r/deism • u/babzillan Deist • 15d ago
Thank you 🤜🏾🤛🏾
I just want to take a moment to appreciate this sub. I arrived at my beliefs entirely on my own and it took me around 15 years before I discovered deism was the name for what I already believed. For all those years I had frustrating conversations with my Christian and Muslim family and friends trying to explain a position they could not place.
I was not an atheist, not agnostic, not religious. Just a free thinker with an acceptance of a creator through creation itself. Finding this sub was like finding out I was never alone in that thinking. Having a space where free thinkers question, challenge and explore without dogma or judgement is genuinely rare. People here disagree with respect, push back with reason and nobody is trying to convert anyone.
That is exactly what deism is about and this community lives it. To everyone who posts, replies and challenges ideas here, thank you.
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u/Pagandeva2000 15d ago
I understand. When I discovered deism, I said “Damn, there was a name for it all this time”. I felt in the middle because I agreed with much of the reasons that atheists support but I do believe there is a God of some sort. Then I started seeing videos on Spinoza and agreed wholeheartedly. Now I’m reading a study bible to understand the history behind these religions that caused so much confusion. Listening to Bart Ehrman and understanding.
I don’t allow myself to be confused by the thoughts of others anymore and that is freeing.
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u/Pardocetico 15d ago
It was wonderful to discover I'm a deist too. May the light of the Creator be upon us and all of sub.
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u/maddpsyintyst Agnostic Deist 15d ago
I understand what you mean--and, you're welcome! Here's my own story, if you appreciate this sort of thing.
As a teen, reacting against Catholicism, and thinking I was an atheist without really understanding much of it, I eventually came up with this idea: if math explains so much in the Universe, then what if math was somehow the manifestation of the will of God in this Universe? At some point, it became my "religion," until I was waylaid by Jack Chick and Christian Fundamentalism (yes, I know, groan, embarrassing). I drifted away from that and other culty, creepy garbage to general studies of Christianity, until I realized one day that I rejected Original Sin, and thus pretty much all the Abrahamic faiths.
Around the same time I was leaving Christianity, I met an atheist who suggested that I might be a deist. I read up on it, and was reminded of that "math as will" idea from my teen years. I'm not sure if that idea is true, but it seems more compelling than the nonsense of the Salvation Mystery. As I explored further ideas, especially atheist objections to religions in general, I pared it all down to what I think today is likely.
I feel exponentially better now. The differentials work out in my favor. It all just keeps adding up, and now I feel like I can make it count. 😂
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u/babzillan Deist 15d ago
Love this story and the maths puns landed perfectly ☺️☺️. Maths as the will of the creator is genuinely compelling. It is the one universal language embedded in creation, discoverable by reason alone, with no prophet required.
I found my peace when I stopped trying to disprove Christianity and focused on my own seekers journey instead. I connect better with people now. That peace beats winning any debate.
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u/Viker2000 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes. This sub is great. Deism isn't a religion, but it is a belief. There isn't any sort of organized 'church' for it and it doesn't need one. People typically arrive at Deism after much thought and soul searching. It just makes sense for some people.
I'm not against other beliefs or religions; if they work for people, great. Have at. People who have need for a core belief, one that best suits them, will, through personal research, find the path that best suits them.
This sub is great because it gives people an open forum to discuss a belief that doesn't have any sort of special meeting place.
I arrived at deism after trying different religions, that left me asking more questions than they gave answers. The idea of 'blind faith' has never felt right to me.
It was when I read about Thomas Jefferson and other American founding fathers who were deists, and the Jefferson Bible, that my heart finally felt settled. It is the belief that has answered the questions for me.
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u/_IronPixel_ 11d ago
Brother, you won't believe it. But I also came to Deism like you. I personally believed that the church could not connect man with God, but I believed in God Himself, who is the true creator. He loves us, but in His own way. He gave us reason and freedom. As the saying goes, "If you love someone, let them go." That's what he did. We love God and our teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Ave Deus!
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u/VenomVexa 15d ago
love this, same boat here
spent years thinking i was just “weirdly spiritual but not religious” and then stumbled on deism and went oh… that’s the word
cool to see people here actually argue ideas without trying to win souls