deism (ˈdiːɪzəm, ˈdeɪ-) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| Compare theism belief in the existence of God based solely on natural reason, without reference to revelation | |
| [C17: from French déisme, from Latin deus god] | |
| 'deist | |
| —n, —adj | |
| de'istic | |
| —adj | |
| de'istical | |
| —adj | |
| de'istically | |
| —adv | |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
The belief that God has created the universe but remains apart from it and permits his creation to administer itself through natural laws. Deism thus rejects the supernatural aspects of religion, such as belief in revelation in the Bible, and stresses the importance of ethical conduct. In the eighteenth century, numerous important thinkers held deist beliefs. (See clockwork universe.)