Deism: meaning, definitions and examples

The term 'Deism' originates from the Latin word 'deus', meaning 'God'. The concept began to take shape prominently during the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, as thinkers sought to detach religious belief from institutional church authority and instead emphasize personal faith and rationality. Deism gained traction in both Europe and America, particularly among intellectuals and some of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin expressed deistic ideologies in their writings. The emphasis on reason, ethics, and the observation of the natural world distinguished deism from traditional religious practices, which often relied on revelation and dogma. As modern science and philosophy evolved, deism allowed for a belief in God that was reconciled with an understanding of a rational, orderly universe. By the 19th century, while deism faced challenges from atheism and secularism, it laid the groundwork for various forms of modern spirituality and philosophical dialogue.

This word's position of #31,757 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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