 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2003-08-01 13:57:00
Deism...what do 'revelation' religions have to say?
: Deism, which is based upon the light of nature and reason, teaches not to worry about the hereafter as we should trust nature's God with our future. Thus, we should do everything we can in life to make for a better world. What do religions based upon revelation have to say about Deism?
Terry Fox
Question: Deism, which is based upon the light of nature and reason, teaches not to worry about the hereafter as we should trust nature's God with our future. Thus, we should do everything we can in life to make for a better world. What do religions based upon revelation have to say about Deism?Answer: Deism is the belief in a creator god without reliance on any supernatural revelation. Often god is seen as a Sustainer; a "Providence", but not a personal god. Thomas Jefferson is often called a Deist. Chiseled in the marble in the Jefferson monument is his quote: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can that liberty long endure if we deny the God who gave it?" At the other extreme is Voltaire who said that, if there was a god, he was like the captain of a ship and we are like the mice running around in the hold. He may be taking us somewhere, but he takes no thought of our individual welfare. Deism is an incomplete religion. It lacks a clear idea of (1) the nature of God, (2) the nature of humans, and (3) a set of ethics. However, Deists often draw on the teachings of their surrounding religion for ethics. Jefferson issued his own edition of the teachings of Jesus. It included Jesus' teachings on social ethics but omitted all of the claims of Jesus about Himself, and about heaven, miracles and prophesies of the future. Deists' ethical teachings have no authority except the argument that the world would be better if we all lived by these rules. Answers to most of the important questions of life are missing: Who am I? Why am I here? Does my life have any purpose? Is there life after death? What are my rights and responsibilities? How do I know what is right or wrong? Does God care about me? How can I be acceptable to God? Lacking these, Deism has never been a popular movement.
