Description of Deism
Deism is a religious movement that emerged during the Enlightenment, which preached ideas that differed from traditional religious beliefs. Although deism was short-lived, deistic religious philosophy played an important role in developing scientific thought. Despite the decline that the philosophy of deism experienced in the late eighteenth century, there are its supporters today, whose numbers in the twenty-first century are growing. At the same time, the study of the characteristics of deism makes it possible to determine the essence of its key ideas, which have little in common with biblical views of life. In particular, Psalm 139 has an opposite view of God’s relationship to man from that seen in deism.
Deist Ideas vs. a Biblical View of God’s Dealings with Man
Rejection of God’s Intervention
The first aspect that is significantly different is natural religion and reasonable belief. The deists rejected all religious dogma and mystical elements of faith, adhering to rational religion. Thus, according to the tenets of deism, God exists and is the Creator of the universe, but there is no possibility of divine intervention in natural laws and human life (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020).
At the same time, Psalm 139:13-16 counters this idea by describing God as active and involved in human Creation. It asserts that God created man and directly influences his destiny, which is written in advance (Holy Bible, 1978). This psalm emphasizes the significance of divine intervention in the Creation and observation of each person.
Rejection of Divine Miracles
The second difference is the Deists’ rejection of the miracles and revelations of which God is capable. The Deists tended to think that God did not manifest Himself through miracles or revelation. They believed that God was the original cause of all things but that after Creation, the world functioned according to the laws of nature, and divine intervention was not required (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020).
Psalm 139:7-10 counteracts this idea by speaking of God’s all-pervading presence: These verses emphasize God’s all-pervading presence, His ability to be present in all places, and to care for man. In this way, the biblical view of God’s relationship with man in Psalm 139 is contrasted with the ideas of deism. The psalm emphasizes God’s activity in creating and observing each person and God’s presence and care in every aspect of our lives (Holy Bible, 1978). At the same time, deists reject these attitudes and magical elements of faith.
References
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2020). Deism. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
New International Version. Holy Bible: Psalm 139. (1978). Zondervan.