Why not atheism?

Because evolution only exists within a species. The whole concept of "missing links" is nulified by the fact there are none and if evolution were true, we would still be having it take place and we would be finding missing links in the street. Think about it. What would be the missing link between butterflies and lizards? Reason, logic and common sense show me that there is a creator. If I found a pile of parts from an F16 figher jet that had been disassembled, how long if I threw those parts in a pile would it take for it to assemble itself? Think about the intracacy of just your eye. Or the fact that everything you see and hear and taste and feel has to be translated into an actual sight or sound or feeling by a process that simply makes no sense to be caused by evolution. It takes MORE FAITH to believe in evolution than it does to believe in a creator.

My belief in Deism is really a solution to the philosophical problem of Infinite Regress and what is the "starting point" of the universe. While various religions have their own view on the starting point of the universe and why it occurred the way it did, all seem to miss a logical counterpoint. How do we "know" that Yahweh, or Allah, or Jesus, is the one true god? If humans are fallible, then isn't it reasonable to think that we could be wrong about our understanding of God? Additionally, if you are a confident and at peace with your belief in Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, then you should not have a problem with responding to the counterpoint of "What would happen when you die and go to heaven and meet some other god that you never contemplated before?" Every Christian, Jew, or Muslim I have met never could answer that question and are dismissive of that question. How can dismissiveness be a position of principle--something that organized, revealed religion purports to teach? Isn't living by principle a good thing for humanity? Principles can come from logical reasoning and personal experience. I think Deism requires logical reasoning from our personal experience and intellectual engagement from alternative points of view.

I particularly agree with Bob Johnson that intelligence, our intelligence and that elsewhere in the universe, is derived from the Supreme Intelligence, or what we call "God". Human intelligence includes our reasoning ability and our moral sense, and our sense of right and wrong, and really our critical facilities.

I very strongly believe in God, or a Higher/Supreme Intelligence, based on applying my reasoning ability. However I realize my reasoning ability is not infallible, so I accept uncertainty regarding God. I don't think I can tell a hard-nosed atheist or materialist that I know for certain that that person is wrong in not believing in God. I consider myself to be at 3 on Richard Dawkins' scale of belief, where 1 = strong theist, and 7 = strong atheist.

Actually an important matter for me is the matter of possible life after this present life, and particularly justice in a future life. I personally have a very hard time accepting that there might be no life after this present life, and particularly no justice in a future life. As a Deist I am free to believe that there might very well be a life after this present life, but also to accept uncertainty. I believe Deism is a true philosophy, and I support Bob Johnson's efforts to promote Deism; however I do not at all share his lack of concern about the matter of life after this present life.

I discuss these matters in my write-up in Why Deism:

I discuss at length the matter of life after this present life in Appendix 2 to my write-up, which is linked to as a PDF file. I have a section in my appendix dealing with my personal feelings about the matter, and a section showing and discussing links to possible evidence.

I've personally been an atheist for a few years, but I can't believe the universe came out of nowhere. Regarding evolution, as a deist I absolutely believe in the theory of evolution. Religiously speaking, I believe in the concept of "deistic evolution".

Hi Alessandro. Thanks for your post and interest in Deism and welcome to the Deism Forum.

The reason I, as well as Deists I know, believe in Deism over Atheism is because Deism makes more sense. Many Deists, perhaps all Deists, see evolution as one of the Designer's designs. Deists also recognize that there is intelligence in the Universe. We believe the intelligence in the working code of DNA and RNA, as well as the intelligence in people and other life forms is derived from The Supreme Intelligence/God. To Deists, this makes more sense than it just randomly coming into existence.