[dee-iz-uh
m] 
| 1. | belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (distinguished from theism ). |
| 2. | belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it. |
| de·ism (dē'ĭz'əm, dā'-) n. The belief, based solely on reason, in a God who created the universe and then abandoned it, assuming no control over life, exerting no influence on natural phenomena, and giving no supernatural revelation. [French déisme, from Latin deus, god; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.] de'ist n., de·is'tic adj., de·is'ti·cal·ly adv. |
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.)