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To: MeanWestTexan

Have you ever been to a Jewish or Islamic or Sikh or Buddhist lodge? Their Architect of the Universe is different from ours.

Going out to Deism.com, one finds that:

"What is the basis of Deism? Reason and nature. We see the design found throughout the known universe and this realization brings us to a sound belief in a Designer or God.

Is Deism a form of atheism? No. Atheism teaches that there is no God. Deism teaches there is a God. Deism rejects the "revelations" of the "revealed" religions but does not reject God.

If Deism teaches a belief in God, then what is the difference between Deism and the other religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.? Deism is, as stated above, based on nature and reason, not "revelation." All the other religions (with the possible exception of Taoism, although superstition does play a role in both Buddhism and Taoism) make claim to special divine revelation or they have requisite "holy" books. 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.

Do Deists believe that God created the creation and the world and then just stepped back from it? Some Deists do and some believe God may intervene in human affairs. For example, when George Washington was faced with either a very risky evacuation of the American troops from Long Island or surrendering them, he chose the more risky evacuation. When questioned about the possibility of having them annihilated he said it was the best he could do and the rest was up to Providence.

Do Deists pray? Only prayers of thanks and appreciation. We don't dictate to God.

How do Deists view God? We view God as an eternal entity whose power is equal to his/her will. The following quote from Albert Einstein also offers a good Deistic description of God: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

You may in your lodge pray to Jesus in name, but there is no compulsion or rule that says that you must pray to anything but the Supreme Being, whatever you make it to be.

I'd be interested to hear if you pray the Our Father in lodge. We do in our Council. Every meeting.

And, unless you're right and Deism.com is wrong, deists can and sometimes do, pray.


114 posted on 09/11/2006 10:08:03 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (When you believe in nothing, then everything is acceptable.)
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To: MarkBsnr

"Have you ever been to a Jewish or Islamic or Sikh or Buddhist lodge? Their Architect of the Universe is different from ours."

1. Last time I checked, the God of Jews was the God of Jesus, and the same as mine, at least.

2. All AF&AM lodges in the United States and England use the Holy Bible. Never been to any other lodges.

3. Lots of groups call themselves masonic and are not.


125 posted on 09/11/2006 12:33:41 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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