deism
Let an agent explain deism as a philosophy and historical movement with attribution, distinguish it from theism, atheism and pantheism, relay its history and key figures, and describe related concepts such as ceremonial deism and the Cult of the Supreme Being neutrally.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain deism as a philosophy and historical movement with attribution, distinguish it from theism, atheism and pantheism, relay its history and key figures, and describe related concepts such as ceremonial deism and the Cult of the Supreme Being neutrally.
A religious philosophy holding that a creator God exists and can be known through reason and observation of nature, but does not intervene in the world through revelation or miracles; deism flourished among Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, France and America, influenced founding figures and documents, and appears today in forms from Christian deism to the ceremonial deism recognised in United States law and the non-specific Higher Power of recovery programmes.
What it is for: Not applicable; a religious philosophy.
It can be explain the philosophy and its variants; distinguish from related positions; relay history and figures with attribution; describe related legal and cultural uses.
Distinguishing features
Natural religion by reason
Rejection of revelation and miracles
Enlightenment associations
Diverse modern forms
What it looks like
Not a visible object; a position held in writings and, historically, in some organised cults.
Physical character
flourished: about 1650-1800 years - Enlightenment era
How it is recognised
Creator God known by reason, no revelation or intervention
Enlightenment origin, modern variants
Theism accepts revelation; pantheism identifies God with nature; atheism denies God
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms, a religious philosophy
is contrasted with - which accepts revelation
is related to - its method
influenced - thought and politics
In practice
Families and kinds
classical Enlightenment deism
Christian deism
the Cult of the Supreme Being of the French Revolution
modern and organised deism
ceremonial deism as a legal concept
the Higher Power concept in recovery programmes, a related non-specific idea
occasionalism, a distinct philosophical doctrine listed as an alias
Standards and regulation
No regulation; freedom of religion protections
Ceremonial deism as a doctrine in United States establishment clause cases
Failure modes and hazards
Overstating deism among historical figures
Conflating deism with atheism or theism
Presenting contested attributions as fact
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What deism is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and distinctions.
Definition
Definition.
- What is deism, and how does it differ from theism, pantheism and atheism? definition
- Is the question about deism, ceremonial deism or a related concept? boundary
Variants
Variants.
Variants
Variants.
- What variants of deism exist, historically and today? definition
- Which entry fits the specific variant? action
History History and figures.
Attribution.
Enlightenment
Enlightenment deism.
Enlightenment
Enlightenment.
- Who were the main deist thinkers, and what did they argue, with attribution? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific thinker? action
Founders
Deism and political founders.
Founders
Founders.
- How do historians assess the deism of figures such as Jefferson, Franklin and Paine, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation attributed and neutral? boundary
Related Related concepts.
Context.
Ceremonial
Ceremonial deism.
Ceremonial
Ceremonial.
- What is ceremonial deism in United States law, and how have courts used it? provenance
- Which entry fits establishment clause? action
Cult
Cult of the Supreme Being.
Cult
Cult.
- What was the Cult of the Supreme Being, and how do historians interpret it? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Today Deism today.
Attribution.
Modern
Modern deism.
Modern
Modern.
- How is deism organised and expressed today, and how many identify with it, with sources? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Philosophy
Philosophical debate.
Philosophy
Philosophy.
- What arguments for and against deism do philosophers make, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- Should ceremonial deism and the Cult of the Supreme Being be separate entries?
- How should primary texts be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming distinct doctrines; should they be split off?