given intelligence to find their own answer to the age old question... is there a God? How we each come to a conclusion will be unique to the individual. I think the lack of structure probably makes some theists crazy. How dare we say that one forges their own connection with God rather than letting others tell them what to believe!

 

The Wiki reference shows that no Deist suggests supplicative or intercessory prayer as you suggested you do.
You have proven my point, and I thank you.
Goodnight.

 

If this is directed at me it is patently silly. Nowhere on this thread have I suggested what you should believe. I have no dog in the hunt you are on for spiritual fulfillment.
My only input on the thread was in regards to a definition of terms.
I'm thrilled your beliefs bring you joy.
But Deism is dedicated to reason, and if this is what you got out of my posts, you need more practice.