As I'm sure you know a significant number of American founding fathers and early presidents - particularly among the most prominent leaders were Deists or Theists rather than traditional Christians. Many people do not believe the supernatural and miracle events in the Bible about Jesus in the New Testament that was written roughly 70 years after Jesus’ death - emphasizing they prefer reason over religious dogma - questioning the divinity of Jesus that led to the religion of Christianity that Jesus is God. Jews, for which Jesus was a Jew, certainly don't believe he is God... The Catholic Church holds doctrines and traditions that differ from, or are not found in the Bible as interpreted by most Protestant denominations. That is why some Christians exclude Catholics as Christians... But I think your degree in theology promotes Theism and contradicts Deism (clockmaker).
I personally regard "theism versus deism" in so far as it is popularly discussed as a false dichotomy very similar to the "science versus faith" false dichotomy. It also intersects with the free will versus predestination argument.
As to the Protestant versus Catholic divide, I believe that every stream of the faith has errors in its doctrine that will be resolved sometime in eternity.
I could probably best describe myself loosely as an existentialist Christian mystic. And there are very few doctrines that I personally hold very strongly, just a few.
But I suppose this is also far off topic for our thread here.
I was raised Catholic but my take on religions is somewhat similar to my take on aliens… Thinking you were born into a family of the one correct religion is as ludicrous an idea as thinking you were born on the one planet that supports intelligent life. It has to be a sign of low IQ.
In other off topic news… I cleaned out my pool today and found a black widow the size of a golf ball. Today nearly went very badly for me.
Nice at least you found it and not it found your ankle.
I work with agnostic for now.As I have Seen too many things to know enough which to pick to believe in.
I suspect a fairly large percentage of Americans are agnostic or are Christian Deists - 'rational Christians' blending Deist principles with admiration for Jesus's ethical teachings. And a healthy number of people are Theists.
I personally think Thomas Jefferson probably had it right - he believed in a rational "Creator" (Theism) but rejected the divinity of Jesus, supernatural events/miracles, the Trinity, and the resurrection. The is known to have modified the bible into what is known as The Jefferson Bible.
I'll admit I'm puzzled about understanding the seemingly subtle difference between Deism and Theism.
[Deism: a belief that a god exists but does not interact with reality in any way. Theism: a belief in a god that does or has interacted with reality in some way.]
I just can't believe in the supernatural events and miracles in the New Testament - such things as a human virgin birth, Jonah living in a whale's stomach for days, talking reptiles and animals, walking on water, turning water into wine, feeding hundreds of people from practically nothing, healing the blind, resurrection, etc.
Since the New Testament was written about 40-70 years after Jesus died I think a lot of the writings from that time period were twisted and embellished. I tend to believe Joseph made up the story about the 'dream' of archangel Gabriel to protect Mary and for him to 'save face' amongst the close knit small number of townspeople of Nazareth.
I'll go with Jesus being the son of a Roman bowman (archer) soldier named Pantera, not the son of God. I think Jesus was likely a charismatic young man that tried to minister and convince people that paid him any attention and listen to him preach, to be good moral people - but I think he likely convinced himself he was more than just a young man and he went overboard by telling people he was God's son and would be king of the Israelis. And, King Herod saw fit to have Jesus killed.
But this logic of the ‘First Miracle’ admittedly baffles me:
From a purely logical standpoint, if a Deist accepts the existence of a Creator who brought the entire universe into being out of nothing, they have already accepted a 'supernatural' event of the highest magnitude! So, is there a God? I think so…
Maybe cAPSLOCK who has a degree in theology from a seminary in a conservative part of the country will share his views....
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