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I've always known there was a God, Creator, or whatever name you'd like to use. It's difficult not to believe that there was
a concious effort that went into the creation of the universe. When I look at my grandson grow and his limitless curiosity,
love and energy, how can I not belive there was a devine influence there. How can anyone taking a close look at the beauty
of the stars, the natural wonders of the earth, the immeasurable possibilities of life consider it all to be random chance?
To put a label on my faith, I am a Diest. A Deist is defined as one who believes in the existence of a God or supreme being
but denies revealed religion, basing his belief on the light of nature and reason.
A Deist is NOT an Athiest. Athiests do not believe there is a God. A Diest sees the design found throughout the known universe
and this realization brings us to a sound belief in a Designer or God.
How is Deism not like other religions such as Christianity Islam and Judaism? All the other religions make claim to special
divine revelations and written books described as the inspired or revealed word of their particular God or prophet. Deism
has neither. In Deism there is no need for a preacher, priest or rabbi. All one needs in Deism is their own common sense and
the creation to contemplate. Unlike the revealed religions, Deism makes no unreasonable claims. The revealed religions encourage
people to give up, or at least to suspend, their God-given reason. They like to call it faith. For example, how logical is
it to believe that Moses parted the Red Sea, or that Jesus walked on water, or that Mohammed received the Koran from an angel?
Suspending your reason enough to believe these myths only sets a precedent that leads to believing in an individual like Jim
Jones, David Koresh or Hitler.
As a Diest, I find it easy to accept the Universal Life Church's promotion of religious freedom. The only doctrine of the
church is "Do only that which is right".
Every person has the natural right (and the responsibility) to peacefully determine what is right. The ULC advocates
religious freedom and the ability pursue your spiritual beliefs without interference from any outside agency, including government
or church authority.
A Diest won't ask you to donate hard earned money for charties to an organization that will turn around and spend the money
on golden faucets, fancy stained glass windows, silver chalises, thousand dollar suits or clerical robes while turning his
or her back on hungry and homeless children.
A new movement has started receintly. Universism. It embraces any and all who wish to belong including Deists. Check it out
at the link below.
Want to know more about my faith? Drop me a line sometime. I'd love to discuss it with you. And you can check out a Deist
website here:
Email Reverend Joe Castleberry
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