Unified Deism Paramount Principle 1: We believe that God exists based on reflective reason, personal experience, and observation of nature.

Reflective reason is one of the key ways in which Unified Deists arrive at or reinforce their belief in God. But reflective reason applies to much more than just our analysis of the God question. Reflective reason is a tool we Deists can use in every aspect of our lives.

Let’s start with a couple of definitions:

Let me update you very briefly on the Prof. Byan Sykes books mentioned in Chapter Two. I just recently finished reading the second in the series, “Adam’s Curse”. Since, I had received them out of sequence, this completed my reading of the trilogy. For all you humans of the male persuasion, the last several chapters concerning our survival are rather disconcerting. So be forewarned if you choose to read this series (which I recommend).

Remember how I described to you in the previous chapter the process of observing the world around you with a total, laser-like focus? So many people today are wrapped up in their internal struggles with life that they miss many of the wonders around them that the Creator provides. We have senses to experience the external world: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Observing and experiencing nature is the most important thing in our lives. It is the “Word of God.” Each moment spent in observation brings something new for us to learn.

Let me share two significant recent events. First, my son sent me a very enlightening link. Please go to http://www.wimp.com/centuryenlightenment and experience the presentation there. View it and mull it over to see how you think it relates to Deism. It touches on our spiritual side of life only briefly, but the overall message there is, in my opinion, important for our future. Please share your interpretations. I think this notion for 21st century enlightenment could lead to at least one more wonderful essay all on its own.

Second, I highly recommend that you visit NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day. The one from 8/23/2010 is especially beautiful. After viewing the picture, click on the 31-second video. Viewing these pictures, along with an obligatory visit to www.stardate.org, are my spiritual moments for each day. Try them and see if they also provide you with a sense of the magnificence of our universe.

Finally, let me direct your attention to http://www.fourthturning.com. These observations were made and documented by William Strauss, speaker, writer, and historian (deceased), and his partner Neil Howe, historian, economist, and demographer. This site breaks down the cyclical events of human endeavors in life, into Four Turnings reminiscent of the Seasons. The visit will be very much worth your while.

All of the items I have referred you to here I will elaborate on in the next chapter of “The Journey”. For now, I hope I have provided more than enough to keep you stimulated till the next chapter.

Till we meet again, my fellow Deists.

“Made Possible by God, Powered by Humanity”

The Old Allentown Curmudgeon

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To explain my own version of Deism, I have to start a little over 40 years ago. Why? Because my brothers and I were raised outside of any Church, and were always encouraged by our parents to “think for yourself”. The only strict principal in our home involved adherence to the Golden Rule at all times. If you think about it, that single rule pretty much covers all the bases. Getting everyone to follow it seems to be the problem…

The earliest influence that I can remember is that of the common sense principles of Philosophical Taoism. Exposure to Native American, Greek, and Egyptian beliefs soon followed, along with heavy interest in the Celtic mythos. The first experience I can remember involving Christianity was a week spent in a Southern Baptist Church-Camp. My mother apparently decided I needed “exposure” to Christianity, and that must have been the simplest way she could think of to do so. All I really remember from that experience was lunchmeat sandwiches, homemade cookies, and various fruity-drinks. Apparently, Christianity held no interest for me even at that young age.

I read most of Mom’s philosophical, cultural, mythological, and alternative religion books during my teen years, but the real awakening began when access to the Internet became readily available. In the time between then and now, I have spent a great deal of my free-time researching every religion and philosophy that I run across. I “collect” bits and pieces that I find to be personally relevant from each school of thought, then discard the rest. This habit may not be the best way to go about things, but I am on a quest of self-discovery, and that quest has led me to the modern forms of Deism.

The spirit of this story, though, is how Deism applies to my daily life, so I will stop with the background information, and jump to the present day. As I mentioned earlier, no two Deists are alike. This is because nearly all of us came to Deism through different routes, with different backgrounds, and a very wide-ranging collection of influences floating around in our heads. One common theme among the members of this particular group is that of “tolerance”. We may not believe in another person’s religion, or personal belief system, but we do extend them the courtesy of recognizing their “right“ to that belief. Most of us will not attack another Faith unless we are attacked first. Some of the more levelheaded among us will not even do that; having enough sense to simply walk away instead.

The greatest gift that my path to Deism has given me is the ability to see nearly everything in shades of grey. I am often called upon as a mediator, or a confidant, and because of my non-judgmental personality, I have no known enemies (although some people find me to be slightly eccentric). This tendency to look at things in an objective manner has a lot to do with my philosophical leaning towards Taoism, but is also a result of studying so many religions and philosophies throughout the years.

I do not believe in proselytizing, so I don’t even bring up the subject of Deism unless I am asked to do so. I do, however, believe that following the Tao of “Positive” Deism gives a person an unbeatable sense of ethics and morality, combined with a tolerance that cannot be matched by any other belief system in the world. Deism can be viewed as either a religion or a philosophy, but no matter which stance you take there is room for you among our ranks.

After settling into our new home as a boy, I set off exploring past the edge of the property into the forest primeval. This region is full of high ridges and deep valleys that are nestled below big pine and oak trees, where a huge pine forest existed centuries ago. Massive deteriorating stumps remain as evidence. My first reaction to all the beauty around me was one of overwhelming awe. The quiet of the woods, with only the whisper of the breeze through upper branches, enveloped me with a delicious sense of well-being and comfort.

I had been swept into a different world. My clumsy tromping downward to the valley floor had cleared the area of all but the most curious of wildlife. Here was my first lesson to be learned: how to pass quietly through the woods and slowly settle into a sitting position along the way at selected spots to carefully observe all that nature had to offer. This took many months to master, and here, my good people, is the routine I alluded to towards the end of the first chapter of this essay.

The technique I learned on my own is actually similar to a form of meditation practiced by many Pacific Rim and Asian cultures. My technique differs in that it is an external approach with eyes wide open, not an internal  practice, with eyes shut muttering a mantra. I would sit absolutely still for as long as it would take for the local wildlife to return (this means not moving a muscle, including the eyes). One must actually blend into the landscape. This may take 30 minutes to an hour, based upon how skittish the birds and other creatures have been.

Remember, a young boy, without any prior knowledge of meditative skills, practiced this instinctive behavior. This is part of the natural ability of all species. Civilization has dulled this ability in us, but it is easily brought back with practice. I know many of you woodsmen and hunters know exactly the skills of which I speak.

I am going to take you now into the past 150,000 years, back to our beginnings as Homo sapiens, by quoting briefly from a trio of novels that I have recently been reading.

I highly recommend these books, since they will open your eyes to a whole new world of understanding about why we act the way we do as human beings, which in turn will lend much credence to Deism, so much so that you will never again doubt that you have chosen the right path of spiritual philosophy for your belief system.

Bryan Sykes, the author, is a Professor of Genetics at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, U.K. His studies and laboratory work there led him, by pure happenstance, to a chance introduction to an archaeologist, one Robert Hedges, who runs the Carbon-Dating laboratory there at Oxford. Sykes has put together a tantalizing exploration into the human genealogical past using his knowledge of living cellular structure. This is still ongoing discovery process through the Genome Project. The titles are: “The Seven Daughters of Eve,” “Adam’s Curse” and “Saxons, Vikings, and Celts.” They are worth every minute spent reading if you are serious about Deism. These books do become very scientific in terms of writing style, intensely so at times, but this is necessary so that you will comprehend the gravity of the story line.

Let us consider the prehistoric past for a taste of the subject at hand. Nearly three million years ago, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo erectus (our direct cousins) emerged from Africa to spread out across Europe and Asia. Then, one hundred fifty thousand years ago, we emerged as Homo sapiens. We were still hunter-gatherers until the discovery of planting of grains and the domesticating of wild beasts for nourishment in the Fertile Crescent along the banks of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. Here agriculture was born, and it has been a battle of the “have’s and the have nots” ever since. The cellular structure of the Mitochondria DNA (female) and the Y-Chromosome (male) are what define our magnificence and downfall as a species, continuously waging an ongoing war against each other. I have taken the liberty of paraphrasing portions of all three books here.

Does this “teaser” help you understand why these novels are a must read? We are supposed to consider ourselves critical thinkers as Deists, so this book series is definitely worthy of adding to our knowledge of the history of human development.

This episode may help you see why I have had a distinct interest in nature and science for over six decades. I have also been fascinated by the periods from prehistory and ancient times to the 19th Century.

So I bid you adieu until we share the next segment of our Journey to Deism. Join me for the next chapter in this ongoing essay series. For those of you who have read the above-mentioned books, I would appreciate your feedback so we can share our impressions with the rest of  Unified Deism.

Thank you all for letting me share these musings.

Till next time!

“Made Possible by God, Powered by Humanity”

The Old Allentown Curmudgeon

It was here that I first discovered Nature in the raw, more or less untouched by human habitation, therefore, the home of Nature’s God. There are many wonderful tales that I could regale you with here, and perhaps I will intertwine them into other essays later.

I was born into a very strict Roman Catholic household, and even at this early age I had problems understanding the Christian myth when ranging the deep woods, hillsides, and high cliffs created by the last Ice Age.

But remember, I had been programmed not to question “The Word of God,” so I kept my questions to myself until I was 10 years of age. For several weeks a sermon had been raging from the altar excoriating Judaism. I had had enough, and in a private moment later on, I questioned the priest about his hatred of Jews, telling him that the population of the present-day world could not be held accountable for events occurring 2000 years ago. Besides, the Roman Legions used crucifixion as method of warning to conquered territories that rebellious attitudes would be punished in this manner. Roadways were littered with crosses throughout the Empire. I let him know some of my best friends were Jewish. Well, all “kingdom come” broke loose after that, and I caught it from the parish and from my folks.

This, my good friends, marked the beginning of a Deistic attitude that would continue rising to the surface. It would lay dormant again, building till my first real big break away from Catholicism at age 25. Then began an on-again-off-again struggle with organized revealed religion that continued till the beginning of this year, nearly 60 years in the making.

I was reading the Declaration of Independence when the words again struck me, “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”. What were our founding fathers’ real religious leanings? DEISM pure and simple. I explored Deism briefly, as I had Buddhism, Shintoism and Taoism( the latter being the closest to Deism) during my 10 years of world travel around the globe, thanks to 12 years in the U.S. Air Force.

For me there was no great “Ah-Ha!” moment. After exploring several Websites and reading the interpretations offered by each, I found  that Positive Deism and Unified Deism carried messages that most closely matched my own.

Let me stress a point here and tell you that I do not in any way begrudge people their beliefs on spiritual matters. I respect and honor their choice of worship. Therefore, I expect the same of them; we can agree to disagree respectfully. This is the story of my own experience, not a purposeful criticism of any revealed religious belief that gives comfort and peace of mind to those who practice it.

Several years ago I started to study Pelaguis, a Celtic Monk who lived 354-418 AD. Little is known of him, other than the fact that he came from Britain and personally played an important role in shaping the early character of Celtic Christianity. He had tremendous Deistic tendencies and a huge following, especially after his death. His fights with Rome and St. Augustine were legendary until he was finally excommunicated for the last time. If Deism would ever choose to have a Saint, Pelaguis would definitely qualify. Look him up and read more, and I think you’ll find his story fascinating.

Deism is not for the faint of heart or for those looking for perfection in spiritual philosophy. Nature, which abounds everywhere, provides all the answers you’ll ever need. That is, if you are willing to  apply the following:

1. Open your mind and eyes and observe carefully.

2. Try not to intellectualize or build grand theories till your head and heart hurt.

3. Remember, there are no rules or dogma to curtail your progress.

4. Think logically and critically.

When I was a young lad I devised a routine when exploring the deep woods, cliffs, ridge tops and valleys that served as my back yard. Later in life I transformed this attitude into a methodology that I am starting to apply again to my life.

This attitude will weave its way into several tales to which I alluded earlier. I will share this philosophy with you in the next essay in this journey of discovery that we are all are traveling on, each of us in our own way.

I will be here for you at Unified Deism from here forward to be counseled by you and to share freely my experiences and any wisdom that I may have gained during my almost three quarters of a century. Let’s take this journey together.

So till next time, let me leave you with a new slogan I adopted recently from the Website: “Made possible by God, and Powered by Humanity”

The Old Allentown Curmudgeon

As I enter the seventh decade of my life I look back on all the people that have been a part of it. There were many: some long-time friends, many, many casual acquaintances, work-mates, close female relationships, family relationships. By far the most wonderful person was my mother. She had a handful putting up with this wretch of a son writing now. She loved life, loved her family, loved her Christian God; and she was loved and respected by all around her. She worked hard to raise a family of three boys, her house was always fresh and homely, the garden tended with loving care, she had a full-time job and always had time for voluntary work with her church. When trouble arose the remedy was to put the kettle on for a cup of tea and a heart-to-heart; never a flaming row.

A tribute to my grandmother

Born in 1886, one of twelve children, she married a Royal Navy seaman and bore him six children. One died at five years of age from diphtheria. She became a widow at 39 and finished raising her children alone. Her husband was so treasured there was going to be no-one to take his place and she lived alone for the rest of her 84 years once her family was all grown up. She was so much like my mother in so many ways but I only have memories after she was nearly 70.

Can you really sum up people’s lives in a paragraph? The grave my grandmother bought that contains the remains of her young son and husband and other family members claimed her in 1970 and has now sunk below ground in what is destined to become a city park.

My mother expressed a wish to have an angel over her grave and my brother granted that wish in beautiful taste: a kneeling angel with head bowed in prayer. The plinth bears an inscription that we hope creates smiles in her graveyard:

“To family close, but oft afar,
Her character and strength shone like a star,
With noble ideals, sacrifice she would,
And nobody made a better rice pud.”

That was erected in 1986, and since then around twenty graves have sprung up immediately around hers, all containing young children and infants and most topped with a little angel. It is in Shepton Mallet in the south-west of England.

My daughter and I spent three days last year cleaning the severely weathered white marble to its original condition. It is a beautiful tranquil location on the side of a hill and one to which I make a pilgrimage each time I’m “home”. My ashes may go in there one day.

But in time

All will be forgotten. My family never made the history books, and what if they did? What good does it do them now they’re dead, gone, non-existent. Only a temporary memory while a few of us are left alive. We are given the precious and, at times, exquisite gift of life and then, all too soon, the gift is taken back again. Each of us in turn will succumb to the Grim Reaper and be annihilated as if we never existed.

For what? For some Deity’s entertainment? Nothing to do except watch the billions of daily live soaps that occur on this tiny planet?

It doesn’t make sense. And if Deists are distancing themselves from Atheists in trying to make sense of existence then this is one major area that needs attention.

The Beauty of Death

You can’t get away from it, death is very practical and useful here on Earth. Imagine the alternative! It’s totally unthinkable to live this corporeal existence for eternity, even if we were perfect specimens. We are programmed to survive and to strive to enjoy life as much as possible, but eventually the body wears out much the same as a new outfit. Death teaches us so much: we learn to value life, to value loved ones, to take care of one another, to appreciate youth and good health….so many good lessons.

But what use good lessons if they are doomed to be deleted along with us? What is the long-term benefit if there is no long term? It takes a lifetime of experience to learn to value these things; they are not the kind that can be appreciated by learning at a school desk. Each generation has to go through the same “school of knocks”.

The History of Belief in an Afterlife

Ever since Man acquired the ability to reason death he has come up with various ideas regarding an afterlife. A billion Christians believe in some sort of “heaven” for our departed souls. A billion Hindus believe we are reincarnated as another animal in a never-ending cycle of birth and death. Buddhists believe we can escape this toilsome cycle by ignoring life’s material pursuits and become gods. Man has always conceived of something going on beyond the scenes we perceive; firstly because of the programmed desire to survive, but more importantly to make sense of an otherwise senseless cycle of temporary lives. The Atheist answer makes most sense – that there is not, nor was there ever, any sense. But how many of us are satisfied with that?

Evidence of Afterlife

There are plentiful accounts of Near-Death- Experiences (NDEs) but I am not going to delve into them. I find them unnecessary and perhaps a hindrance to reason on this issue. My approach is reasoned faith.

Immortal Humans

In recent years of scientific and medical progress much has been written about defeating the “disease of ageing”, extending life-expectancy in pursuit of immortality. Is this our species’ destiny? Is it desirable? Would we enjoy it? Would it be practical to spread immortal humans amongst the stars? Would we be happy? A million questions, and there would still be accidental death stalking us.

Secrets of the Universe

Man is gradually shedding the superstitions acquired through ignorance. The universe is virtually unchanged since we arrived on the scene and has always being crying for us to delve into and expose her secrets through detective work. She is very rational, abiding by invisible eternal laws which govern immutably. She challenges us to discover truths which in earlier times were deemed impossible. Her origin and limits seem to us to be impenetrable, but we soldier on in search of answers. She is an eternal mystery, a jig-saw puzzle with an infinite number of pieces. Each generation fits a few pieces more but we are still far from the end. The story of this quest for truth is in line with the stories which human beings regard as the perfect story:

The Perfect Story

Once upon a time……introduction…….trouble……disaster…..triumph…..and they all lived happily ever after. Sound like a fairy tale? Of course, but it is the course of every great book, movie, tale, detective story, whatever. Everything turns out right in the end. The story of the universe should be no different, and the story of each player on the stage. In real life evil often triumphs, but that is never the end of the story. Evil always eventually gets its just desserts even though it takes centuries or millennia to bring her to her knees. That is the story of progress.

Where the world’s religions went wrong

There is no other word for it – they cheated! Instead of sticking to a well-reasoned basis for belief in something after death, they jumped the gun and claimed supernatural communication from beyond. The founders of the religions were exalted to god-like status and their words claimed to come from a god or a god’s agent. The process is simple and transparent. The founder works on the basic strong belief, dwells upon it, embellishes it, exaggerates it and comes up with a conclusion that goes way beyond reason into fantasy. To top it off, the fantasy is interpreted as divine inspiration. Followers of the founder add their own embellishments and the founder achieves god-like status….and the masses are sucked in generation after generation. It takes a great deal of soul-searching to break free.

Don’t hate religion

The world’s religions have brought hope to billions who otherwise would have none. It is not for us to judge too harshly, nor to bring condemnation. But we can learn where they went astray. We can learn by their mistakes and we can learn from their triumphs as well. It is up to us to provide a sound alternative that delivers equal hope for those who question their religion. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Back to basics

Despite great leaps in scientific knowledge our universe still holds many secrets. But we can see her secrets, when exposed, are all very rational – often surprising, perhaps, but still subject to reason. The greatest step in understanding took place in the 19th Century with the advent of the Theory of Evolution. We must bear in mind this was not afforded to the founders of the world religions. At first glance this evolutionary process appears to be random and mindless, but when we examine it more closely and look at the results over the eons we can see that it displays a sublime beauty and elegance that cries out for the Author to step up to the podium. The old ideas of individual Creation of each species by an industrious deity are outclassed to the nth degree by evolutionary principles. And principles they are! And we are called upon to put these principles under the microscope to see if they display the hallmarks of intent and purpose. Most Deists believe they do.

The Theory of Evolution is a biological theory: it applies to all life-forms. Now the question is: “Is there purpose for life?” We cannot tackle this question head-on so we must apply a little lateral thinking. For instance, much has been made by Creationists about the complexity of the eye. They say that this could not have just evolved. That is not the point. Instead we should ask ourselves the question: “Is there purpose for the eye?” And the answer is a resounding “Yes, so we can see”. If we take this approach when examining all life-forms and their make-up we can see that every item displays purpose and usefulness for the phenomenon we call life. The biology disciplines continue to excel in unravelling the mysteries which on first inspection appear to be random, but subsequently prove to have purpose.

We can use these discoveries to extend by implication. It is very reasonable to say: “There is every indication that there are purposes to life, but as yet we can only speculate wildly what those purposes might be”.

At this point we need to pause and reflect on who or what could be behind that purpose. Still again that is a complete unknown that is open to speculation – more information needed. What we can say, however, is that our lives are very precious to us as are our relationships with others close to us and if there is purpose to life then these must be core principles as far as human life is concerned. There is no good reason to assume that the coldness we perceive in the evolutionary process extends to the intent behind it. Any law is by necessity cold and impartial but that does not mean that the law-maker is so. Outward appearances can be very deceptive.

Is the universe there primarily to support life?
One would think so. It certainly has no use if there is no consciousness to observe and enjoy it. No sense in rocks and gases and blazing suns only. It seems only sensible that the rise of life and consciousness must be seen as the original intent if there were any at all. By extension it would seem that intelligent life such as us humans must have been on the agenda too. How else would any part of Creation look to the vastness and wonders? Thus we begin to see a larger picture in the intent behind the evolutionary process.

Summary so far

We can observe the joys of life and the necessity of death. We perceive life as being the objective of this universe and that there is likely some purpose for life even it is solely to bring happiness into it. The gift of life is taken away by death and that seems a pointless exercise for the individual. As much as we might enjoy life it ends in oblivion. That seems utterly cold and senseless. Is there some essence of us that survives death?

This Precious Life

If the primary intent behind the universe was to bring forth life and intelligence, then that has been a long patient journey from the Big Bang. Billions of years went past before the first spark of life occurred and billions of years thence to the present day. That is a whole lot of groundwork! We cannot declare that humans are the crowning glory of life-forms but we can say we are the pinnacle so far on Earth. Our history is bathed in bloodlust and we still have a long way to go till our different societies can live together harmoniously. Physically and emotionally we have not evolved much as individuals, but our societies have. Through this we have learned the sanctity of individual human life. It just makes sense that the importance of life is not just confined to humans, but also is implicit in the intent behind the universe. It is just waiting for us to discover its secret. We still have a long way to go before we discover just how important this precious life is.

If it was so, so important for life to arise then it follows that it is so important that death should not triumph over it. Survival is our primary mandate, the major principle behind evolution: not only as a species, but also as an individual. If this principle is by divine mandate then we cannot dismiss some sort of afterlife as being merely wishful thinking. There is substance behind our observation that our short lives should have a purpose other than just to procreate. And a purpose that involves us individually and personally rather than just as a collective whole. If this is so, we then have the grounds for life making sense. But let us not then go off into flights of fantasy of what the afterlife entails, but just leave it as an open reasoned faith in there being another adventure in store for us.

Immortal atom, immortal energy

Until quite recently Man observed the total destruction of matter by fire. It was not known then that it was merely chemical change, not utter destruction. Even in an atomic reaction matter is only converted into energy. Both matter and energy are interchangeable but as a couple they are immortal. When we die our bodies’ components are retained. The life force is gone, memories are gone, individual personality and loves and thoughts are gone. What happens to them? We cannot say, but it is well to remember our forefathers’ ignorance of fire. Who can declare with certainty that all is lost?

Introduction

Humanity has spawned a myriad of worldviews, each uniquely meeting various human needs for emotional security, belonging, and purpose. The ultimate goal of any philosophy or religion must be to help us learn how we can better live our lives as human beings and achieve the emotional and spiritual fulfillment we all crave. The revealed religions offer claims of salvation and eternal life, but they offend reason by requiring unquestioning faith in fantastic assertions. Further, they breed division by preaching that their adherents are a select, chosen few when it is obvious that we are but one family under one sky. Alternatively, Atheism offers a reasonable worldview, but one without God and devoid of the possibility of anything beyond our mortal existence. Deism offers a balanced, middle ground between these extremes. Deism teaches us to strip away the unnecessary and take the very best of humanity’s wisdom, traditions, religions, and knowledge to develop our own evolving, flowing life philosophy.

Unified Deism and its Principles represent a solid foundation for a personal philosophy, but Deism is dynamic and has so much more to offer humanity. We see Unified Deism as a paradigm shift in religious belief that can lead us to more fulfilling lives. Classical Deism began the process by turning away from the dogma people were required to accept and towards reason-based, natural religion. Unified Deism now begins the process of uniting Deists under a single banner, adopting a set of unifying principles that should appeal not only to all Deists, but to Freethinkers everywhere. We endeavor to bring people together by offering fellowship and friendship in a community of strong-willed individuals, a place where we embrace our differences as well as our similarities, a place where our positive and forward-looking views continuously seek out and examine the best that humanity has to offer. As Bruce Lee said regarding Jeet Kune Do: adopt that which is useful, reject that which is useless for you, and add what is uniquely your own.

The Deist Flow

The Universe is in perpetual motion. At the sub-atomic level, even the most rigid object is flowing and changing. Energy flows freely throughout the Universe, permeating everything from the darkest reaches of space to our own bodies. It flows with or without our choice or active participation. The Deist Flow is not a new age concept, but a realization that we are part of the flow of the universe. We follow nature’s course. Even the ancient Greeks, especially the Stoics, realized this. Though they had to recognize multiple gods for practical reasons, they were basically Pantheists who felt that everything came from one essential force in the universe, pyr technicon, “the fire that creates.” We have no control over our birth and, short of suicide, little over our death. We have only the fleeting moments in between to shape our lives with the greatest gift the Creator has given us: the God-like power to create. Most important is our power to create ourselves, to chart our own destinies. Life is not an act of “discovering” ourselves, but one of purposeful self-creation directed by our own personal vision. We are constrained only by our individual physical shortcomings. And working together, we can overcome many of these limitations.

It is in living that we either achieve our maximum personal potential or waste our life energy in mindless daily routine, relentlessly plodding toward a bleak finale marred by unrealized potential. The Deist Flow focuses on enjoying an examined and fulfilled life characterized by reasoned spirituality, offering hope for something beyond this existence without the arbitrary divisions imposed by the Abrahamic faiths or the bleakness of reductionist anti-belief. Salvation is not forgiveness of sin but the realization of our personal potential, forged in the fire of our will and bolstered by fellowship with friends and loved ones. Self-creation is an ongoing, deliberate process of “re-centering.” The Deist Flow is not limited by 18^th century western religious philosophy;. it unites the philosophical traditions of East and West to find a new middle way, a way of recognizing and following the nature’s course.

Because there is no ladder to enlightenment, Deist philosophy is best represented by a circle spinning in perfect balance on a centered line, like a gyroscope spinning, perfectly balanced on a string. When our choices move us away from the center, the circle becomes increasingly unbalanced and unstable. Spending too much time at the extremes puts our personal salvation in jeopardy and creates suffering for those around us as well. Keep in mind that Deist salvation is the maximum realization of our personal potential. When we are at a state of centered being, we:

• achieve actualization of our individual potential;
• enjoy a deeper sense of awareness and oneness with humanity and the universe;
• feel a sense of intense calm, happiness, and acceptance; and
• exercise heightened control over our body and emotions.

In this introduction to The Deist Flow it is primarily important to understand the characteristics of a Deist in a state of centered being. Later on we will examine a series of tools we can use to re-center ourselves.  Six traits describe the centered state: aware, courageous, rational/detached, disciplined, free-flowing, and altruistic.

| Aware |

“It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” – Carl Sagan

Deist awareness, in part, represents an intuitive understanding that the complexity, order, mystery, and wonder of the universe reveal a sense of God and ultimate reality – an innate understanding of the interconnectedness and oneness of the Universe. In this state, Deist may feel that they have experienced God personally.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 3: We believe that human beings are capable of having profound experiences of God, but hold that such personal revelations are true only for themselves.

The Deist grasps the nature of the Universe and accepts it on its own terms. In context, that means we simultaneously recognize the individual miracle that each human being represents, while also realizing each person is just one among many. We understand that the polarity (unity of opposites) governing this existence is immutable. Life is defined by opposites: joy and sorrow, love and fear, night and day, hot and cold, birth and death, and so on. But the Deist is also aware of the human potential to minimize or to overcome the negatives. Thus, a centered state allows the Deist to remain realistically and consistently optimistic about the possibilities for the future.

The Deist strives for mindfulness, to be truly present in every moment. We have only one chance to experience the finite series of moments that comprise our short lives, so the aware Deist strives to feel, absorb, and fully live each one. Nothing is taken for granted; everything is concurrently experienced through wisdom and the wonder of a child. We live in the here and now. The past is behind us. The mistakes we have made by not living according to nature cannot be undone. It is our responsibility to redeem and forgive ourselves.

Deist awareness also extends to our own individual imperfections. We understand that only when we become keenly aware of our faults can we work to correct them. These are not imperfections highlighted by a commercialized, idealized sense of physical beauty, for example, but instead an awareness of our shortcomings with respect to our fully realized self.

Finally, awareness includes a deep understanding of right and wrong. This is not the right and wrong represented by the Ten Commandments or the prohibition on images of Mohammed in Islam. This is the right and wrong understood without revelation. Do we need God to tell us it is wrong to murder, steal, or lie? Of course not! We also understand these wrongs are not absolutes, as there are exceptions to every one. Context matters, and the Deist applies reason, logic, and intuition to determine when an action is right or wrong.

| Courageous |

“I alone am responsible for the nobility of my character.” – Stoic Tradition

“Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs

Courageous Deists strive to choose right over wrong, regardless of personal consequences. They remain true to their core beliefs, that inner light. This courage supports the centered Deists’ goal to live authentically, according to nature, honestly expressing themselves in all facets of their being and interpersonal relationships. Do not allow the brevity of this section to mislead you. Living authentically takes more courage than engaging an enemy in war. The battlefield is largely impersonal; it is fight or die. But in our day-to-day lives we face more intensely personal choices. Telling your family you have left Christianity, for example, may have profound implications for your future relationship with them. Deists must remain true to themselves, even when it is not easy. This takes incredible courage!

| Rational and Detached |

“Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him.” – Aldous Huxley

Much like being aware, becoming a rational/detached Deist takes practice and determination. Rational refers to the Deist’s ability to effectively and efficiently apply knowledge, logic, experience, and reason to the analysis of a choice, conclusion, or event. The Deist selects the best option based on its merits in a consistent and prudent manner.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 1: We believe everything we need to know of God can be found in the universe itself.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 2: We do not believe God acts in the universe in ways that contradict natural law, but do not deny the possibility.

Being a detached Deist does not mean one is distant, aloof, or unemotional. Instead it means the Deist is able to minimize the ego to become independent, humble, and impartial. This detached state leads to serenity, peace with the universe and oneself. You can see this peace in a centered Deist who shows dignity even in the midst of personal misfortune. Though we place great value fellowship, a detached Deist is also able to be alone without feeling lonely, using this time for proactive reflection (discussed later). Detachment from ego also permits further analysis of our decisions or actions. A centered Deist can admit “I was wrong.” Finally, having the courage to stand on principle, even when that is an unpopular position, combined with the detachment of ego, makes the Deist highly resistant to indoctrination, assimilation or groupthink.

Detached Deists also choose their battles dispassionately. They examine their choices rationally and avoid expending their energies on things beyond their control. They strive for wisdom and serenity, accepting what they cannot change, ever seeking to change and improve what they can, and learning day by day to recognize the difference.

| Disciplined |

“Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.” – Vince Lombardi

Self-mastery requires self discipline and perseverance. You are the key to your own success. Deist discipline requires us to apply proactive reflection to all areas of our lives. Proactive reflection, unlike simple reflection, is a self-directed, structured approach to analyzing our choices, conclusions, and actions, ensuring harmony with our personal sense of purpose and centered being. Through ongoing proactive reflection, the Deist becomes temperate. All aspects of life are brought into moderation and balance. One of the greatest benefits of Deist discipline is the renewal that comes from regularly re-centering our thoughts and actions. Discipline and reflection, on some level, already played a role in your determination that God exists. These traits continue to make valuable contributions to our decision-making processes throughout our lifetimes.

Unified Deism Paramount Principle 1: We believe that God exists based on reflective reason, personal experience, and observation of nature.

The process of proactive reflection will be discussed at length in a future essay[chc1] . This process is absolutely critical to determining our own potential, evaluating our conclusions and actions, and re-centering.

| Free-flowing |

“Using no way as way; having no limitation as limitation.” – Bruce Lee

The Taoist often uses bamboo to represent the virtues of flexibility and adaptability. In the face of violent storms, bamboo yields to the powerful winds, bending and swaying in sync with the gusting airstream. Bamboo survives while other, seemingly stronger, trees are easily snapped. Bamboo’s pliability symbolizes strength in apparent weakness. Marcus Aurelius said, “Love that only which happens to you and is spun with the thread of your destiny.” We internalize the experience we call love when we observe and conform to the flow of nature. Fighting the natural course of life brings us to grief. The Deist mind flows where reason and proactive reflection lead, never dogmatic or inflexible. However, when Deists conclude that their actions are right, they remain firm, yielding only as much as necessary to survive the storm without being broken by it.

Unified Deism Paramount Principle 3: We believe our principles should evolve with societal progress and our knowledge of the universe.

| Altruistic |

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The first five characteristics given here are inwardly focused. Altruism shifts our gaze from ourselves to humankind, indeed to all life. Deist altruism is more nuanced than the common definition of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It captures selflessness, personal responsibility, and democratic values. While deeply empathetic and compassionate, Deist charity also demands that, whenever possible, others assist in their own salvation. Deist altruism recognizes the intrinsic value of life, striving to protect it in all its forms, as well as the natural nobility of each person, showing respect and tolerance for the views of others, even seeking their guidance and opinion. The most gallant of our powers is that of love. Love allows the Deist to see the common purpose and oneness that bind all of humanity together. Love engenders tremendous patience and helps us develop a sense of duty in service to one another. No person is superior or inferior in relationship to another. No man is an island. We exist for one another.

Unified Deism Paramount Principle 2: We believe that fellowship, community, and mutual respect are essential components of life. But the noblest and most important power in human relationships is our capacity to love.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 4: We believe in the intrinsic value of life and advocate honesty, prudence, compassion, and justice in our dealings with one another.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 5: We believe people should be free in all aspects of their lives, provided they do not disturb the peace, happiness, or safety of society.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 6: We encourage all to advance the human condition within their personal capacity to do so. However, we believe religion should be separate from government and neither this nor any Deist principle should be used to justify political positions or causes.

Unified Deism Supporting Principle 7: We believe that religion is a personal matter guided by the dictates of conscience. We do not advocate efforts to convert people to Deism, but instead endeavor to promote Deism and educate those who are interested.

Conclusion

Unlike other religious and philosophical systems, Deism is not hierarchical. There is no savior, no Pope, no divine appointment, and no special “enlightenment” for the Deist. There is nothing in Deism that promotes the idea that God or any power places any human being in a position of greater worth than or authority over any other. Authority comes from within. You are the hero of your own story. The Deist Flow is designed to assist with your personal salvation, the realization of your own personal potential.

• Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
• Life is a beauty, admire it.
• Life is a dream, realize it.
• Life is a challenge, meet it.
• Life is a duty, complete it.
• Life is a game, play it.
• Life is a promise, fulfill it.
• Life is sorrow, overcome it.
• Life is a song, sing it.
• Life is a struggle, accept it.
• Life is a tragedy, confront it.
• Life is an adventure, dare it.
• Life is luck, make it.
• Life is life, fight for it!

- Mother Teresa

Although there are political undertones to this effort, this is really more of a social cause meant to protect our individual religious freedoms. If we allow the revealed religionists to slowly and inexorably gain undue influence over our National dialogue, then the day when our government finally endorses a religion will come.

In our recent discussions on what sustains Deists, one common theme appeared most often: freedom. Many see Deism as a form freedom worthy of supporting in the arena of ideas.

So why should the Unified Deism Community support a National Day of Reason:

(1) Reason, more precisely reflective reason, is part of our core principles. Promoting events that celebrate reason is a natural and logical action for us.

(2) Unified Deism has much in common with the Humanist movement. The National Day of Reason is a wonderful opportunity to support likeminded freethinkers.

(3) Over 80% of the global population believes in a God of some sort, yet only a tiny fraction has even heard of Deism let alone Unified Deism. At some point, we need to band together and publicly promote the beauty, inclusiveness, and logic of our religious life philosophy.

I would like to thank the American Humanist Association and the Washington Area Secular Humanists for co-sponsoring the National Day of Reason website and for allowing fellow freethinkers to join the effort to elevate reason in the National consciousness.

Welcome to our new Reformation! The first Reformation tried to improve the Catholic Church, which is still very much in need of reform. But rejecting one type of dogma has not fixed what ails organized religion. Unquestioning faith prevails but reason suffers when church and clergy control how we think. Our Reformation is a true spiritual revolution. Reason and faith can coexist. Humankind cannot thrive when organized religion stifles thoughts that yearn to breathe free. Join us on the path that leads to Unified Deism.

Welcome to the Age of Enlightenment in the new millennium. The Enlightenment of the 18th century was a revolution in the cultural, philosophical and political development of mankind. Some of our greatest institutions and foundational philosophies are based on Enlightenment thinking. Some of Deism’s most important figures thrived then. We invite you to join the revolution of the New Enlightenment.

Deism is the solid core of this transformational movement. Our human side is hard-wired for religion, but reason must prevail. Using all our human faculties of reason, intuition, imagination and inference, we come to the conclusion that there is more to the universe than mere chance. We reach the same conclusion as Thomas Paine. God exists, and there it lies.

Unified Deism is a celebration of Freethought. Other freethinking people may reach a different conclusion, and that is as it should be. We respect their reason-based choices. We respect the choices of all people who hold to something sacred in their lives. We must allow all people to decide what is sacred to them. Free choice, free thought and free exercise of our beliefs are rights that come from nature. These are freedoms that form our foundation.

So be a leader in the New Reformation. Be a part of the New Renaissance. Come experience the Enlightenment of Unified Deism, a 21st century revival of natural religion.