What attracts you to Christian Deism?

[driver]

What attracts you to Christian Deism? Were you from mainline or fundamentalism Christianity before becoming a Deist? Do you like the fact that we mainly look at the historical Jesus without all the dogmas or supernatural myths attached to him? How do you view Jesus? Teacher, healer, prophet, philosopher or a little bit of all of them? Has Christian Deism changed your life at all?

[Lily]

I was Christened Lutheran, but grew up going to a Presbyterian Church. It was not very strict, and left me open to discover what I believed on my own. I'd explored other denominations and theologies before finally eschewing them all in favor of non-denominational Christianity. That felt good for a while, until I became uncomfortable with the worship of Jesus. The more I learned about him, the more I could see that he not only didn't seem to expect to be worshiped, he consistently pointed to God instead. What I saw didn't seem to jibe with what Jesus himself believed. Then there was the constant pressure to commit to service and fellowship, I felt like I had to pretend to be someone I wasn't to fit in. It all just seemed like a big put-on. I stopped going to church, but I didn't stop learning. I'd always known the Christian Bible as scripture, and I began to study it on my own. I read lots of books presenting different theories and perspectives on Christianity, and even dabbled in other theologies. I thought a lot about how these things have been evident in my life, and came to understand principles that my experiences tell me are true. There is some force behind all my experiences that I call God, and the intent of that force is first and foremost concerned with my interactions with other human beings. Sadly, some of the behavior I saw in many Christians did not seem to reflect these principles, and I didn't feel like I belonged with them anymore. So I went searching, with my focus on God, to find some truth.

I typed Christian Deism into the search engine, though I had never actually heard the term before. The third site I looked as was the Christian Deist Fellowship. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it sure was close. From there I began to research Deism, and I am fortunate that the very first site I looked at was Positive Deism. It was indeed positive, and was so thought provoking. I had gotten so tired of everyone form Atheists to Fundamentalists hating on everyone that doesn't believe what they do. It was wonderful to see that that would not be tolerated, that respect for others was taken so seriously. I also loved that they encouraged freethought and encouraged me to think. It was a very good first Impression of Deism.

Driver, you yourself were part of the process of rethinking everything I had believed about Christian mythology I had never understood the reason, or sense, of some of it, but I had never questioned it.. It was actually pretty easy to let go, once I worked it through. I apologize if I was a bit of a pest, I just didn't want to ascribe to any thought because someone said so, I wanted to understand. You all helped me do that, and I thank you.

Jesus is still important to me. Coming to understand more about the historical Jesus, the man and his message, has been so much more profound than the myth could ever be. He fascinates me. There is still so much more I have to learn about what he really had to tell us, the message that was mangled and manipulated for centuries.
To me, he was a teacher and philosopher more than anything, and I want to know what he really said.

There has been no observable change in my life since embarking on my journey into Deism, but I believe it has changed me, even in this short time. I feel more confident about who I am and what I believe, more at peace with myself.

[julie]

Long time lurker here, first time poster. I enjoy learning about the Bible and Jesus and feel here, with Christian Deists, I get a more (obiviously!) Enlightened and educated learning than from traditional Christians can give. I find your theories on Jesus interesting and thought provoking. While this flavor of Deism is not for me, I love to learn religion, and this is the best way to learn of Jesus and the Bible. I don't take a stand as to whether or not Jesus existed,I just don't feel there's any proof one way or the other. What I think is importnant is that stories about such a person exists. Even if he didn't, someone had a great idea how one person could hold closeness with God and act in such a great manner. If Jesus did exist, I feel he was a great teacher, as were Ghandi, Dr. King, and eventually Malcom X. I hope that's not offensive, as I don't mean to be.

[driver]

Lily and julie very good posts. The human hood of Jesus is what I am attracted to. I grew up Methodist. but didn't by into the church thing. Later I became a Catholic and was pretty hard core for a few years, but eventually could not believe in the dogmas. I stayed an agnostic for some time. Before I found Deism I attended the UU Church for a while. Sometimes I still go because they are free thinkers and it gives me a place to go that I can share my beliefs face to face. The Jesus I found in Christian Deism is the kind of Jesus that I have thought about. The Jesus Seminar with their ongoing search for the historical Jesus has also been a great benefit to me.

[julie]

Thanks Driver! This is actually the first topic here I had enough information I could respond with! You've actually inspired me to start a topic! I totaly didn't understand Christian Deism at first. Just didn't get it. As I started to learn it made complete sense. Not for me,but a great place to learn. Off topic a little-i was talking to my neighbor the other day about religion. He is a baptist. So I started with my questions to see where he stood, I was curious. Very Deistic of me eh? Hehe. I didn't say so, but to me he sounds like a Deist- a Baptist Deist to coin a new phrase. He doesn't take the Bible literally or as Gods word. He understands it was written by men and transleted and retranslated over 1000s of years. He totally believes in science, thinks its individuals translations that can make it dangerous and totally believes in the possibility of other inteligent lifeforms! I didn't know a Baptist could think like that! I even invited him to a gathering of Freethinking friends where we philosophize on God and he is up for it! He understands he nor anyone else has the Truth. Refreshing! Too bad I don't have the cajones to convince him to post here...

[mystic444]

What attracts you to Christian Deism? Were you from mainline or fundamentalism Christianity before becoming a Deist? Do you like the fact that we mainly look at the historical Jesus without all the dogmas or supernatural myths attached to him? How do you view Jesus? Teacher, healer, prophet, philosopher or a little bit of all of them? Has Christian Deism changed your life at all?

My attraction is primarily to Jesus - as an outstanding example of what it means to be 'anointed by God' (teacher, healer, prophet, philosopher - all of those things). My 'Christian' views appear to me to be compatible with Deism, but I was and am 'Christian' first and foremost.

I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, and later embraced both 'Reformed' (Calvinistic/Presbyterian) and 'Pentecostal' forms of Christianity (though most of my friends assured me that Reformed and Pentecostal were completely incompatible). After some events that shook the very foundations of my beliefs (in my mid thirties) I sought to renounce Christianity altogether. I figured I made an agreement with God and Jesus: I wouldn't bother them and they wouldn't bother me! Ultimately it didn't work though; it was as if Jesus was always right there with me, occasionally tapping me on the shoulder and saying "you can't get rid of my Father and me that easily". Whether it was just that Christian teaching was so deeply ingrained that I couldn't get rid of it entirely, or there really is some 'spiritual' sense in which God and Jesus are really 'with me', I can't argue dogmatically.

Nevertheless, my 'Christianity' is way outside the bounds of 'orthodoxy', so traditional Christians are certain that I have been deceived by the Devil and I'm on the fast track to hell (the fact that I don't believe in hell is a sure proof that I'm going there). At the same time, I frequently wonder if I'm too Christian to be Deist. (My Christian friends believe I'm too Deistic to be Christian.) So if some of you find yourselves wondering sometimes if I'm really a Deist, I can't find that surprising. My viewpoint is really very eclectic, drawing on many different religious persuasions (including Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim), and consequently very 'liberal'. I'm still more 'traditionally' Christian than say Thomas Jefferson (as reflected in the Jefferson Bible) and most on this 'Christian Deism' forum - because I believe to a large extent in the 'miracles' of the Bible (particularly of the New Testament). I don't believe that any 'miracles' suspend or supersede 'natural law' though - they just reveal areas of 'natural law' that 'science' hasn't caught up with yet. [The virgin birth? No - it's a story that pretty obviously could have no 'eyewitnesses', and seems to me to be counter to the prevalent New Testament teaching of the full humanity of Jesus. The resurrection? Yes. The ascension? No, not literally at least - unless Jesus was 'beamed up' into a UFO hovering above the clouds! ]

I do enjoy reading and corresponding on this forum, so I hope I won't find myself getting 'excommunicated' eventually.