Deitheism

[Daniel Daly]

What is Deitheism?

About Deitheism
Deitheism is a spiritual idea propogated by Daniel Daly. It is his
understanding of the spiritual truth that mankind faces in the world
today. Essentially deitheism is a mixture of Deism and Theism - two
opposing spiritual views of God.

Deism believes in God, but bases its rationale on reason and logic and
the witness of nature, rather than divine revelation and sacred texts,
of which theism is made up of.

How is it possible for these two belief systems to be merged? Aren't
they really contradictory to each other?

Not entirely, no. For example, theism itself also argues the existence
of God based upon reason, logic and the witness of nature. Thus
philosophical theism incorporates the fundamental principles of deism.

However, deitheism falls short of theism, inasmuch as it teaches that
'Revelation' cannot and should not be applied in a 'communal'
sense, but remains the domain of the individual. Revelation is largely
personal in nature. We do not believe that God has inspired any
particular religious text in its entirety, nor has he chosen just one
particular spiritual group to spread his message. Thus we do not fall
into the category of stating that God has revealed a religion for
mankind to follow. Therefore we are not traditional theists. However,
an element of theism which we do incorporate is allowing people to live
by their own personal 'Revelations' from Almighty God. We do not
place a limit on what God can and cannot do for each individual on
planet earth. If he wishes to speak some revelation to their mind in
the form of a vision, dream, or direct word, then he is perfectly free
to do so.

This, we believe, could well be how some of the religions of mankind
started in the first place. Through the founders own revelations from
Almighty God. Thus the religions of Noah, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha,
Jesus, Mohammed and Bahaulla, as well as countless other minority
movements may have an initial 'Revelation' on which their religion
is based, but this was quickly overrun by the teachings of fallible
men. As said, we do not teach that any religion is, in its entirety,
the revealed will of Almighty God.

Our chief argument against teaching Revelation in a communal setting is
that 'Who is to say it is true?' How can we verify such
revelation? How can we know if it is reliable and worthy of living a
life based on its teaching?

While we teach that the existence of God can be deduced by rationale
thought, we are not brave enough to make such bold claims for what, in
fact really is, the vast array of so called revelations that various
men and women have received throughout history.

To sum up, we consider that the prevailing spiritual view of God for
society as a whole should be based upon 'Deitheistic' reasoning.
While we acknowledge the existence of a creator God, we leave the idea
of theistic revelation to those whom God decides to illuminate for
himself.

For more information, please contact Daniel Daly at email
valandriel(atsymbol)hotmail.com

or visit the website which is

www.geocities.com/creationistdeism

kind regards

Daniel Daly
Canberra, Australia

[Padraic Brown]

Post by Daniel Daly
What is Deitheism?
About Deitheism
Deitheism is a spiritual idea propogated by Daniel Daly.

Coincidence?

Post by Daniel Daly
It is his

Must be! Otherwise, why post in third person? ;)

Post by Daniel Daly
understanding of the spiritual truth that mankind faces in the world
today. Essentially deitheism is a mixture of Deism and Theism - two
opposing spiritual views of God.

I think it largely depends on your understanding of the definition of
"theism" as to whether they are really opposing or not. For example, I
don't see them as opposites. I see Deism as a suborder of theism. This
is because, as I understand the term, theism is simply the belief in
some kind of deity. This is exactly what Deism is all about!

I know some definitions of theism go further into that deity being a
"personal God" or, in your case, a scripturally revealed religious
system. I would rather subdivide "theism" itself into various
subcategories, rather than try to set Deism apart from all the other
theistic systems, of which it is really but one.

Post by Daniel Daly
Deism believes in God, but bases its rationale on reason and logic and
the witness of nature, rather than divine revelation and sacred texts,
of which theism is made up of.
How is it possible for these two belief systems to be merged? Aren't
they really contradictory to each other?
Not entirely, no. For example, theism itself also argues the existence
of God based upon reason, logic and the witness of nature. Thus
philosophical theism incorporates the fundamental principles of deism.

Some forms of theism simply require narrower definitions.

Post by Daniel Daly
However, deitheism falls short of theism, inasmuch as it teaches that
'Revelation' cannot and should not be applied in a 'communal'
sense, but remains the domain of the individual. Revelation is largely
personal in nature. We do not believe that God has inspired any
particular religious text in its entirety, nor has he chosen just one
particular spiritual group to spread his message. Thus we do not fall
into the category of stating that God has revealed a religion for
mankind to follow.

Makes sense. I certainly agree with this sentiment, rather than the
strict Deist point of view that "revealed scriptures" are out of the
picture. Reason being, those same writings -- whether hallowed or not
-- are products of the minds and intelligence of human beings and are
thus an expression of and a part of Creation. If the One can 'reveal'
his works through the order of matter and energy, then why not through
the mind and words of Jesus or Gautama?

If later people pick up on those ideas and distort them into divinely
inspired religions and enforce them as dogmas -- well, that's just the
down side of human nature at work and should not necessarily be
reflective of the 'revelation' itself.

"Theism" in and of itself doesn't teach anything about revelation.
That's more or less up to individual religions. Some religions, like
Christianity, teach "only our approved set of scriptures contains
God's entire revelation to Man". Other religions, like Buddhism, teach
that revelation comes through many venues, not just strictly Buddhist
scriptures.

Post by Daniel Daly
Therefore we are not traditional theists.

I think you might mean "not traditional Deists"??? You haven't said
anything thus far that isn't a theistic position. You've stated at the
outset that there is a Deity (theism). Your only other position
relates to the nature of holy scriptures (revelation comes via many
courses, not just one)!

Post by Daniel Daly
However,
an element of theism which we do incorporate is allowing people to live
by their own personal 'Revelations' from Almighty God. We do not
place a limit on what God can and cannot do for each individual on
planet earth. If he wishes to speak some revelation to their mind in
the form of a vision, dream, or direct word, then he is perfectly free
to do so.

How gracious of you to allow God that! ;))))) This is one (minor)
issue I have with the Deistic position. The denial of this kind of
mystical revelation, that is. I wonder if it is because reason and
logic don't apply so well -- that science has not yet been able to
come to grips with it?

Post by Daniel Daly
This, we believe, could well be how some of the religions of mankind
started in the first place.

Undoubtedly. Gautama sat under a tree and became enlightened (received
a revelation); Moses went up on a mountain and became enlightened;
Jesus went into the desert; Mohammed went into the desert; Smith went
into a grove; Newbrough sat before a typewriter.

Post by Daniel Daly
Through the founders own revelations from
Almighty God. Thus the religions of Noah, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha,
Jesus, Mohammed and Bahaulla, as well as countless other minority
movements may have an initial 'Revelation' on which their religion
is based, but this was quickly overrun by the teachings of fallible
men. As said, we do not teach that any religion is, in its entirety,
the revealed will of Almighty God.
Our chief argument against teaching Revelation in a communal setting is
that 'Who is to say it is true?' How can we verify such
revelation? How can we know if it is reliable and worthy of living a
life based on its teaching?

"Revelation" is what you make of it, in other words.

Post by Daniel Daly
While we teach that the existence of God can be deduced by rationale
thought, we are not brave enough to make such bold claims for what, in
fact really is, the vast array of so called revelations that various
men and women have received throughout history.

A sort of bridge between revealed religions and Deism, it seems to me.

Post by Daniel Daly
To sum up, we consider that the prevailing spiritual view of God for
society as a whole should be based upon 'Deitheistic' reasoning.
While we acknowledge the existence of a creator God, we leave the idea
of theistic revelation to those whom God decides to illuminate for
himself.
For more information, please contact Daniel Daly at email
valandriel(atsymbol)hotmail.com

Sounds interesting. Other than a sort of agnostic position regarding
divine revelation, how does your "deitheism" differ or parallel proper
Deism?

Regards,
Padraic.

Post by Daniel Daly
or visit the website which is
www.geocities.com/creationistdeism
kind regards
Daniel Daly
Canberra, Australia

[Bert Olton]

An excellent rebuttal, Padraic.

Bert