Hey

[Jerry]

Hi guys,

I just thought I drop a quick intro. I'm agnostic but have fairly strong deist leanings.
I know I don't know a god/creator exists, but I lean towards a god to get the ball rolling (first cause so to speak). I wouldn't say I absolutely believe in a god, as I have no concept of what this god would be. I do however lean towards something, which I cannot conceptualise. I realise this may be somewhat of a contradiction to some people.

I used to be an atheist, but when I read/thought more I couldn't reconcile existence based on nothing. It was a leap too far for me. I did not have religious upbringing although both of my parents were former catholics and this may have influenced me in some way - it's difficult to say.

I live in New Zealand which is a fairly secular country, and find the tone of many new atheists quite hostile and arrogant. although I understand why non-theists who live in a religious country or area may feel marginalised. I can't rationalise believing in a single correct religion as it seems chance would play a strong role in which religion you deemed to be right.

[Gman]

Hey Jerry. How about starting with the idea that something cannot come from nothing, so no big bang that evloved into the universe; and that no animal who has adapted to their environment and survived to live in it was able to manipulate their environment to invent things for personal pleasure like humans, thus humans are not animals and could not evlove from the same single cell.

Since I am a classical Deist, I accept Thoma Jefferson's view of Deism, which he articulated in the Declaration of Independence, stressing the classical Deist worldview, "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God", "All people are Created Equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness", "appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions", "firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence".

From Jefferson's Deist worldview we get:

1. Nature was created with Laws to live by.
2. The Creator of Nature is God.
3. That Nature's God created all people to be equal.
4. That Nature's God endowed all people with certain unalienable Rights.
5. Among the Rights that All people have is Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
6. The Nature's God is the Supreme Judge of our intentions.
7. All people rely on the protection of the divine Providence of Nature's God.

Now it is up to each and every Diest to determine what each clause means to them.

To me it means:

1. The Creator is Nature's God who created Nature with Laws to function by.
2. That Nature's God created all people to be equal and endowed them with equal Rights, to Life without being murdered, to Liberty without having our Rights taken away, so we can pursuit happiness.
3. Nature's God, as Supreme Judge of our intentions, will bless us with peace if when we live by human nature that Nature's God has endowed us with without violating the Laws of Nature. If we fail to live by these Laws, Nature's God will withold the blessing and we will suffer what we sow.
4. We need the protection of the divine Providence of Nature's God if we are to be successful, so if we want Life without being murdered, or Liberty without having our Rights taken away, so we can pursuit happiness, we need to live by the Laws of Nature, and repent when we break them.

That's all I know about Deism, from Jefferson's point of view.

[Dad]

Hi guys,

I just thought I drop a quick intro. I'm agnostic but have fairly strong deist leanings.

Hello Jerry. I call myself a Deist but I have fairly strong agnostic leanings. My religious upbringing and wishful thinking that we are part of a grand plan swing the pendulum. I seek some sort of solid basis in this cock-eyed world. Welcome to the quest.

[Inner Prop]

"Hello, Jerry."

You'll find a lot of different ideas of what/who god could be here, you might find one concept that you're comfortable with, if you want.

I don't find it contradictory, it is similar to how I feel, I'm uncomfortable with the idea that it all came randomly from nothing. That leaves me with the idea that there is something I've missed (like when you leave the house with the feeling like you've forgotten something). Also, I don't like the idea of there not being something bigger, some bigger meaning to it all. That idea makes me sad, worried and lonely, but I see no physical evidence that directly points to a god. For comfort's sake I assume a godd that has characteristics I hope he has.

Try on a couple of ideas here and see if they fit. No one here is on commission so they won't pressure you.

[cclendenen]

Welcome. Follow the evidence, wherever it leads. Until you get to some destination, albeit even a temporary one, it makes sense to withhold a decision.

[Aaron]

Welcome.

[gnomon]

I'm agnostic but have fairly strong deist leanings.

Welcome to the Deistic-Inclination Club. I'm also Agnostic in the sense that I don't know for sure if there is a God. But if there is, I would expect He/r to be of the deistic persuasion.

[Jerry]

Thanks everyone.

I've run the gauntlet of atheist and religious forums, just to make sure I wasn't considering something I should have - perhaps I missed the answer in one of these forums. I must admit I'm surprised at the rhetoric of atheists, as when I was one I wasn't active . It seems to be turning into a religion itself, which is somewhat ironic. Perhaps this was brought on by 9/11, it seems to be a commonly used reason by atheists to justify their active involvement in atheism.

Religion still doesn’t make any sense to me, and is not something that speaks to me. Although the concept of a single absolute morality or no morality makes sense to me. I would prefer a single morality rather than the idea that nothing is wrong, although this doesn’t mean it’s correct.

I think the primary reasons for my deism are: Something from nothing, Socrates, a need within myself and my 2 children. I say my 2 children as I want there to be more as the thought of their mortality is something I find very difficult to deal with. Also I see their dependence on me and that they need guidance as they don’t understand many things, so I guide them as best I can. They sometimes may disagree (via tantrums and crying) with what I get them to do, but this has their best interests at heart. In this sense I make comparisons between myself and a creator. It’s a bit of a leap, but the intrinsic need which seems present in humanity leads me in this direction. This doesn’t mean it’s justified just that it’s present.

[loveroflife]

Welcome to the forums. I like it here. So much to ingest and digest. I'd probably be classified as a deist agnostic also. I've gotten as far as a belief in God but the rest I'm pretty much undecided on myself. But I find plenty of ideas on here, but no pressure. Welcome aboard!

[siti]

Bula!

Welcome Jerry! Another member from the South Seas - we should form a chapter.

[Dave.Gaddis]

Welcome, Jerry