Deism Down Under

Here is an article that I wrote for the Deist Alliance newsletter. I hope you like it and here is the link if you are interested in the newsletter! http://www.deistalliance.org/newsletters/Deism_Today_v3_s2.pdf

NEW TO DEISM!

I have been actively involved with Deism for the

last couple of months, and although I have a huge amount

to learn and discover, I can say that I have found my

religion. I feel free from all religious dogma and pressure,

and I live by the golden rule. I feel like I have been spiritually

released from the prison I was in, and my mind is

now free to search and think on my own behalf.

The problem for newcomers to Deism is the varying

types of Deism on the Internet. I must admit that I

looked at Deism over a year ago, and I stumbled across

a website that in my opinion "bashed revealed religions".

Now, the people who were "bashing the revealed religions"

are entitled to their opinions and beliefs, and I completely

respect that, but Deism needs to be promoted in a

positive way. In the end I was put off Deism due to the

negativity.

Over a year later I had come to another cross-

road in my journey, and I went back to the Internet, and

this time looked at some different Deism websites. I then

realised that Deism could be and is so much more than

what I first experienced and understood. There are many

new developments and initiatives that are taking place in

the name of growing and bringing Deism to the world.

There is now a Deist Academy where I can study and

learn, and there are forums where I can chat. I am even

an active member of the Fellowship of Natures God which

is building a global community for Deists.

Being new to Deism is awesome, because I am

just like a sponge absorbing information, but I am still

using reason as my basis for deciding which information is

meaningful to me and what information isn't. Deism allows

me to do that! I believe in an afterlife, and Deism

allows me that as well, because that is what makes sense

to me! Deism allows me to be myself and think for myself

without the fear of eternal retribution!

I acknowledge that I could be wrong with my

belief in an afterlife since I don't have any proof, but I am

happy to live with what makes reasonable sense to me in

the here and now, and I will deal with whatever comes

after death when it happens!

The beauty of Deism is that it can be as complex

as you want it to be, or it can be as simple as you want it

to be. You do not have to have a degree or be an intellectual

to understand Deism. Deism is about just being yourself

and being true to yourself with our God given gift of

reason. Deism is now part of my daily life and is constantly

in my thoughts. I look at life with renewed vigour

and I feel on top of the world! Deism has improved me

spiritually, physically and emotionally, and if you can just

be patient and find what works for you, I have no doubt

that Deism can do this for you as well!

This is what it feels like to be new to Deism!