I had never heard the term deism until reading a biography of Ben Franklin. He gravitated to this view of the world over time. He basically believed in a higher being and decided the best way to honor that higher being was to do good on earth. What more can you really do? If you treat people with respect, try your best to make the world a better place, and don’t impose your beliefs on others, you’ve done your best. He had no time for the rituals, rules, and pronouncements of the institutions of organized religion.
After reading about Deism, I was pretty much onboard. Having left the organized criminal institution of the Catholic Church, I realized the dictates of men, their religious dogma, and use of fear to fleece their sheep was a waste of my time. Reason makes more sense to me than faith. I believe in God. I don’t believe he cares about wealthy men running a massive organization. If I live my life in a manner in which I do not harm others, do my best to improve the lives of my family and loved ones, and do my part in trying to improve the world, that’s good enough for me.
