DEISM

Why Do We Keep Talking About Religion?

• Our country was partially founded on the idea that God exists

Why Do We Keep Talking About Religion?

• Our country was partially founded on the idea that God exists
• The literary movements, gradually move away from organized religion, as you'll see today

Why We Keep Talking About Religion?

• Our country was partially founded on the idea that God exists
• The literary movements, gradually move away from organized religion, as you'll see today
• NO ONE is trying to convert you, religion is part of our early history

Why We Keep Talking About Religion?

• Our country was partially founded on the idea that God exists
• The literary movements, gradually move away from organized religion, as you'll see today
• NO ONE is trying to convert you, religion is part of our early history
• It's also a pretty huge part of our present history

Looking Back - Puritanism

Looking Back - Puritanism

• Be good, or else

Looking Back - Puritanism

• Be good, or else
• God will punish the wicked

Looking Back - Puritanism

• Be good, or else
• God will punish the wicked
• The unexplained is either evil magic or the work of God

Looking Back - Puritanism

• Be good, or else
• God will punish the wicked
• The unexplained is either evil magic or the work of God
• 1500s-1700s

Moving Forward!

Moving Forward - Deism

Moving Forward - Deism

• Colonies --> Countries

Moving Forward - Deism

• Colonies --> Country
• 1760-1800s

Moving Forward - Deism

• Colonies --> Country
• 1760-1800s
• What happened in 1776?

Moving Forward - Deism

• Colonies --> Country
• 1760-1800s
• What happened in 1776?
• Revolutionary War - America gains independence from Britain

What is Deism?

The Age of Reason

The Age of Reason

• Still believe in God, BUT...

The Age of Reason

• Still believe in God, BUT...
• ...he's not controlling or interverning in human lives

The Age of Reason

• Still believe in God, BUT...
• ...He's not controlling or interverning in human lives
• He made the world and left humans to figure it out

The Age of Reason

• Still believe in God, BUT...
• ...He's not controlling or interverning in human lives
• He made the world and left humans to figure it out
• A direct reaction to Puritanism

After Puritanism failed, why would this shift make sense for the American people?

FREEDOM! of...

• ...speech

FREEDOM! of...

• ...speech
• ...to experiment for more knowledge

FREEDOM! of...

• ...speech
• ...to experiment for more knowledge
• ...to question existing laws and institutions (like churches)

How Would Deists Determine Right From Wrong Without A God?

Right vs. Wrong

• Not good vs. Evil

Right vs. Wrong

• Not good vs. Evil

Right vs. Wrong

• Not good vs. Evil
• Altruism: Selfless deeds vs.

Right vs. Wrong

• Not good vs. Evil
• Altruism: Selfless deeds vs.
• Depravity: morally corrupt

Right vs. Wrong

• Not good vs. Evil
• Altruism: Selfless deeds vs.
• Depravity: morally corrupt
• Man has capacity to be good without an overbearing god.

Angry God vs. Deist God

Deist God

• Seen in nature, not in the Bible

Deist God

• Seen in nature, not in the Bible
• Benevolent (good, well-meaning)

Deist God

• Seen in nature, not in the Bible
• Benevolent (good, well-meaning)
• Allows man to make his own mistakes

Deists did NOT trust religious SYSTEMS.
Can you think of why?

Based on the following quotes, what did the 1700s Deists value?

"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel person" - Thomas Paine

"Whether we sleep or wake, the vast machinery of the universe still goes on" - Thomas Paine

"Give me liberty, or give me death!" - Patrick Henry

"God helps those who help themselves" - Benjamin Franklin

"Genius without education is like silver in the mine" - Benjamin Franklin

Deist Values

They valued...

• ...education

They valued...

• ...education
• ...doing good deeds for fellow man

They valued...

• ...education
• ...doing good deeds for fellow man
• ...self-improvement through those two things

ANY QUESTIONS?