There is a myth I read on every once in a while that Deism is the belief that God is cold, distant and detached from humanity.  I see no reason to believe that understanding of Deism is correct.  When I read the better Deist web sites it is apparent the many people who believe in a personal and involved God think of themselves as Deists. 

One group I know of refer to themselves as Christian Deists.  

Deism as I’ve come to understand it is a general group of similar beliefs.  In general, Deists don’t believe that God intervenes with humanity through oracles, or to use a traditional word, through revelation.  

Many Unitarians are Deists by this understanding.  They do not believe in the miracles in the Christian tradition.  They do believe that Jesus was the highest moral example. 

Some folks consider themselves Christian Deists.  In general, these folks believe that Jesus was a real person and the highest moral example and a great teacher.  I don’t see much difference between today’s Christian Deist and American Unitarians.  Perhaps the Unitarians are a little more grounded in a tradition while Christian Deists are more like Free Thinkers.

Generic Deists, I think, are more likely to question the teachings of Jesus.  

Some folks, like the scholars at American Creation, refer to Rational Theists when discussing the beliefs of some of the Founders, like Jefferson and Franklin.  Rational Theists today often consider themselves Deists. 

As far as I can tell, Christian Deism, American Unitarianism, and Rational Theism are all forms of Deism.  The difference between the three is how close they are to the Christian traditions.  American Unitarians tend to be organized and follow traditional rituals.  Christian Deists tend to be unorganized, but consider Jesus the highest moral teachers.  Rational Theists are not organized and do not necessarily consider Jesus the highest moral teacher.  All three believe that God is active in their lives.

A few people who consider themselves Deists are not organized, and do not believe that God is active in their lives.  These few people do not define the whole of Deism, despite what some people claim.  For example, the Declaration of Independence defines a form of Deism, and it relies heavily on God’s Providence. 

There is also confusion around the difference between personal beliefs and church membership.  Some people attend a church, such an American Unitarian church, but by their personal beliefs they are simply Deists, or perhaps Atheists.  When speaking of personal beliefs they are one thing, but when speaking of church membership they are another.  This is important when considering who is a Deist and who isn’t.  A lot of members of more traditional Christian churches are Deists by belief.  When they are asked what their religion is they might say they are Protestant, or Catholic, or Jewish, or whatever, but by belief they are actually Deists.  

A lot of people say the US is a Christian nation.  In one sense we are, because the traditional religion that had the most influence on our culture is Christianity.  But we are a Deist nation first.  The Deist understanding of God is made clear in the Declaration.  Deism as a personal belief has alway been strong in our culture.  The classical Liberal beliefs that form the foundation of our government are essentially Deist.  Even today when pollsters ignore church attendance and ask only about personal beliefs, 20-25% of the US population are Deists.   (About 25% are Protestant.)  In the US, Deism is the dominant belief.  This isn’t discussed in public very much because Deists are not organized like Christians are.  Without a large organized group behind the claim, the message tends to not get out.   

Politicians seeking office need to pay attention.  A politician seeking office can speak to their Christian faith, and that is OK.  That is in keeping with American Deism because American Deism values personal faiths.  A politician seeking office can reach the most people by advocating a Deist God.  They can say “God bless America” and that’s fine. But saying “Jesus bless America” is political suicide, or at least that’s the case outside the Bible belt.   Likewise, a politician can turn to the teachings of Jesus as great moral teachings, but when they publicly advocate Christian salvation, that people accept Jesus into their heart and all that, they are committing political suicide.  Politicians of traditional religious faiths have to walk a line between acknowledging their faith, and advocating their faith.  They can advocate a Deist God, but they cannot advocate their church.  They can advocate Christian Deism, but they cannot advocate non-Liberal Christianity.   They can advocate the core beliefs of American Unitarianism because they are a form of American Deism, but they cannot advocate the American Unitarian church.

Stumble it!