deism

American  

[dee-iz-uhm] / ˈdi ɪz əm /

noun

1. belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (theism ).

2. belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.

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deism British  

/ ˈdeɪ-, ˈdiːɪzəm /

noun

1. belief in the existence of God based solely on natural reason, without reference to revelation Compare theism

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deism Cultural  

1. The belief that God has created the universe but remains apart from it and permits his creation to administer itself through natural laws. Deism thus rejects the supernatural aspects of religion, such as belief in revelation in the Bible (see also Bible), and stresses the importance of ethical conduct. In the eighteenth century, numerous important thinkers held deist beliefs. (See clockwork universe.)

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Other Word Forms

• deist noun
• deistic adjective
• deistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of deism

1675–85; < French déisme < Latin de ( us ) god + French -isme -ism

Compare meaning

How does deism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• deism vs. theism

Example Sentences

Why not deism instead of theism, or pantheism instead of either?

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2021

“I started feeling this longing for the culture of deism of my childhood … the warm, holy feeling” of a higher power.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2021

Despite the influence of deism, eighteenth-century Americans had clearly not abandoned religion.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

Werline: I don’t think the Founding Fathers had a form of Christianity that we would immediately recognize today because of the presence of deism.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2016

He made loud professions of deism, and of devotion to Paine.

From The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. II. (of II) With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England by Conway, Moncure Daniel