Good argument against Deism?
-
- Newbie Member
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:42 am
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Theistic Evolution
Good argument against Deism?
Anyone know of a good argument against deism? It seems to answer the presuppositional problems of where laws of logic and natural laws come from ...I'd appreciate any help, thanks!
- Gman
- Old School
- Posts: 6081
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 10:36 pm
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Day-Age
- Location: Northern California
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Best argument against deism is that Jesus came to earth in the flesh!!
The heart cannot rejoice in what the mind rejects as false - Galileo
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
- The11thDr.
- Established Member
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:14 am
- Christian: No
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: I don't believe in creation
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Oh no another ism, why do people need to live with these things. If we got rid of all ism's wouldn't beople just get along?
I could tell you one argument against it, but you probably wouldn't like it.
I could tell you one argument against it, but you probably wouldn't like it.
Trust me, I'm the doctor.
- Canuckster1127
- Old School
- Posts: 5310
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:31 am
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Theistic Evolution
- Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Why would you argue against Deism? Deism simply asserts that a supreme being created the universe, and that this (and religious truth in general) can be determined using reason and observation of the natural world alone, without the need for either faith or organized religion.
Christianity is a revealed religion that states that God exists and has revealed himself through the person of Jesus Christ primarily and also through the scriptures (some appear confused about the priority of the two, but that's another discussion.) Theism is a subset to a large degree of Deism. Christianity is a subset of Theism.
The point then is not to argue against Deism, but to argue in favor of Jesus Christ and Christian faith as most reflective of reality.
If you refute Deism absolutely then you move outside of theism and into agnosticism and/or atheism. Better to build upon what Deism and Christianity agree upon and then address those issues where Christianity claims more than Deism does.
Christianity is a revealed religion that states that God exists and has revealed himself through the person of Jesus Christ primarily and also through the scriptures (some appear confused about the priority of the two, but that's another discussion.) Theism is a subset to a large degree of Deism. Christianity is a subset of Theism.
The point then is not to argue against Deism, but to argue in favor of Jesus Christ and Christian faith as most reflective of reality.
If you refute Deism absolutely then you move outside of theism and into agnosticism and/or atheism. Better to build upon what Deism and Christianity agree upon and then address those issues where Christianity claims more than Deism does.
Dogmatism is the comfortable intellectual framework of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is more decadent than the worst sexual sin. ~ Dan Allender
- Gman
- Old School
- Posts: 6081
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 10:36 pm
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Day-Age
- Location: Northern California
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Bart, I hear you, but doesn't the basic premise of deism reveal that God is somehow removed or doesn't interact with his creation? It seems to be in opposition to the God of the Bible..Canuckster1127 wrote:If you refute Deism absolutely then you move outside of theism and into agnosticism and/or atheism. Better to build upon what Deism and Christianity agree upon and then address those issues where Christianity claims more than Deism does.
The heart cannot rejoice in what the mind rejects as false - Galileo
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
- Canuckster1127
- Old School
- Posts: 5310
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:31 am
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Theistic Evolution
- Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Yes it does. That's why I noted that the issue with Deism is to address those areas that Christianity and Deism are at odds. That's correction in part, not refutation in whole.Gman wrote:Bart, I hear you, but doesn't the basic premise of deism reveal that God is somehow removed or doesn't interact with his creation? It seems to be in opposition to the God of the Bible..Canuckster1127 wrote:If you refute Deism absolutely then you move outside of theism and into agnosticism and/or atheism. Better to build upon what Deism and Christianity agree upon and then address those issues where Christianity claims more than Deism does.
Dogmatism is the comfortable intellectual framework of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is more decadent than the worst sexual sin. ~ Dan Allender
- B. W.
- Ultimate Member
- Posts: 8355
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:17 am
- Christian: Yes
- Location: Colorado
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Would this include atheism?The11thDr. wrote:Oh no another ism, why do people need to live with these things. If we got rid of all ism's wouldn't beople just get along?
I could tell you one argument against it, but you probably wouldn't like it.
-
-
-
Science is man's invention - creation is God's
(by B. W. Melvin)
Old Polish Proverb:
Not my Circus....not my monkeys
(by B. W. Melvin)
Old Polish Proverb:
Not my Circus....not my monkeys
- The11thDr.
- Established Member
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:14 am
- Christian: No
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: I don't believe in creation
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Ok! Looks like you got me. Whats so great about deism anyway? If there were a god...why not intefere? It would be that god's right to mess around with all of creation and have it turn out/go how he wanted.
Makes you think, who is the master of human destiny? Do we drive ourself onwards on our own steam or is the steam provided for us by the universe(or gods, if you like)
Whats a good argument FOR deism? Then maybe you can think of some kind of counter.
Makes you think, who is the master of human destiny? Do we drive ourself onwards on our own steam or is the steam provided for us by the universe(or gods, if you like)
Whats a good argument FOR deism? Then maybe you can think of some kind of counter.
Trust me, I'm the doctor.
-
- Newbie Member
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:42 am
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Theistic Evolution
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Hey thanks for the responses. Basically my friend used to be Christian but feels all revelation is just man made confusions.
Deism explains the source of objective morals, the laws of logic, where the universe came from etc
I did find audio of pre-suppositional apologist Greg Bahnsen pointing out that without God telling us about himself, its all just guesses, so why should I believe what one deist says over another?
I just thought there would have already been a worked out apologetics toward deism.
Here's the apologetic I came up with : the Deist god can't be the greatest possible being, since that being would be all-loving, but to be all loving you must love something, so who did the desit god share his love with before creation?
Only the Christian triune God can be all loving since love can be shared between the three persons of the trinity.
What do you think?
Deism explains the source of objective morals, the laws of logic, where the universe came from etc
I did find audio of pre-suppositional apologist Greg Bahnsen pointing out that without God telling us about himself, its all just guesses, so why should I believe what one deist says over another?
I just thought there would have already been a worked out apologetics toward deism.
Here's the apologetic I came up with : the Deist god can't be the greatest possible being, since that being would be all-loving, but to be all loving you must love something, so who did the desit god share his love with before creation?
Only the Christian triune God can be all loving since love can be shared between the three persons of the trinity.
What do you think?
-
- Familiar Member
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:53 pm
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Undecided
Re: Good argument against Deism?
This is an incredibly late reply, sorry if it's no longer relevant.
I think this apologetic pre-supposes too much, unless he shares your beliefs on how:
1) a god must be the greatest possible being, and
2) that the greatest possible being must be all-loving.
Unless those two arguments are also a commonplace for him, then this apologetic may fail.
Of course, you can always attempt to persuade him that those two arguments should be foundational to his view on what a god should be like.
As for only our God being the only all-loving possibility due to its trinity, I think I'm missing something about Deism. Can't the Deists just decide what their god is like? Or are they bound by their logic in some way?
I think this apologetic pre-supposes too much, unless he shares your beliefs on how:
1) a god must be the greatest possible being, and
2) that the greatest possible being must be all-loving.
Unless those two arguments are also a commonplace for him, then this apologetic may fail.
Of course, you can always attempt to persuade him that those two arguments should be foundational to his view on what a god should be like.
As for only our God being the only all-loving possibility due to its trinity, I think I'm missing something about Deism. Can't the Deists just decide what their god is like? Or are they bound by their logic in some way?
- Human
- Familiar Member
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:15 pm
- Christian: No
- Sex: Female
- Creation Position: Undecided
- Location: A dead society
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Wouldn't that be basing views on emotion as opposed to truth?Of course, you can always attempt to persuade him that those two arguments should be foundational to his view on what a god should be like.
-
- Familiar Member
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:53 pm
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Undecided
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Yes, which is the basis of his apologetic (emotion). Is it truth? Well, define truth for determining the characteristics of God. Deists will have their own unique(ish) answer, most Christians will say the bible, the Deist will disagree, and we find ourselves swimming in a pool of speculation and conjecture.Human wrote:Wouldn't that be basing views on emotion as opposed to truth?Of course, you can always attempt to persuade him that those two arguments should be foundational to his view on what a god should be like.
The best route is to stick to rhetoric, find or inspire a commonplace, and proceed to show how God (or to the Deist, the god of Christianity) is the best fit.
We don't have hard evidence of what God is like beyond the Bible (which was rejected by the Deist in the first place) and whatever we attribute to God (which can be thrown out if the Deist thinks the attribution is too subjective or doesn't fit with his past experiences. Really, as I said in the first few sentences, however the Deist defines truth for determining the characteristics of God is however he will interpret the argument).
-
- Familiar Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:07 pm
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Young-Earth Creationist
Re: Good argument against Deism?
To answer the original question...
Well, the first replier hits the mark pretty well. The way to argue against deism is to give evidence that God interfered with the world. The records of Jesus' claims and miracles are evidence of this. Also, note how the three Abrahamic religions (including Christianity and Islam which are two of the most popular religions) stemmed not from man trying to explain some phenomenon in the natural world but from an interference of God in Abram's life.
Also (I'm not sure about deist belief on this issue, but) if they say that God just started the universe and left it alone, you could argue that the complexity of life necessitates that God would've interfered.
Well, the first replier hits the mark pretty well. The way to argue against deism is to give evidence that God interfered with the world. The records of Jesus' claims and miracles are evidence of this. Also, note how the three Abrahamic religions (including Christianity and Islam which are two of the most popular religions) stemmed not from man trying to explain some phenomenon in the natural world but from an interference of God in Abram's life.
Also (I'm not sure about deist belief on this issue, but) if they say that God just started the universe and left it alone, you could argue that the complexity of life necessitates that God would've interfered.
- happycynic
- Familiar Member
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:50 pm
- Christian: No
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: I don't believe in creation
Re: Good argument against Deism?
spiltteeth wrote:Anyone know of a good argument against deism? It seems to answer the presuppositional problems of where laws of logic and natural laws come from ...I'd appreciate any help, thanks!
Well, if he did, and he were divine, that'd certainly blow Deism out of the water. Problem is, for the deist, that's putting the cart in front of the horse. You've got to show that Jesus did in fact come down, and he was in fact divine. Or, as a later poster said, that God interferes with the universe in any active way. If the deist had seen any convincing evidence for that, they wouldn't be a deist in the first place.Gman wrote:Best argument against deism is that Jesus came to earth in the flesh!!
As for deism vs. theism vs. christianity, theism isn't a subset of deism. It's the other way around. Theism says "god exists". Deism says "God exists and he's hands-off". Christianity says "God exists, and X, and Y, and Z, and..."
Generally, a christian becomes a deist because the "X, Y, and Z" of christianity--which could be any part of the doctrine, from hell to biblical origins to the problem of evil--seem to be false. If X, Y, and Z are false, then either god is "Hands-off" or he doesn't exist; often times Hands-off seems like the more acceptable alternative. I actually went through a phase of that myself before giving it up and admitting that atheism just makes more sense (to me).
so basically, if you're looking to argue with a Deist, use the same arguments you would against an atheist, minus all the creationism stuff because a Deist can still look back and say "well, yeah, sure. God did it. So what?" If I knew of any of those good arguments, I'd tell you--but then again, if I knew of any good arguments like that, I probably wouldn't be an atheist
- Kurieuo
- Honored Member
- Posts: 10038
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:25 am
- Christian: Yes
- Sex: Male
- Creation Position: Progressive Creationist
- Location: Qld, Australia
Re: Good argument against Deism?
Like at creation?happycynic wrote:spiltteeth wrote:Anyone know of a good argument against deism? It seems to answer the presuppositional problems of where laws of logic and natural laws come from ...I'd appreciate any help, thanks!Well, if he did, and he were divine, that'd certainly blow Deism out of the water. Problem is, for the deist, that's putting the cart in front of the horse. You've got to show that Jesus did in fact come down, and he was in fact divine. Or, as a later poster said, that God interferes with the universe in any active way. If the deist had seen any convincing evidence for that, they wouldn't be a deist in the first place.Gman wrote:Best argument against deism is that Jesus came to earth in the flesh!!
Interesting that Antony Flew went from Atheism to some form of Deism.happycynic wrote:so basically, if you're looking to argue with a Deist, use the same arguments you would against an atheist, minus all the creationism stuff because a Deist can still look back and say "well, yeah, sure. God did it. So what?" If I knew of any of those good arguments, I'd tell you--but then again, if I knew of any good arguments like that, I probably wouldn't be an atheist
A Deist can still look back and say "well, yeah, sure. God did it. So what?" Say what? God entering into time puts Deism in quite a dilemma. For a Deist then carries the burden of proof to explain why God would set up everything as He did, in the manner He did, and went to so much effort to do so in a universe that seems very anthropic, to then no longer care... seems very strange to me.